Treating Headaches with Homeopathy
- barbara6888
- Jun 13, 2020
- 8 min read
This article looks at the possible causes of headaches, types of headaches and the main Homeopathic remedies to consider in headache relief.
Some of my clients and friends have been complaining recently of suffering from headaches. Whilst many of you may be feeling more relaxed with not having to rush around everywhere, other factors may be increasing your physical and mental stress levels which can on some occasions lead to headaches or even worse migraines. Although such factors can be very individual the main ones appear to be:
Looking after school children and in some cases the responsibility of home-schooling
Poor posture whilst working at the computer
Poor diet (a lot of people seem to be increasing their consumption of treats!!)
Increased amounts of alcohol during lockdown
Worry and anxiety about financial issues and work security
Dehydration
Poor sleep
In most cases people will treat headaches with over-the-counter painkilllers such as Paracetamol and Ibuprofen. However, did you know that Homeopathy can often be a very effective alternative in helping to ease the pain of acute headaches?
What Causes Headaches?
Headaches can be more complicated than most people realise. Different kinds can have their own set of symptoms, happen for unique reasons, and need different treatments. Most headaches are due to strain on the muscles in the neck or head, or congestion of the blood vessels which supply them; The pain you feel during a headache comes from a mix of signals between your brain, blood vessels, and nearby nerves. Specific nerves in your blood vessels and head muscles "switch on" and send pain signals to your brain. The brain itself cannot feel the pain as it contains no pain receptors.
Common causes of headaches include:
Illness. This can include infections, colds, and fevers. Headaches are also common with conditions like sinusitis (inflammation of the sinuses), a throat infection, or an ear infection. In some cases, headaches can result from a blow to the head or, rarely, a sign of a more serious medical problem.
Emotional stress and depression as well as alcohol use, skipping meals, changes in sleep patterns, and taking too much medication. Other causes include neck or back strain due to poor posture.
Your environment. This can include secondhand tobacco smoke, strong smells from household chemicals or perfumes, allergens, and certain foods. Stress, pollution, noise, lighting, and weather changes are other possible triggers.
Genetics. Headaches, especially migraine headaches, tend to run in families. Most children and teens (90%) who have migraines have other family members who get them. When both parents have a history of migraines, there is a 70% chance their child will also have them. If only one parent has a history of these headaches, the risk drops to 25%-50%.
Common Types of Headaches
Apparently, there are over 150 types of headaches, but the most common types include:
Tension headaches are the most common type of headache among adults and teens. They cause mild to moderate pain and come and go over time. They usually have no other symptoms.
Migraine headaches are often described as pounding, throbbing pain. They can last from 4 hours to 3 days and usually happen one to four times a month. Along with the pain, people have other symptoms, such as sensitivity to light, noise, or smells; nausea or vomiting; loss of appetite; and upset stomach or belly pain. When a child has a migraine, she may look pale, feel dizzy, and have blurry vision, fever, and an upset stomach. A small number of children's migraines include digestive symptoms, like vomiting, that happen about once a month
These headaches are the most severe. You could have intense burning or piercing pain behind or around one eye. It can be throbbing or constant. The pain can be so bad that most people with cluster headaches can’t sit still and will often pace during an attack. On the side of the pain, the eyelid droops, the eye reddens, pupil gets smaller, or the eye makes tears. The nostril on that side runs or stuffs up. They are called cluster headaches because they tend to happen in groups. You might get them one to three times per day during a cluster period, which may last 2 weeks to 3 months. Each headache attack lasts 15 minutes to 3 hours. They can wake you up from sleep. The headaches may disappear completely (your doctor will call this remission) for months or years, only to come back later. Men are three to four times more likely to get them than women.
You have this type of headache 15 days or more a month for longer than 3 months. Some are short. Others last more than 4 hours.
With sinus headaches, you feel a deep and constant pain in your cheekbones, forehead, or on the bridge of your nose. They happen when cavities in your head, called sinuses, get inflamed. The pain usually comes along with other sinus symptoms, like a runny nose, fullness in the ears, fever, and a swollen face. A true sinus headache results from a sinus infection so the gunk that comes out of your nose will be yellow or green, unlike the clear discharge in cluster or migraine headaches.
Post-traumatic Headaches
Post-traumatic stress headaches usually starts 2-3 days after a head injury. You’ll feel:
A dull ache that gets worse from time to time
Vertigo
Lightheadedness
Trouble concentrating
Memory problems
Tiring quickly
Irritability
Headaches may last for a few months. But if it doesn’t get better within a couple of weeks, call your doctor.
You can get headaches from shifting hormone levels during your periods, pregnancy, and menopause. The hormone changes from birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy can also trigger headaches. When they happen 2 days before your period or in the first 3 days after it starts, they’re called menstrual migraines.
Less Common Headaches
When you’re active, the muscles in your head, neck, and scalp need more blood. Your blood vessels swell to supply them. The result is a pulsing pain on both sides of your head that can last anywhere from 5 minutes to 48 hours. It usually hits while you’re active or just afterward, whether the activity is exercise or sex.
You might also hear these called medication overuse headaches. If you use a prescription or over-the-counter pain reliever more than two or three times a week, or more than 10 days a month, you could be setting yourself up for more pain. When the medications wear off, the pain comes back and you have to take more to stop it. This can cause a dull, constant headache that’s often worse in the morning.
Treating Headaches with Homeopathy
Homeopathy can be very effective in treating headaches but as there can many causative factors choosing the most appropriate remedy can sometimes be tricky.
Matching the Remedy to the Headache Symptoms
As one of the main Homeopathic principles is matching the correct remedy to the individual symptoms expressed, it is always useful to ascertain the following:
Onset of symptoms:
Did anything seem to trigger the headache? For example, exposure to cold or wet weather or to a draft, eating too much or eating something in particular, alcohol or drugs, emotions, overwork, or lack of sleep?
Location of and type of pain:
Where in the head is the pain centered, and where does it radiate? What is the character of the pain (throbbing, aching, burning, etc.)?
Associated symptoms:
Has the headache affected the patientís appearance? Is the face pale or flushed red? Are the pupils dilated? How is vision affected? Have digestive symptoms such as nausea or vomiting developed? Does the headache seem related to the menstrual cycle, occurring prior to, during, or after the periods?
Other factors affecting the pain:
What time of day is the headache worst? What makes the pain better or worse? How is it affected by hot or cold applications, heat and cold in general, pressure, light, and noise? How does motion, and position (lying, sitting, or standing) affect the pain? Does motion of the eyes affect the pain?
Homeopathic Remedies for the Treatment of Headaches
There are numerous remedies which may be used in the treatment of headaches, but some of the most popular and effective ones include the following:
BELLADONA
This relieves intense headaches (which often come on suddenly) with the feeling of fullness in head with violent and throbbing pains. The head feels hot and the face may be flushed. The patient is sensitivity to noise and light. The headache may come on due to a high temperature or fever.
The headache is better for sitting or applying firm pressure and is worse for jarring movements.
BRYONIA
This remedy can be helpful if a person has a heavy or "splitting" headache, with steady pain that settles over one eye (especially the left) or spreads to the entire head, and the person wants to lie completely still and not be talked to or disturbed. Nausea with a heavy feeling in the stomach and vomiting may occur. The person can have a very dry mouth and usually is thirsty.
The headache may be caused by dehydration or constipation.
The headache is better for pressure/wrapping head, rest, coolness, lying on sore part
Pain is worse from any motion, even from moving the eyes
GELSINIUM
This remedy relieves congestive headaches at the base of the head, extending upward or the forehead as well as headaches around the eye, caused or aggravated by stress, overstudying, or anticipatory anxiety. The headache may be accompanied by drowsiness, tiredness, apathy and heaviness around eyes. The pain can feel like a tight band around the head
The headache is better for napping, resting, urination
NUX VOMICA
The symptoms of these types of headaches are normally brought on by overeating, the use of alcohol, coffee or other drugs, or staying up too late and missing sleep. The person with a typical morning hangover headache, who often has indulged in all of these pursuits. Such headaches are generally accompanied by an overall sick feeling and by digestive upsets. The sufferer may have a sour or bitter taste in the mouth in the morning, queasiness, nausea or vomiting (dry heaves and gas are especially typical Nux symptoms). The Nux headache may also be brought on by missing meals, concentrated or prolonged mental work or by cold air or cold wind.
The headaches improve after vomiting, as well as from burping or passing gas, and are often better after sleep. A person who needs this remedy often comes down with migraines after missing meals, and also has digestive problems and allergies.
PULSATILLA
Pulsatilla headaches have also been associated with digestive upsets. They often come on after meals and particularly after eating warm, rich, or fatty foods or after eating ice cream. Nausea and vomiting frequently accompany a Pulsatilla headache. Pulsatilla is also a good medicine for headaches that occur in connection with menstrual periods (before, during, or especially when the period ends) or those that result from a frightening experience. The pain is most often felt in the forehead or on one side of the head and may change location frequently. Throbbing accompanies the headache. Although walking briskly may make the pain worse, generally there is relief from gentle motion, especially walking about slowly in the open air. Pressure relieves the pain and blowing the nose aggravates it. The Pulsatilla individual is emotionally mild and sensitive and may weep from the pains. Though a little irritable, the person is likely to want company and consolation.
Top Tips for the Prevention of Headaches
Ensure you are not dehydrated especially during this hot weather (if your urine is clear you will know that your hydration levels are good!)
Eat regularly
Eat a diet which includes good quality and organic (if possible) produce and manage alcohol and caffeine consumption (!). Poor diets and excessive amount of alcohol place more stress on the liver!
Manage stress levels
Be aware of your posture whilst working on the computer and ensure you move around during the day
Try to get a good nights sleep
Please note: In line with NHS recommendations you should consider seeking medical advice if:
your headaches keep recurring
you have a bad throbbing pain at the front or side of your head - this could be a migraine or, more rarely a cluster headache
painkillers do not help and your headache gets worse
you feel sick,vomit and find light or noise painful
you get other symptoms - e.g your arms or legs feel numb or weak
Commentaires