Anyone have any herbal remedies for headaches?

[Bex]

I am so tired of migraines and headaches. I've been dealing with them since I was a kid. I now take Relpax whenever I have a migraine--and it is truly a lifesaver, I don't doubt that--it works. But the side effects aren't pleasant.

Has anyone tried any herbal headache remedies--not just to ease pain, but even to prevent the headaches from occuring in the first place?

[amymaew]

Ok, this is starting to feel like my answer for everything, but go to a chiropractor!!I used to get migraines every day, was on Relpax and some other maintenance drug and when I got pregnant with Henry I stopped taking them. The chiropractor worked wonders!!! I've had maybe 1 migraine since I had Henry and I never went back on the drugs. hth!

[earthgirl]

I have a headache right now
I personally do not take anything for headaches (I don't get migraines...I hope I never do) except for water and a cool dark room. I am not an herbal expert, but to reference my Rosemary Gladstar book Herbal Healing for Women pg 232~ she claims though primarily known for it's effects on the female reproductive sysytem, black cohosh is also highly regarded as a nervine and muscle relaxant and has successfully used for headaches, pain and muscle spasms. It's anti-flammatory action makes it useful for arthritis, and for muscular and neurological pain.
I also second a visit to the chiropractor!

[Kacy]

I put a tiny bit of peppermint oil on my forehead.

[betterbirths]

Homeopathics work good for a headache.

[DoulaYvonne]

I use a little "Migrastick" it is essentially spearmint and other soothing things. It works for me but I don't really get many headaches. My dh on the other hand, will get about 3-4 true, horrible migraines per year. Throwing up, sensitive to light, sound, temperature, the works! He also gets normal stress heaadaches quite frequently - maybe 3-4 times per WEEK!
I would love to help him with the regular headaches, right now he pops Advil with mixed results. Chiropractic intervention might be an option, is there anything else to recommend?

[doulamb]

I use a product called "Temple Balm" it has peppermint, lavender and camomile....it is definetly soothing and smells awsome....I actually purchased it from a home party that I went to, but I am sure if you went to the health food store you could find something either exactly like it or really simular....I am actually using it right now, my head is pounding! It almost feels like bengay or something like that.....kind of cooling....

[Raven]

Hi Becky,

If you haven't already done this then it would be of real benefit to work out what triggers your migraines in the first place and also how they present. For example, my migraines are always with the right side worse, photophobia, nausea and I can't stand noise, even normal sound levels seem suddenly far too loud. My headaches are definitely triggered by stress, cheap chocolate, too much sugar and alcohol.

Alternative treatments be they homeopathic, herbal or flower remedies will offer more than one choice to treat migraines. The more info you have on the how, what, when and why of your individual situation, the better chance you have of getting the treatment which will work for you - hope that makes sense. It might be worth keeping a 'migraine diary' for a month or so if you haven't already tried that.

In your shoes, I'd look for a qualified practitioner to help sort this out. A chiropracter is another excellent idea. I find tension in my neck and shoulders aggravates my tendency to headaches and a visit to my chiropracter always helps.

HTH,

Kath

[WaterMoon]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DoulaYvonne I use a little "Migrastick" it is essentially spearmint and other soothing things. It works for me but I don't really get many headaches. My dh on the other hand, will get about 3-4 true, horrible migraines per year. Throwing up, sensitive to light, sound, temperature, the works! He also gets normal stress heaadaches quite frequently - maybe 3-4 times per WEEK! I would love to help him with the regular headaches, right now he pops Advil with mixed results. Chiropractic intervention might be an option, is there anything else to recommend?

I absolutly LOVE migrstick!!! This REALLY does work for migraines! You can get one at the healthfood store.
Look up Cranial-Sacraal therapy This helps with migraine prevention along with chiropratic

[brilliant]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DoulaYvonne I use a little "Migrastick" it is essentially spearmint and other soothing things. It works for me but I don't really get many headaches. My dh on the other hand, will get about 3-4 true, horrible migraines per year. Throwing up, sensitive to light, sound, temperature, the works! He also gets normal stress heaadaches quite frequently - maybe 3-4 times per WEEK! I would love to help him with the regular headaches, right now he pops Advil with mixed results. Chiropractic intervention might be an option, is there anything else to recommend?

my hubby has severe headaches about 200 days a year. all the other days are moderate headaches... i have tried to convince him to see a chiro but i'd love to hear some other suggestions.

[amymaew]

Quote:

Originally Posted by brilliant my hubby has severe headaches about 200 days a year. all the other days are moderate headaches... i have tried to convince him to see a chiro but i'd love to hear some other suggestions.

What does he take for them? He can become 'addicted' in a sense to some OTCs like Excedrin and then get a rebound headache. I would strongly suggest chiro! There are 'maintenance' drugs he could take if he wanted to go the pharmaceutical route. headaches sucks!

[jesscardona]

Well.. I have suffered from migraines since I was a teenager.. I go to a neurologist for treatment.. and I have been on all kind of meds. for prevention and for pain too.
You don't want to fall in to the rebound thing like Amy mentioned, like taking advil or any other OTC.. I'll tell you what a DR. told me.. before I got preg. I was on meds. and I could not get preg. while taking those meds. and there was no human way I could come off of this medication and not die! well he told me to take B2 and Magnesium so I did and was able to come off the topamax, which is what I am doing again.. I've also taken relpax which is very good but the side effect I just don't like.. I take imitrex.. and I get bad headaches and very often..
The B2 and Magnesium has worked wonders for me! but I can't stop taking it.. once I do I start getting headaches.. but I don't care I rather take vitamins than those drugs!
I was on a very high dose of medication to be able to control and "prevent" my headaches.. plus the side effects of the topamax is just awful.. hth

[raeben]

i don't think this will work for everyone but here is my story:

i had bad headachs and migranes since early high school. a few years ago i did a really good detox/cleansing juice-fast for about 10 days. my headachs went away completely for the first year and a half and now i get them much less frequently than before the fast. i haven't had a migraine since.

some headachs are related to issues that a chiro can fix but i think a lot of peoples headachs are triggered (at least in part) by allergies or toxins in the body.

[DoulaCBE]

I get headaches from the weight of my hair and I've had the occasional migraine.

What works well for me is to take 2 excedrin with a huge shot of some kind of soda that has caffiene. Within 15 minutes the headache is gone.

I have a good friend who gets migraines and she told me about the above trick that works to kick her migraines if she catches it early.

[earthgirl]

Is it possible that the cause of these headaches are in the home? Dust, poor air quality, toxic cleaners, and other products?
Drink lots of water too! I know I get severe headaches when I am dehydrated.