Author: Dr. Bonnie Brock, NMD, RD, MPH
Finding an effective treatment for a headache can be difficult because headaches in general have so many differing causes. Sometimes a headache is simply caused by dehydration, and all you need is water. Sometimes a headache is caused by hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and all you need is some quick calories. Beyond these easy fixes, headaches can get more complicated and treating them can be frustrating. Let’s take a look at some common headache types and possible effective treatments:
Menstrual migraines are common in women and are typically caused by monthly hormone fluctuations. The first step to treating this type of headache is identifying the link to the menstrual cycle by tracking both menses and the head pain. There are many menstrual tracking apps that also have a place to record symptoms like headache. Once the hormonal headache link has been established, then treating the headache involves balancing the hormones, or softening the extreme fluctuations across the cycle. While this is typically done with a prescription for birth control; it is also possible to administer botanicals like chasteberry and black cohosh or minerals like magnesium on a timed schedule.
Migraines can also be triggered by lack of sleep, stress, infections, strong neurologic stimuli, like harsh lights or strong scents, and many other things. Often a migraine develops under the influence of a “perfect storm” of triggers, so pinpointing and avoiding the triggers can be maddening. I often hear patients say things like “I’m ok with bright lights, unless I am stressed” or “I will definitely get a migraine if I drink alcohol after a night of poor sleep”. While someone works to identify their personal triggers, the pain and suffering of a migraine can be treated with various medications, interventions and botanicals. Daily intake of the plant extract feverfew can help reduce the frequency of migraines. A study found that people who took an extract of feverfew had fewer migraine attacks per month compared to people who took placebo. A 3-month study with 49 people found that a combination of feverfew, magnesium, and vitamin B2 led to a 50% decrease in migraines. Another herbal extract, butterbur, has excellent evidence on its role of reducing migraines, though more research on safety is warranted.
Cluster headaches are painful attacks of one-sided head pain that typically recur over periods of weeks or months and then can disappear for periods of time. Treatment of cluster headaches often involves identifying the trigger agent and removing it. Common triggers include food additives like MSG or nitrates, alcohol, tobacco, artificial sweeteners or foods high in tyramine, like citrus and beans.
If you suspect your headaches are due to muscle trigger points, be sure to read Acacia’s blog post about using trigger point injections for pain relief.
