How we can help
Headaches
Most headaches are due to strain on the muscles in the neck or head, or congestion of the blood vessels which supply them. The brain itself cannot feel pain because it contains no pain receptors. Headache is a common pain and is not often an indication of anything serious.
Headaches can be a symptom of anxiety, stress, physical tension, lack of sleep, over-consumption of caffeine in tea or coffee or suddenly cutting down caffeine intake. Food allergy, eyestrain, fever, hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar, especially if you have not eaten for some time), drug side effects, sinusitis, pre-menstrual tension can also cause headaches. That very common form of headache, the hangover, is mainly caused by dehydration!
A bad headache, with a temperature of more than 100°F or 38°C and intolerance of light, may imply meningitis. Pain behind one eye, with blurred vision, may imply acute glaucoma or iritis. If any of these conditions apply you should consult your doctor immediately.
Constitutional treatment is recommended for recurrent headaches caused by stress, anxiety, or tension.
Migraine
Migraine is the term for occasional severe headaches, usually confined to one side of the head, associated with nausea and vomiting, blurred vision, and other visual disturbances, intolerance to light and occasionally numbness and tingling in the arms. In a severe attack, the only thing to do is lie down in a darkened room until the symptoms wear off. Attacks are often heralded by abnormal tiredness, nausea, or flashing, shimmering or distortion of objects towards edge of visual field; once the headache comes on, these symptoms tend to disappear.
The immediate cause of migraine headaches is constriction, then swelling of the arteries which supply the brain, but why the arteries suddenly behave in this way is not known. Stress, hypoglycaemia, and certain foods are the most frequently cited 'trigger factors' of this miserable complaint, which affects one person in ten. Three times as many women as men are affected by migraines and they are often worse round period time. Incidence and frequency of attacks tend to tail off in middle age, though they may worsen during the menopause in women.
Taken early enough, vasoconstrictors, antihistamines and anti-emetics can minimize the symptoms of an attack; alternatively, combinations of anti-hypertensives, tranquillizers and anti-depressants can be taken on a permanent basis to prevent attacks. Osteopathy, in particular cranial manipulation, may also offer relief.
Homeopathic treatment of migraine is constitutional; however, there are some things that you can do that may help. In addition to avoiding stress, tension and tiredness and learning some form of relaxation or meditation, try eliminating certain foods from your diet and then reintroducing them, to see what effect they have. Foods known to trigger migraines are, in order of their attack-producing potential: chocolate (and other forms of concentrated sugar), cheese and dairy products, citrus fruit, alcohol (especially red wine), greasy fried foods, some vegetables (especially onions, broad beans), substances containing caffeine (tea, coffee, cocoa and cola), salt, wheat and yeast extracts, meat (especially pork, liver, sausages and cured meats such as bacon and salami) and shellfish. Stay off these, one at a time, for about four weeks, then reintroduce them and note the effects.
Food additives - notably E101, 210 - 219, 321 and 621 can also act as migraine triggers, as can smoking, perfumes and some oral contraceptives. Excessive TV watching is not a good idea either.
Positive measures include taking extra Vitamin B6, C and E and also evening primrose oil and adding fresh root ginger to cooking.