Natural Remedies for Headaches

Headaches are the most common reported illness, with 1 in 7 Australians taking pain relief medications for headache treatment at any point in time. Headaches can vary from mild tension headaches to more severe migraine headaches or to paralysing cluster headaches. Headaches and migraines also have a number of different causes, and commonly one or a number of problems may be the cause of a headache or severe migraine attack.

The experienced team of health professionals at Health and Healing Wellness Centre will develop a personalised natural headache treatment or migraine treatment program for you. The plan may combine a number of headache treatment approaches including headache chiropractic; acupuncture for migraines; acupuncture for headaches; herbal and mineral supplements; and other natural headache therapies.
Following is a list of potential substance, illness, injuries or body systems that may combine to develop a headache or migraine:

What's causing your Headaches or Migraines?

~ Is it substances, illness, injury or poorly functioning body systems?

• Alcohols : Headache and migraines may occur as a symptom of a hangover associated with excessive alcohol (ethanol) consumption. Dehydration causes headaches, but also alcohol causes an expansion of blood vessels. Evidence also exists that over use of acetaldehyde, a bi-product of ethanol metabalisation in the body also causes headaches.
• Caffeine: Regular consumption of 240 mg or more of Caffeine per day may increase the incidence of caffine headaches and caffeine headache may also occur as a symptom of caffeine withdrawal:
  • People who consume more than 240 mg of Caffeine have a 25% greater incidence of Headaches than persons who do not consume Caffeine.
  • Caffeine withdrawal headaches usually commence approximately 18 hours after Caffeine ingestion and are exacerbated by exercise. Discomfort peaks 3-6 hours after onset.
  • When caffeine intake is reduced, the body becomes oversensitive to adenosine and blood pressure drops dramatically, causing an excess of blood in the head (though not necessarily on the brain), leading to a caffine headache.
• Amino Acids: Certain substances in foods, such as amino acids, may cause a localised constriction of blood flow, which can result in a headache. Evidence suggests that the following amino acids in foods we eat can cause headaches:
  • Excessive consumption of Aspartic Acid may cause Headaches: by causing over-stimulation of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) Receptors in the Brain.
  • Excessive consumption of Glutamic Acid may cause Headaches: by causing over-stimulation of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) Receptors in the Brain.
  • Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) may cause Headaches: by causing over-stimulation of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) Receptors in the Brain.
  • Tyramine may cause Headaches in people who are sensitive to Amines.
• Electromagnetic Radiation: Electromagnetic radiation refers to the transference of low frequency current from an item to flow through the body to the ground.
  • Exposure to these microwave frequencies, generated by televisions, digital radios & mobile phone devices, may increase the risk of headache.
• Hormones
  • Excessive production of Aldosterone (Aldosteronism) may cause Headaches.
• Microorganisms
  • Excessive proliferation of Candida albicans (when it enters the bloodstream) may cause Headaches.
• Minerals
  • Arsenic may cause Headaches.
  • Excessive consumption of Copper may cause Headaches.
  • Headache may occur as an early symptom of Lead poisoning.
  • Exposure to Mercury (or its vapors) may cause Headache.
• Pharmaceutical Drugs
  • Acylovir may cause Headache.
  • Desoxyn may cause (severe) Headache.
  • Histamine H2 Receptor Antagonists (e.g. Cimetidine, Famotidine, Nizatidine and Ranitidine) may cause Headache in some persons.
  • Severe Headaches may be experienced by between 20% and 25% of people who are prescribed Indomethacin.
• Proteins
  • The allergic reaction to Gluten that occurs in Celiac Disease may result in Inflammation in the Brain that leads to Headaches.  references
• Vitamins
  • Excessive dosages of Choline may cause (cluster) Headaches.
  • Excessive dosages of Vitamin A may cause Headaches.
  • Dosages over 100 mg of the Nicotinic Acid form of Vitamin B3 may cause Headaches in some people.
  • Excessive consumption of Vitamin D may cause Headaches.

• Food Additives
  • Aspartame may cause Headaches (primarily due to the Methanol content of Aspartame).
• Digestive System
  • The allergic reaction to Gluten that occurs in Celiac Disease may result in Inflammation in the Brain that leads to Headaches.
  • Intestinal Permeability can be an underlying cause of Headaches (especially when Headaches occur after eating).
• Immune System
  • Headaches may occur as a side effect of Candida albicans over-proliferation.
  • Headache may occur as one of the symptoms of Brucellosis.
  • Headaches may occur as one of the symptoms of Influenza.
  • Headaches may occur as one of the symptoms of Measles.
  • Headaches may occur as occur as one of the symptoms of Lyme Disease.
  • Headaches may occur as one of the symptoms of Parrot Disease.
• Metabolism
  • Headache may occur as a symptom of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS).
  • Headaches may occur as one of the symptoms of Hypothyroidism.
• Musculoskeletal System
  • Chronic Headache is one of the minor symptoms of Fibromyalgia - approximately 70% of Fibromyalgia patients experience Headaches (or Migraines).
  • Headache can be caused by Paget’s Disease when Paget’s Disease affects the Bones of the Skull.
• Nervous System
  • Headache may occur as a result of Benign Intracranial Hypertension (i.e. excessive pressure within the Skull due to impaired reabsorption of Cerebrospinal Fluid).
• Reproductive system
• Headaches may occur as a result of the PMS-C (Cravings) form of Pre-Menstrual Syndrome (PMS).
• Other Common Causes
  • Concussion may cause Headache.
  • Headache may occur as one of the symptoms of Meningitis.
  • Excessive Stress may cause Headache.
  • Headache may occur as a symptom of Travel Sickness.