The treatment of (migrain) headaches

Types of Headaches

Tension Headache

Tension headaches are the most common type of headache and are often caused by stress, muscle tension in the head and neck, poor posture, fatigue, or dehydration. Symptoms include a dull, pressing pain on both sides of the head, painful neck and shoulders, fatigue, and sensitivity to light and sound.

Migraine

Migraine headaches are among the most common neurological disorders, affecting millions of people worldwide and significantly impacting daily lives. Often a pulsating headache on one side but sometimes both. There’s possibly a sensitivity to light, sound, and smells. Some experience nausea or vomiting, while others have dizziness preceding the main event.

Types of Migraine Headaches

• Migraine without aura: This is the classic type, where pulsating headaches are often accompanied by sensitivity to light and sound
• Migraine with aura: Migraines with visual disturbances like flashes of light or blind spots
• Migraine with vertigo: Migraine with dizziness sometimes even with nausea

Cluster Headache

Cluster headaches are a rare but extremely intense form of headache that typically occurs on one side of the head. They are characterized by short-lived attacks of severe pain around the eye, accompanied by symptoms such as redness of the eye, tearing, nasal congestion, and facial swelling. The exact cause of cluster headaches is unknown, but it is thought to be related to abnormal activity in certain parts of the brain.

Sinus Headache

Sinus headaches are caused by inflammation and infection of the sinuses, which are the cavities behind the forehead, cheeks, and eyes. Symptoms include pain and pressure in the face, nasal congestion, coughing, and fatigue. Sinus headaches can be exacerbated by allergies, colds, or flu.

Symptoms

The symptoms of headaches can vary widely from person to person. While common symptoms include pain, pressure, throbbing sensations, sensitivity to light and sound, nausea, and fatigue, some may feel the pain at the back or top of the head as well.

What’s aggravating or improving it?

Factors that can aggravate headache symptoms include stress, irregular sleep patterns, fatigue, dehydration, overuse of pain relievers, certain foods, hormonal changes, and environmental factors like bright light, noises or strong odors. On the other hand, rest, relaxation, adequate sleep, a healthy diet, and avoiding triggers (dark rooms) can help reduce headache symptoms.

Risk Factors

Common risk factors for headaches include genetic predisposition, hormonal changes (such as during menstruation or menopause), lifestyle factors like poor posture, stress, and irregular sleep patterns, environmental factors, and certain medical conditions.

Regular Treatment

Tension Headaches: Often treated with relaxation techniques, pain relievers, and avoiding triggers. Migraines: Common medications include painkillers, triptans, anti-nausea medication. Cluster headaches: Often treated with oxygen therapy, triptans, or other medications prescribed by a doctor. Sinus Headaches: Can be relieved by treating the underlying sinus infection, such as with antibiotics and decongestants.

Homeopathic Treatment

Headache symptoms are often well-treated homeopathically. This depends on how long the symptoms have been present and what the cause of the headache is.

An example case is as follows:

A woman of 40 years old and mother of two children has migraine headaches. The migraine starts at the occiput and extends to her right eye. The symptoms occur immediately after menstruation. She is very sensitive to light and sound. During an attack, the symptoms are worse around 3:00 PM. Menstruation occurs every 28 days, lasting three to four days. She doesn’t have any thirst.

I prescribed her Bell 200C (This was prescribed in this specific case and is not a standard drug for treating migraine headaches). She called me a week later that she had another migraine. “It was the worst migraine in years” she told me. We stayed in contact and there after the migraines became less frequent and less intense. Two months later Bell 200C was repeated. She had a slightly more intense migraine headache and after that the migraine headaches became even less common and severe.