Headaches & Migraines

Natural Headache and Migraine Relief Strategies

Do you suffer from Headaches or Migraines?

These are two of the most common health complaints that people come to see me with. Nearly all headaches can improve with diet and lifestyle changes along with some herbal or nutritional support.

First let’s find out what sort of headaches you are suffering from and what is causing them.

Tension Headaches

These are the most common type of headaches, and are

Headaches & Migraines Brunswick Naturopathy

likely caused by tight muscles in your shoulders, neck, scalp, and jaw. They may be related to stress, injury, depression, anxiety, or holding your head and neck in an abnormal position. Your neck, shoulders, or jaw may feel sore or tight. Triggers of tension headaches include alcohol use, caffeine (too much or withdrawal), colds, the flu, or a sinus infection, dental problems, jaw clenching or teeth grinding, eye strain, fatigue or overexertion.

Sinus Headaches

These cause pain in the front of your head and face. They are due to swelling in the sinus passages behind the cheeks, nose, and eyes. The pain tends to be worse when you bend forward and when you first wake up in the morning. These may also occur if you have a cold or flu or hay fever allergy.

Cluster Headaches

A cluster headache usually begins as a severe, sudden headache that can begin while sleeping. The pain occurs on one side of the head and may be described as burning, sharp, constant, and may affect the eye. Cluster headaches can be triggered by alcohol, cigarette smoking, high altitudes, bright light (including sunlight), exertion, heat (hot weather, hot baths), foods high in nitrites (preserved meats), and certain medications.

Migraine Headaches

These are severe headaches that usually occur with other symptoms, such as vision changes, light sensitivity, nausea or vomiting. The pain may be throbbing, pounding, or pulsating and usually lasts 6-48 hours. Some people experience an aura (vision disturbances), prior to the migraine. Migraine triggers include stress and anxiety, caffeine withdrawal, changes in hormone levels, lack of sleep or changes in sleep patterns, exercise or physical stress, missing meals, smoking or exposure to smoke, perfume or other odors, bright lights or glare. They can be triggered by foods such as those containing tyramine including red wine, aged cheese, chocolate, meats containing nitrates (cured or processed meats, salami, hot dogs, bacon), or other food additives such as MSG and aspartame.

Rebound Headaches

These are headaches that keep coming back and may occur from overuse of painkillers. These may also be called medication overuse headaches. Patients who take pain medication more than 3 days a week on a regular basis can develop this type of headache.

More Serious Headaches

Rarely, a headache may be a sign of a more serious cause. Call your health care provider if:

This is your first headache and it interferes with your daily activities
Your headache comes on suddenly and is explosive or violent
It is the worst headache ever, even if you regularly get headaches
You also have slurred speech, a change in vision or alertness, problems moving your arms or legs, loss of balance, confusion, seizures or memory loss
Your headache gets worse over a 24-hour period
You also have a fever, stiff neck, nausea, and vomiting with your headache
Your headache occurs with a head injury
Your headache is severe and just in one eye, with redness in that eye
You are over age 50 and your headaches just began, especially if you also have vision problems and pain while chewing
You have cancer and develop a new headache

How can I help with headaches?

I will take a medical history and perform an examination of your head, eyes, ears, nose, throat and neck to help assess your headaches and triggers.

Individual diet and lifestyle advice is given following assessment. Herbs, nutritional supplements and homeopathic remedies support treatment, and can help to reduce inflammation and muscular spasm, improve circulation, support the nervous system and provide natural pain relief.

If you are ready to take control of your own health, call me at Brunswick Naturopathy (0403 755 584) or book an online appointment.

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