We have all experienced headaches at different times of our lives, a condition characterized by throbbing and unpleasant pain in the skull. Sometimes diffuse, sometimes localized, pain can appear suddenly or settle in gradually, until it eventually becomes unbearable. Once the pain sets in, it generally increases as soon as the affected person is exposed to exacerbating factors such as light, noise, heat or cold. Although the pain usually fades after a few hours, never to reappear, it is possible for the headache to manifest itself once again after a few days before becoming periodic.
In most cases, the headaches occur for common reasons. For example, a headache is often due to an emotional upheaval, a change of lifestyle, emotional or work stress, or overly intense intellectual activity, indigestion or extreme temperatures. In women, headaches occur most often several hours before menstruation, indicating the arrival of the menses. Finally, in some cases, they can also be caused by an inflammation or underlying conditions, such as sinusitis or glaucoma.
The latest medical research indicates that the headache is actually caused by the action of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that acts on the central nervous system, the trigeminal nerve, a cranial nerve, that includes the ophthalmic and maxillary nerves. While most headaches are usually harmless, it is important to know that some of them are sometimes caused by more serious illnesses that require medical attention. When headaches occur too frequently and are accompanied by other symptoms, it may be necessary to seek further medical advice in order to determine their exact cause To avoid systematically resorting to pain killers and analgesics, it is possible to opt for a homoeopathic treatment that acts on the causes of headaches instead of their symptoms, thus obtaining better results and more relief for the patient.
Persistent pain aside, the symptoms associated with headaches vary from one individual to another. In some cases, headaches may be shooting and the pain is then pulsating, that is to say throbbing to the heartbeat’s rhythm. In the case of a vasomotor headache, it is often possible to see redness across the face accompanied by tingling and burning sensations in the cheeks and ears. Regarding pre-menstrual headaches, the pain consists of a swelling sensation in the skull and breast tenderness. As for headaches due to mental fatigue, they may result in eating disorders and memory problems. Finally, headaches may generate pain of varying intensity around the eyes, maxilla and frontal bone.
Vasomotor headaches are one of the most common forms of headaches. For best results, it is necessary to start treatment as soon as the first symptoms appear in order to prevent the pain from intensifying. If the pain is throbbing but is easily bearable, take a single dose of 5 granules of Belladonna 5 CH. However, if it is too hard to bear, it is recommended to increase the intake frequency and to take the granules every hour until the symptoms disappear. If the pain is relieved when the subject remains still and applies pressure on the sore area, take 5 granules Bryona alba 5 CH and repeat the intake every hour if necessary. Finally, if the headache is accompanied by a tingling and burning sensation in the cheeks and ears, take 5 granules of Sanguinaria canadensis 7 CH and repeat the granule intake as needed. It should also be noted that the homeopathic treatment of vasomotor headaches occasionally uses remedies containing Apis mellifica, Cactus grandiflorus, Coffea cruda, Glonoinum and Secale cornutum.
Headaches caused by indigestion are mostly treated with Nux vomica, a remedy that is particularly suitable in cases of gastric and digestive disorders. Thus, take 5 granules of Nux vomica 9 CH every hour as long as the pain persists. Treatment can also vary depending on the symptoms, even though remedies are mostly made from Cyclamen europaeum, Iris versicolor, Lycopodium clavatum and Sepia officinalis.
Given that this type of headache is linked to the premenstrual syndrome, one should turn to remedies prescribed in case of gynaecological disorders. If the headache occurs before menstruation and is accompanied by a swelling sensation in the skull, take 5 granules of Bovista gigantea three times a day until the pain goes away. If the headache is accompanied by breast tenderness, choose instead 5 granules of Asterias rubens 5 CH until the pain and discomfort decrease significantly. If the headache usually disappears from the beginning of menstruation, it is recommended to take 5 granules of Lachesis mutus 9 CH three times a day as long as the symptoms persist. Finally, if the headache occurs during menstruation, it will be necessary to take 5 granules of Actaea racemosa 9 CH every hour to relieve pain effectively.
The treatment of headaches that are caused by mental fatigue is usually spread over a fortnight. But if it turns out that the symptoms do not completely disappear after two weeks, the treatment can be renewed for improved effectiveness. If the symptoms involve eating disorders, take 5 granules of Anacardium orientalis 9 CH twice a day for two weeks. If the subject finds it difficult to concentrate and has difficulties remembering what he or she learned, administer 5 granules of Kalium Phosphoricum 15 CH twice a day for two weeks. In case of recurrent headaches, the treatment will most often be based on remedies made from Calcarea phosphorica, Phosphoric acidum and Silicea.
If the headache is accompanied by eye pain and vision problems, it may be relieved by taking 5 granules of Paris quadrifolia three times a day. In case of periodic headache, remedies made from Gelsemium sempervirens, Secale cornutum and Tuberculinum are recommended.
When related to anxiety, headaches should be treated with Argentum nitricum and Ignatia amara. If the anxiety fits are often accompanied by spasms, take 5 granules of Ignatia amara 9 CH twice a day. In all other cases, take 5 granules of Argentum nitricum 9 CH twice a day to relieve the pain.
Following an epidural, the patient who underwent surgery may sometimes suffer from more or less violent headaches that often completely disappear within days. If the implemented post-operative treatment is already quite substantial, you may want to use homeopathic remedies to relieve pain without tiring the body. In this case, it is possible to take 5 granules of Bryona alba 7 CH and 5 granules of Hypericum perforatum 5 CH three times a day, or about 5 granules of Natrum sulfuricum 15 CH, to be taken three times a day as well.
If the headache becomes periodic and the pain persists despite all the treatments administered, it then becomes necessary to consult a doctor. Furthermore, if the headaches are intense and are accompanied by repeated vomiting, dizziness, neck stiffness and visual or auditory hallucinations, it is imperative to conduct thorough medical examinations to determine the headaches’ real causes.
Good to know: When the headache becomes too severe in intensity, it is necessary to resort to high doses of analgesics in order to be able to quickly relieve the pain. By combining certain homoeopathic remedies with analgesics, it is possible to reduce the doses by half while obtain a similar therapeutic effectiveness
