Herbal Remedies for Headaches

David Hoffman

The headache is one of humanity's most common afflictions. In the United States alone, up to 50 million people seek medical help for headaches every year, and about $500 million is spent on headache remedies annually. Interestingly enough, however, most headaches are caused by fatigue, emotional disorders or allergies, with only about two percent of all headaches resulting from organic disorders.

The brain itself is insensitive to pain, as is the bony covering of the cranium. Headache pain results from the stimulation of such pain-sensitive structures as the membranous linings of the brain and the nerves of the cranium and upper neck. This stimulation can be produced by inflammation, by the dilation of the normal or abnormal blood vessels of the head, or by muscle spasms in the neck and head.

Headaches brought on by muscle spasms are classified as tension headaches. Those caused by the dilation of blood vessels are called vascular headaches. A more specialized classification, by the International Headache Society, further divides headaches into 14 categories for research purposes. A system designed to help the herbalist select the appropriate remedy categorizes headaches as follows:

• Dietary: possible allergy to certain foods or additives.
• Environmental: caused by pollutants, poor body posture, lighting, sound.
• Stress: physical, emotional or mental in origin.
• Organic: disease, such as hypertension.

Many plants exist that may be considered headache herbs. Unfortunately, not all will always work for all people.

Balm Cayenne Chamomile Elder flower Jamaican dogwood Lavender Marjoram Peppermint

Rosemary Rue Skullcap Thyme Valerian Wood betony Wormwood

If a clear-cut underlying pathology exists, this will naturally serve as the focus of treatment. If none has been found, herbs should be selected that will ensure good elimination, support liver function and address any obvious general health needs.

Various essential oils can be used to relieve headaches. Particularly effective oils are lavender, rosemary, and peppermint, either separately or in combination. Lavender can be rubbed on the temples or made into a cold compress and applied to the temples, the forehead or the back of the neck. Equal parts of lavender and peppermint may be even more effective, for lavender has the ability to enhance the action of other oils when it is used in blends.

It is also worth nothing that while lavender is a sedative, peppermint is a stimulant, and that many commercial headache remedies combine a stimulant (usually caffeine) with one or more analgesics. This is because painkilling drugs often have a slightly sedative (sometimes even a depressant) effect. Hence caffeine is included to counteract this. Lavender and peppermint will produce a similar effect without the risks inherent in synthetic drugs.

If the headache is caused by catarrh or sinus infection, inhalations with lavender, peppermint, rosemary or eucalyptus will usually be very effective in both relieving the headache and clearing the underlying congestion. All these oils are antiseptic and will combat the nasal infection as well as give immediate symptomatic relief.

The National Headache Foundation has developed the following tips to help control headaches:

• Avoid aged cheeses, citrus fruits and chocolate.
• Compose a list of all the foods that cause you discomfort, and avoid them.
• Eat regular meals.
• Sleep well. Try to wake up the same time every day and avoid sleeping late on your days off.
• Choose your environment. Avoid bright or glaring lights and wear tinted glasses if necessary. Avoid smoke- and perfume-filled rooms.
• Learn to relax. Practice relaxation and stretching techniques to release built-up tension.
• Don't overexert or take on more than you can handle. Practice saying no.
• When traveling, give you body time to adjust to new surroundings.
• Drink plenty of water and eat lots of foods high in complex carbohydrates, such as pasta.
• Try to avoid all alcoholic beverages. If you are going to drink, limit your intake to one or two drinks.
• Beware of medications that may aggravate your headaches.

David Hoffman, FNIMH, AHG, has been a clinical medical herbalist since 1979. He is one of the founding members of the American Herbalists Guild and author of 17 books. Excerpted from Herbal Prescriptions After 50 with permission by Healing Arts Press, www.healingartspress.com.