Archive for the 'Headaches & Migraines' Category

Headache Causes and Cure

Headaches are quite common. Everybody gets them, albeit some are more severe than others and some can indicate something more severe. Everyone has had them – sinus and allergy headaches, migraines, etc… This article will answer the questions of what causes them and how we should treat them.

Migraine Headache

A migraine is a splitting headache that just seems to set in apparently due to no reason at all. The reasons for a migraine are mainly vascular. That means that certain changes in the blood vessels that supply blood to the brain trigger of the pain. Of course, the causes for the changes in the blood vessels may vary from person to person but this is generally how it starts.

Migraines have a strong impact on the quality of a persons life. It affects not only the person but also the lives of those who move in close contact with he person. Migraine attacks can some times be so severe that person may have to abandon his or her routine activities for three or four days at a stretch.

Headache is one common problem that everyone faces. Like other sicknesses, even headache has its genres depending upon nature and causes of headache. Headache could be the side effect of some diseases or it may trigger because of constant stress that you may have been facing in your life.

Causes of Migraine Headache

Hundreds of thousands of man hours are lost every year because people have to take time off with migraine headache pain. Some people experience several migraines a month, while others have only a few migraines throughout their lifetime. But the fact is, when a migraine sets in, it can be debilitating and very hard to carry on with the routine of everyday life.

Often when the pain of headaches or migraines is intense, we reach for a bottle of whatever pain reliever is on hand. But what we should be doing is taking a closer look at what may actually be causing the pain in the first place. If you notice a certain pattern of foods or activities that seem to happen before you get the migraine headache you may have found one of your triggers and maybe you can find ways to prevent it.

Types of Headache

There are 11 types of headache in Ayurveda. They can be caused due to a various number of causes. Some of them are:-

- Trauma

- Inflammation of the meninges

- Encephalitis

- Cerebral abscess

- Migraine

- Hypertension

- Cerebral hemorrhage

- Vasodilator drugs

- Alcohol hangover

Herbs in the Treatment of Headache

1. Betel (Piper betle)

The leaves of the betel have analgesic and cooling properties. When a paste of them is applied to the center of the headache, then immediate relief is obtained.

2. Bishops Weed (Trachyspermum ammi)

Bishops weed can keep severe headaches away. It is most effective in headaches that occur due to migraine. The fumes of the lighted bishops weed seeds are used for the treatment. These fumes are smoked or the seeds are sniffed directly.

Headache basics Causes and treatment

Pain in the head is known as a headache. The scientific name for the condition is cephalalgia. Headaches are one of the most frequently reported conditions. In fact, it is estimated that everyone experiences mild to severe headache at some point in his or her life. Pain during a headache is experienced in one or more parts of the head as well as the back of the neck. The pain may be experienced in the nerves extending over the scalp and specific nerves located in the face, mouth and throat. Besides, the muscles of the head and the blood vessels located on the surface and base of the brain too may become painful.

Types of headache

The International Headache Society lists more than 150 types of headaches. The majority of the headaches can be classified as either primary (not caused by an underlying condition) or secondary (caused by other factors such as injury or infection). Tension headaches, migraines and cluster headaches are among the most common types of primary headaches. While being painful and annoying, the majority of headaches subsides on their own or may be relieved by over-the-counter painkiller medicines and/or changes in lifestyle.

Causes of headache

Researchers are still not clear about the causes of headaches; however, they have identified a number of causes as well as potential causes. Some of the most commonly reported causes of headaches include stress and fatigue, tension, migraine, musculo-skeletal conditions, hyper-mastication, eyestrain, dehydration, low blood sugar, migraine, viral infection and sinusitis. In rare cases, headaches may be caused due to life-threatening conditions such as brain tumours, meningitis, encephalitis, cerebral aneurysms and extremely high blood pressure. Headaches may also occur because of head injury. Women may experience headaches and even migraines due to fluctuating estrogens level during menstrual years.

Headache treatment

In most cases, headaches subside on their own without any treatment. However, to get an early relief you can take help of massage or herbal remedies. If this does not help, you can take help of non-prescription painkillers such as aspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen or naproxen. Sufferers of chronic headaches may need to consult a doctor for stronger prescription medicines to get relief from headache. Apart from giving you medications, your doctor may suggest you to keep a headache diary wherein you would be asked to make a note of when the pain started and how long it lasted. You will also be required to note down any additional factors such as what you ate, drank, weather conditions, sleeping patterns and details about your periods if you are a woman. The diary will help you to identify your headache triggers. You can learn to avoid these triggers and thereby reduce the frequency of your headaches.

Those who suffer from headaches frequently can also take the help of advanced drug-free headache therapies such as Cefaly electrotherapy device. Cefaly is a medically proven device that emits electronic impulses to your nerves that cause pain and provide you with drug-free relief from headaches. A regular use of Cefaly can also help to reduce the intensity and frequency of headaches.

In addition, you can take the help of a detox foot spa such as BioEnergiser Classic Detox Foot Spa and BioEnergiser Professional Detox Foot Spa. These home use detox foot spas relieve your body of toxins that may cause you headaches and migraines. With regular use of the detox foot spa, youll notice a considerable reduction in the intensity and frequency of your headaches.

Home Remedies for Migraines Migraine Pain Relief

If youve ever seen someone wince in pain when they get migraine, the sufferer looks truly miserable, as he or she is a victim of the blinding pain, nausea and aversion to bright lights that most migraine sufferers experience. Such a painful event is rarely a one-time episode, and those suffering from this painful condition can have pain which last for several episodes a week, or for only a few in their lifetime. Migraines can be very unpredictable that way.

Migraine sufferers will surely tell you that there is no pain like the pain of a particularly bad migraine. Such an experience can condemn its victims to days spent in bed behind drawn curtains. So unbearable are the consequences for frequent migraine sufferers that they are drawn to research any and all solutions for this terrible affliction. Luckily, with a migraine home remedy you can work to reduce if not eliminate migraine headaches.

One of the most inexpensive forms of treating a migraine at home is the ice wrap. The types you can buy in your drugstore are meant to be placed on either the forehead or neck of the victim but you can easily produce one of these at home. What you need to do is get a towel and wet it liberally then squeeze (but do not wring out) some of the water. Next fold the towel until you can easily place it in your freezer and leave it for about 5 minutes or until the towel has begun to stiffen.

Lavender oil is the final natural remedy for migraine sufferers. This essential oil is known for its many uses, including its ability to soothe migraine headaches. Lavender oil is inexpensive and readily available. You will want to avoid fragrances or scented oils, as they are not effective. Essential oils are much more powerful. When you begin to feel migraine symptoms, you will need to place a drop of lavender oil on your temples or behind your ears. You may want to place two to three additional drops of oil on your pillow. This treatment is especially effective when combined with the first two natural migraine remedies. The scent of lavender is so relaxing that many people feel their migraine lessening almost right away.

Ice-Wrap Towel: One of the best natural remedies is ice-warp. You can of course buy ice-wraps at your local drugstore but you can also create it at your home if you like. To create an ice-wrap, just take out a towel, wet it thoroughly in water then wring the water out of it and fold it in such a way that you can place it in your freezer. Keep it in your freezer for about five minutes, or until the towel begins to stiffen.