Natural health: alternatives to prevent headaches

I get headaches quite often. Is there a natural alternative to the usual over-the-counter remedies?

While many of us reach for the paracetamol or aspirin bottle when a headache hits, there are many natural methods and supplements that can help relieve the pain and prevent headache frequency.

Before you decide which natural remedy is right for you, it is important to try and uncover the root cause of the headache — it could be due to injury, diet, stress, or even a combination of these factors?

Acupuncture is particularly effective at dealing with chronic headaches. In a review of two large trials in people with tension-related headaches, researchers found acupuncture along with pain relief was more effective than using pain relief alone.

Adding acupuncture to acute treatment or routine care has been shown to reduce migraine frequency and intensity.

Massage is a modality that works well for some but not others — most people have an idea as to whether or not hands on techniques such as this are suitable for them.

The specific technique combining principles of acupuncture, osteopathy, and massage known as craniosacral therapy works well for headaches due to stress and/or injury. This technique involves very light touch and manipulation of the skull and spine.

If food intolerances or allergies are at the root of headaches or migraines, then the solution is often as simple as removing the offending items or groups of food from your diet and working on healing your intestinal health. The difficult part is identifying and isolating the trigger foods.

Supplements such as Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) and Coenzyme Q10 are useful in treating headaches in the long-term, magnesium can help where it is tension related, and the herbs feverfew and butterbur are great for headaches and migraines.

I also like Boswellia as a stand-by cabinet remedy, since it can be taken in the same way as paracetamol, taking two capsules with water to relieve a headache rather than using it as a long-term measure.

Feverfew and butterbur can both cause gastrointestinal upset in some individuals, so use with caution. They are not recommended for use during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

I feel on the verge of tears most of the time, and even the smallest thing going wrong can completely derail my entire day. I do not want to go on anti- depressant medication, but was wondering if you could recommend anything to help me cope better with problems and upsets.

It certainly sounds as if you are feeling overwhelmed right now. I would suggest you investigate flower essences, which are considered to be both a safe and effective method of restoring emotional balance when it appears that your world is crumbling around you.

You can visit a practitioner, who will prescribe a single remedy or custom combination of essences, or you could use a readymade combination from one of the many ranges available — try Rescue Remedy from Bach Flower or Emergency Essence from the Australian Bushflower range.

Yoga is often touted as the ultimate antidote in times of stress, great as both a long-term and short-term source of relief from physical and emotional upheaval. You would also benefit from a popular tension-relief breathing method called Humming Bee Breath.

Sit comfortably with your eyes closed and focus on your breathing, then draw in a long breath through the nose, humming gently on the outward breath while keeping your jaw in a relaxed position.

Do this for 12 full breaths, humming each exhalation to spread to a different area of your body and face.

Quite simply, having a cuppa and a good cry will also help. The act of actually preparing a pot or cup of tea is enough to create a sense of relaxation, and crying is our natural mechanism for relieving stress.

The flow of tears removes the excess stress hormones, prolactin and adrenocorticotropin, which build up during tense times.