Taming Headaches Naturally by Neva J Howell

If you’re alive, you’ve probably had a headache at least once in your life. Headaches seem to be a universal thing. You most probably have experienced a tension headache, from stress, or the kind of intense but fleeting headache that comes from eating something cold too fast. However, did you know that there are at least 18 different causes of headaches?

We can get headaches from caffeine, indigestion, stress, alcohol, food allergies (MSG is a big culprit here and is disguised in many of the foods we eat), eyestrain, fever, over-exertion, dehydration, hunger, hypertension, sinuses, menstrual problems, TMJ, muscle tension, allergic reaction to perfumes, cleaning products, car fumes, etc., infected teeth, oral contraceptives, improperly fitting eyeglasses, outdated eyeglass or contact prescriptions, or an injury to the head.

Additionally, headache can come from congestion or imbalance in other parts of the body. For example, headaches at the temple may be related to TMJ, or temporal mandibular joint disfunction.

If the pain runs from the left shoulder up over the cranium to the left eye, gall bladder congestion may be a factor whereas liver congestion will sometimes manifest in headaches in the crown area.

Another form of congestion or imbalance in the body that can cause headaches, along with a host of other problems over time, is an overly acidic ph level.

And yet another cause of headaches - menopause. I didn't know this til I became perimenopausal myself and started reading posts on a menopause message board. Though this is one symptom I haven't yet experienced, it is apparently quite common in menopausal women.

As a wellness counselor, one of the first things I like to know regardless of the type of health challenge is how regular elimination is for that person. Constipation can definitely cause headaches, along with a host of other problems over time. If you are not having two to three regular bowel movements per day, you are constipated.

I’d like to briefly discuss the most common type, tension headaches, and suggest some ways of working to manage tension headaches holistically. However, whenever frequent and unexplained headaches occur, it is always wise to seek medical attention, to rule out any underlying physical problem. Also, if you are under a doctor’s care for any known condition, you should always check with your chosen healthcare professional before adding anything new to your daily regimen. It is my hope that you have chosen a natural medicines practitioner or a doctor willing to work with one to find the right combination of natural and allopathic options for your optimal health.

Tension headaches can be caused by quite a few things, most of them stress-related. Physical, mental or emotional stress can cause a tension headache. Poor posture, for example, is one physical factor. Emotional stress, unresolved anger, worry and anxiety, depression and resistance to change can also trigger a tension headache. In addition, some food allergies can cause them. Rhythmic and relaxing movement, such as Qigong may prove beneficial.

One note on food allergies: in the eyes of an enzyme therapist, a food allergy is simply a food your body does not have sufficient enzyme capacity to assimilate. I am a firm believer in enzyme therapy for helping the body correct food allergies naturally.

So what can we do about tension headaches? Well, the number one suggestion I have is STRESS REDUCTION, whatever it takes. The truth is that a lot of us, in today’s fast paced world have become so accustomed to living in stress that we don’t even realize when it has become damaging to our system. So, in order to reduce it, we first have to become more aware of it’s effect. We do this simply by noticing our body.

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BIO:

Neva Howell is a wellness counselor and spiritual healer. She provides over 700 pages of health and wellness information at her website: http://www.healthynewage.com

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