Natural Headache Treatment
Natural Headache Treatment
What is a headache?
Natural Headache Treatment | Headache is pain in any region of the head. Headaches may occur on one or both sides of the head, localized in a certain location, radiate across the head from one point, or have a band-like quality. A headache may be sharp, throbbing, or a dull ache. Headaches may appear gradually or suddenly, and they may last less than an hour or for several days.
Types of headaches: It’s important to figure out what type of headache is causing your pain. If you know your headache type, you can treat it correctly.
Tension headaches: This is the most common type. It feels like a constant ache or pressure around the head, especially at the temples or back of the head and neck. They are not as severe as migraines and they don’t usually cause nausea or vomiting; and they rarely stop you from doing your daily activities.
Cluster headaches: These are recurring headaches that occur in groups or cycles. They appear suddenly and are characterized by severe, debilitating pain on one side of the head, and are often accompanied by a watery eye and nasal congestion, or a runny nose on the same side of the face.
This type of headache causes restlessness and irritability; affected individuals are unlikely to lie down, as someone with a migraine might. The cause of cluster headaches is unknown, but there may be a genetic component.
Sinus headaches: Inflammation of sinuses, often due to an infection, can cause this type of headache. It usually comes with a fever and can be diagnosed by symptoms or the presence of pus on examination.
Rebound headaches: Overuse of painkillers for headaches can lead to rebound headaches.
Culprits include over-the-counter medications like aspirin, acetaminophen (Tylenol), or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), as well as prescription drugs.
Migraine headaches: Migraines can run in families and are diagnosed using certain criteria.
- At least five previous episodes of headaches
- Lasting between 4–72 hours
- At least two out of these four: one-sided pain, throbbing pain, moderate-to-severe pain, and pain that interferes with, is worsened by, or prohibits routine activity. At least one associated feature: nausea and/or vomiting, or sensitivity to light and sound.
A migraine may be foreshadowed by aura, such as visual distortions or hand numbness. About 15-20% of people with migraines experience these symptoms.
Triggers: There are many triggers for headaches that we might not be aware of. Some of these triggers might be certain foods that we eat, poor sleep, poor posture, certain habits such as grinding teeth, and bright lights. It is always a good idea to keep a diary of your daily diet and activities to pinpoint the cause of your headaches.
Causes: Your headache symptoms can help your doctor determine the cause and the appropriate treatment. Most headaches aren’t the result of a serious illness, but some may result from a life-threatening condition requiring emergency care.
Conventional Treatment: Some conventional treatment options for the different types of headaches include aspirin, ibuprofen, or acetaminophen (Tylenol) that are usually sufficient to relieve the pain.
Naturopathic Treatment: Natural Headache Treatment| There are many natural ways to treat headaches. Naturopathic Doctors assess patients based on the symptoms they present with and determine what type of headache it is. Asking about a patient’s diet is usually the first approach as food reactions are a significant contributor to headaches and some improvement in symptoms, if not complete remission, can be achieved by eliminating problematic dietary items. Other treatment options include nutritional supplements such as magnesium and vitamin B6, acupuncture, and physical medicine such as hydrotherapy, chiropractic adjustments, etc.
I get frequent and/or severe headaches. What do I do?: If you suffer from headaches, call us to book an appointment to see our Naturopathic Doctor at our Vaughan location at:
8760 Jane Street, Unit 103
Vaughan, ON, L4K 2M9
(905) 597-2071.