Headaches
Seven in ten Americans have at least one headache a year, and 45 million people live with chronic headaches. Headaches can go from merely annoying to debilitating, and the term headache encompasses at least twelve major types, including tension headaches, caffeine-withdrawal headaches, hunger headaches, menstrual headaches, hangover headaches, and ice cream headaches (a.k.a. “brain freeze”).
Tension-type Headaches
Also known as ordinary or idiopathic headaches, these involve infrequent, episodic pain that can last from a few minutes to a few days. The pain is usually bilateral (meaning it's on both sides of your head) and accompanies a sensation of pressure or tightening. This is the most common type of headache, experienced by roughly 78 percent of the population. Most often, tension headaches are treated with NSAIDs or acetaminophen.
Sinus Headaches
As the name implies, these are created from pressure in the sinus cavities, which may be caused by congestion from a cold or allergies or inflammation from an infection (if you've got an infection, you'll probably have a fever as well). Sinus headaches are generally treated with NSAIDs, antihistamines, and decongestants — plus antibiotics in the case of sinus infection.
Cluster Headaches
These are rare and are extremely intense; they tend to “cluster” over a period of weeks or months, only to go away and reappear later. Cluster headaches typically come on a few times a day and last about forty-five minutes. They occur more often in young men and in people who frequently smoke and drink alcohol. Conventional medical treatment for cluster headaches typically includes drugs like sumatriptan (Imitrex), zolmitriptan (Zomig), or rizatriptan (Maxalt), which are used to prevent a headache or stop one that's already started. Side effects include tightness in the chest and dizziness.
Migraine Headaches
Migraines are intense and pounding and often accompanied by visual disturbances (called auras), sensitivity to light and noise, nausea, and vomiting. Every year, about 30 million people in the United States experience a migraine.
As with cluster headaches, conventional migraine treatments involve acute and preventive measures. In patients with mild to moderate attacks, NSAIDs are generally recommended. More severe cases are given prescription NSAIDs like naproxen (Naprosyn). Preventive and treatment meds include sumatriptan (Imitrex), zolmitriptan (Zomig), or rizatriptan (Maxalt).
Migraine pain causes many sufferers to try almost anything for relief. A recent national survey found that 20 percent of people who suffer from regular migraine headaches routinely take dangerous, potentially addictive medications that contain barbiturates or opioids (and have not been approved by the FDA) in their quest for a cure.
Herbal Headache Relief
Many traditional herbal formulas have shown the ability to handle even the toughest of headaches:
• Butterbur (Petasites hybridus) |
Extracts from this shrub have analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antiseizure actions. In several recent studies, they produced a marked decrease in severity and frequency of migraines. |
• Cayenne (Capsicum annuum, C. frutescens) |
Applied topically, cayenne preparations have been shown to relieve and even prevent the devastating pain of cluster headaches. |
• Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) |
This is perhaps the best-known herbal headache remedy. It has been shown in several studies to reduce the frequency of migraine attacks — and limit their symptoms when they do occur. |
• Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) |
The essential oil of this flowering plant has been used effectively to treat several types of headache pain. The same is true of peppermint oil (Mentha x piperita). |
• Willow (Salix alba) |
The salicin from the bark of this tree is a potent analgesic. Its headachefighting properties are well proven in both laboratory and clinical studies. |
