Natural remedies for your headache

Can you recommend an effective natural remedy for headaches? I am looking for an alternative to ibuprofen.

>> When it comes to headaches, the first question to ask is what the actual cause is. Headaches typically occur as a result of injury, diet, stress, or even a combination of all three.

Many natural treatments are designed to work on the basis of prevention. Acupuncture is particularly effective at dealing with chronic headaches. In a review of two large trials in people with tension-related headaches, researchers found that acupuncture along with pain relief was more effective than using pain relief alone.

Combining acupuncture with acute treatment or routine care has also been shown in trials to help in reducing migraine frequency and intensity.

Craniosacral therapy combines the principles of acupuncture, osteopathy, and massage. It is typically very effective in treating headaches that are a result of stress and/or injury since it involves very light and non-invasive touch and manipulation.

The herbs feverfew and butterbur are also great for preventing headaches.

¦ My wife has memory loss. She can go back years with stories and events but cannot remember what happened a few minutes ago.

She is on a lot of tablets for other ailments. Last September she was put on a tablet called Aricept (5mg).

Is there anything you could suggest? She is in her 70s.

>> DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid) is well known as being the single most important nutrient for brain health and development from conception through childhood, however, EPA (Eicosapentaenoic acid) is more important to adults for improving brain function, improving blood flow, and reducing inflammation.

Both EPA and DHA are mainly found in fish and seafood, and deficiencies of these essential fatty acids have been specifically linked to Alzheimer’s, ADHD, depression, chronic fatigue, and bipolar disorder. The B vitamins are crucial for brain health.

Recent research suggests that this is linked with the levels of homocysteine in the bloodstream. Find out whether or not your wife’s homocysteine levels are an issue since this will determine whether or not the B vitamin supplementation may help.

The research participants, all of whom were selected due to having mild cognitive impairment (MCI), were given MRI scans and cognition tests after two years of supplementation with B vitamins.

The results indicated that those who had been receiving the supplements had experienced on average 30% less brain atrophy than those receiving the placebo. Those who began the trial with the highest homocysteine levels experienced the greatest benefit, showing 50% less brain shrinkage.

Before your wife embarks on any supplementation regime, it is important that she discuss this with her practitioner. While Aricept is not known to react with any foods, and there is no research to show that B vitamins or essential fatty acids are contraindicated, it is always good to discuss your plans with your health provider so that he/she is able to effectively monitor any changes.

Oxygenating herbs such as gotu kola, lifeflower (breviscapini), black walnut, blessed thistle, and damiana are brilliant for memory and brain health.

Gotu kola is well-suited for memory loss since it contains a substance known as bioaluminium, which attaches to manufactured aluminium (linked with Alzheimer’s) and helps to remove it from the body.