By: Fiona Shearer-Hann
One of the symptoms of modern life seems to be an excessive quantity of people suffering from headaches and other stress related conditions. It’s also becoming increasingly popular to fix the problem by popping a pill. And why not? You need to function to get on, and when you’ve got a headache, functioning becomes that much harder, doesn’t it?
But what if there was a more natural solution? Actually there are several natural solutions that can help you fight headaches, but the first thing you need to do is work out what sort of headaches you’re actually suffering from. Some people seem prone to migraine headaches, others get tension headaches, sinus headaches or cluster headaches. If you don’t know the difference between them, and you get headaches, then you need to find out!
There are two main types of headache: primary and secondary. Primary headaches include tension headaches, migraines and cluster headaches, none of which have any underlying medical condition. Nearly 90% of all headaches are primary headaches. Secondary headaches, however, are those caused by underlying medical conditions, such as infections or even increased pressure in the skull caused by a growing tumor (fortunately these headaches are in the minority). More common secondary headaches would be sinus headaches, for example.
Cluster headaches are extremely painful and tend to occur in clusters of intense headaches over a short period of time. They may occur over a period of days, weeks and may even extend over a year. One helpful nutritional treatment which may help alleviate cluster headaches is melatonin, which has been shown to reduce the severity and frequency of cluster headaches.
Migraine headaches are severe headaches that often begin in one area of the head and then spread to other ears. They may become more severe with exposure to light and often are preceded by symptoms which may include depression, irritability, restlessness, loss of appetite and visual disturbances (such as flashing lights or localized blindness). Migraines may sometimes cause extreme nausea, vomiting and altered vision. There are several nutritional supplements that have been shown to help migraine headaches, including: Magnesium, Vitamin B2 and 5-HTP (5-Hydroxytryptophan an amino acid based on L-tryptophan). There are also a couple of herbal supplements which may help alleviate migraine headaches, including Feverfew and Ginkgo Biloba.
Tension headaches are a very common form of headache, and are usually experienced as a dull, persistent pain in an area ranging from the back of the neck to the base of the head. These headaches are often associated with sensitive points in the neck, known as trigger points, or in the neck muscles themselves. People with tension headaches may also suffer from pain, throbbing or a sensation of tightness in the head. Tension headaches may be helped by taking a 5-HTP supplement, or peppermint oil.
Of course, if you consistently experience headaches, and are reduced to using analgesics to fight the pain, it would be a great idea to visit your doctor, to find out if there is any underlying cause.
