Headaches and migraines are the third most common ailment in the world affecting 15 per cent of people. Osteopath, Oliver Eaton, shares the types of headaches and natural solutions for them
Research has shown that 3,000 headaches occur every day for each million of the general population. This equates to over 190,000 headaches every day in the UK.
The Migraine Trust states that it is the third most common disease in the world, with an estimated global prevalence of 14.7% (that’s around 1 in 7 people). But not all headaches are created equal, there are different types.
Tension Headaches
The most common type of headache is tension headaches. A sufferer would experience a constant ache and pressure round the head. This can be prominent at the temples or at the back of the head. They are not as severe as migraines and they rarely cause any nausea. They don’t normally stop people from performing daily activities.
They are usually caused by either muscle contractions or chronic tension in the head and neck region. Many different things can cause these muscles contractions including poor posture, foods, starring at a computer screen for too long or prolonged driving.
Cluster Headaches
These type of headaches have shown to affect more men than women. They have more of a pattern and typically occur in groups or cycles. The frustrating thing about cluster headaches is that they can appear suddenly, often causing severe debilitating pain on one side of the head. Some people also experience watery eyes, nasal congestion and feeling restless.
Researchers have found a strong link between levels of the hormones melatonin and cortisol and cluster headaches. Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland at night to help us drop into a deep sleep at night. Cortisol is one of the hormones produced when we are stressed.
Migraines
Migraines are less common than tension headaches. Sufferers usually describe a severe, throbbing pain at the front or side of the head. Other symptoms are often associated with migraines such as nausea, sensitivity to light and ‘stars in your eyes’.
Due to the severity of migraines, they can often stop you performing daily activities. They can last between a couple of hours to several days.
Many things have the ability to trigger a migraine. Some of the most common include:
- Bright lights, loud noises, flickering lights, temperature changes
- allergies
- Emotional stress, anxiety or depression
- Physical triggers such as tiredness and poor posture
- Changes in sleep patterns
- Dehydration
- Nutrient deficiencies
- Undiagnosed silent viruses
- Bad gut bacteria – candida and yeast overgrowth is the most common
- Toxic stressors such as heavy metals in your system
- Hormonal triggers such as menstrual cycle fluctuations, birth control pills, and menopause
- Foods containing tyramine (red wine, aged cheese, smoked fish, chicken livers, figs, and some beans), monosodium glutamate (MSG), or the artificial sweetener aspartame
- Other foods such as chocolate, nuts, peanut butter, avocado, banana, citrus, onions, dairy products, and fermented or pickled foods
- Medication such as sleeping tablets, the contraceptive pill, and hormone replacement therapy
How to treat headaches and migraines
It’s important to identify which type of headache you are suffering from before you treat it. Mild tension headaches can usually be treated with some common types of over-the-counter painkillers or anti-inflammatories.
More debilitating headaches, such as migraines would require stronger prescription medication. Common medications used to treat headaches include Tylenol, Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Ketoprofen, Naproxen and Diclofenac.
Unfortunately, many of these medications have side-effects like constipation, heartburn, an upset stomach, drowsiness, vision problems and nausea may develop when some of these medications is used to treat a headache. The long-term use of these medications can also have a negative effect on the liver.
Take an Asyra Bioresonance Test
As a result of the side-effects to these medications, many people look for alternative ways to reduce the severity and frequency of headaches. A new revolutionary diagnostic bioresonance test originally developed by the health department of NASA has now been proven to be one of the more effective alternative options for headaches and migraines, as it identifies and addresses many of their root causes to not only help reduce their frequency but to also prevent them coming back.
The Asyra testing machine does this by measuring and monitoring electrical wavelengths emitted from your skin, the information collected is automatically sent back to a computer in a matter of minutes ready to analyse. The analysis will help to give an accurate picture of what it is that may be stressing out the body to the point a headache or migraine occurs.
The Asyra machine runs through a series of the following tests:
- Food sensitivities and intolerances
- Nutrient deficiencies
- Mineral deficiencies
- Hormone imbalances
- Spinal misalignments
- Emotional stressors
- Gut bacteria
- Viruses
- Toxic stressors – heavy metals
Not only can the test help identify the root cause of an individuals headaches or migraines but it will use the data collected to suggest the most appropriate natural treatments to help eliminate those causes. The test has been shown in studies to be 97% as effective as private blood tests but at a fraction of the cost. For example, a hormone panel blood test alone can cost several hundred pounds.
The Asyra tests imbalances of not only hormones but of over 57 additional elements within the body. The natural treatments it suggests will be a combination of nutritional supplements and physical therapy advice.
Try magnesium
Many people suffering from headaches often show on the Asyra test to have low magnesium levels. It’s a natural muscle relaxant so can be effective for tension type headaches. Try a high quality magnesium supplement such as Mag365 Magnesium Powder £24.95 from Healthista Shop.
Numb it with oil
Lavender and peppermint oils both have calming and numbing properties.
Peppermint oil cools the skin and studies have shown in to stimulate skin blood flow of the forehead. It also has the ability to ease muscle contractions. Lavender oil is commonly used as a mood regulator and sedative. Much research has now shown it to be an effective treatment of migraines. Try Absolute Aromas Organic Essential Oil £6.50 from Healthista Shop
One study conducted in 2012 measured the results of inhaling lavender oil for 15 minutes. The 47 participants were asked to record the effects every half hour, for two hours. Out of 129 headache attacks, 92 responded to the lavender oil remedy. Try Tisserand’s Lavender Essential Ol Roller Ball for temples and back of neck £5.99 from Healthista Shop.
The best way to use these oils is to place a few drops of peppermint or lavender into your hands and massage the blend into your forehead, temples and back of neck. If the smell is too strong for you or the peppermint is to cold on the skin then you can dilute them with oils such as grapeseed oil, almond oil or coconut oil.
Stretch your neck and shoulders once an hour
Many tension type headaches can be directly linked to prolonged sitting at a desk or poor posture. Also now with the use of smart phones and tablets, the typical hunched over position can put an extra 10-15 kilograms of pressure on your neck!
A simple way to counteract the effects of these 21st century postures is to regularly stretch your neck and shoulders. Stretching your chest out between a doorway 30 seconds at a time several times a day can be very effective. Try Healthista’s video on stretches you can do at your desk
Stay Hydrated
Dehydration can contribute to all type of headaches. Drinks such as coffee, sugary drinks and alcohol all have the ability to dehydrate us. Generally most people in the UK don’t drink enough water, especially in the winter months. Water is free and has so many more benefits than just helping to reduce headaches. It can also energize us and keep us feeling full. Alongside drinking more glasses of water, the high water content of fruits and vegetables can be another great way of hydrating ourselves.
It is important to note that these natural solutions don’t work for everyone, simply because every headache and migraine is caused by something different. This is why the Asyra Bioresonance test can be worthwhile having to gain an accurate picture of what might be causing your own headaches or migraines. The more angles you target the causative factors the better chance an individual has of not only reducing the headaches but preventing them from ever returning!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Oliver Eaton is a qualified and registered osteopath, Medical Acupuncturist and Musculoskeletal Injection Therapist. He specialises in the treatment of arthritis and headaches/migraines. Much of Oliver’s specialties were learnt through personal experience; suffering from a series of chronic conditions from which he made a full recovery using alternative medicine approaches. This sparked his passion for specialising in the treatment of patients with chronic pain.
ProHealth Clinic is the only clinic in the UK to incorporate the Asyra Bioresonance test into a specialist drug-free treatment program they have put together for headaches and migraines. The program combines both nutrition and gentle physical therapy. For stress-related headaches and migraines they also prescribe simple and practical psychotherapy techniques to combat stress and emotional issues.
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