Some Foods Trigger Headaches
Headaches are sometimes caused by foods, even if the headache occurs a few hours or days later, according to Dr. David W. Buchholz. In a recent article for Bottom Line Personal he talked about the most common food triggers:
Caffeinated Beverages - decaffeinated coffee or tea can be a trigger as well since they still have other chemicals that can trigger headaches.
Processed meats - Bacon, salami and other meats that contain nitrites
Chocolate and Cocoa
MSG - a flavor enhancer
Alcohol - particularly red wine
Citrus Fruits and Juices
Onions, Sauerkraut, Lentils and Some Beans - Beans include broad Italian, lima, fava and navy
Soy Foods - especially tempeh and miso.
Dr. Buchholz wrote Heal Your Headache: The 1-2-3 Program for Taking Charge of Your Pain
Showing posts with label Headaches. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Headaches. Show all posts
Friday, February 02, 2007
The Aroma Of A Green Apple Can Relieve Headaches
By now everyone has read about aromatherapy and how inhaling certain essential oils can relieve a number of symptoms. For example in my family when someone has a stuffy nose, I put eucalyptus on a cotton ball and they inhale it. Or sometimes we add it to a large bowl in which we have place boiling water. Then we put a towel over our head and inhale the steam. This works very well and you get a facial for no extra charge!
Well now it seems that the aroma of a green apple, which can reduce anxiety, can also reduce the pain of migraine headaches. According to Alan Hirsch, MD, author of Life's a Smelling Success, aromatherapy can change the electrical activity in the brain, which in turn reduces the vascular constriction thereby relieving the pain from migraine headaches.
It can also work for other headaches. My family uses a blend which we apply directly to the forehead and temples (very sparingly as it's strong) and this takes away headaches very quickly and can relieve migraines.
Many natural food stores carry these types of products.
One of the best parts of using essential oils this way is that you can apply it whenever you feel the pain and it goes directly to the point of pain. Unlike aspirin you don't have to wait 4 hours in between pills and have it go through your entire digestive system to finally get to the headache.
By now everyone has read about aromatherapy and how inhaling certain essential oils can relieve a number of symptoms. For example in my family when someone has a stuffy nose, I put eucalyptus on a cotton ball and they inhale it. Or sometimes we add it to a large bowl in which we have place boiling water. Then we put a towel over our head and inhale the steam. This works very well and you get a facial for no extra charge!
Well now it seems that the aroma of a green apple, which can reduce anxiety, can also reduce the pain of migraine headaches. According to Alan Hirsch, MD, author of Life's a Smelling Success, aromatherapy can change the electrical activity in the brain, which in turn reduces the vascular constriction thereby relieving the pain from migraine headaches.
It can also work for other headaches. My family uses a blend which we apply directly to the forehead and temples (very sparingly as it's strong) and this takes away headaches very quickly and can relieve migraines.
Many natural food stores carry these types of products.
One of the best parts of using essential oils this way is that you can apply it whenever you feel the pain and it goes directly to the point of pain. Unlike aspirin you don't have to wait 4 hours in between pills and have it go through your entire digestive system to finally get to the headache.
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Acupuncture, Natural Techniques Work For Tension Headaches
I just love it when you see a study from one country that confirms what other countries and cultures have known all along. Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years in Eastern medicine and now that one Swedish-based study confirms it works... it becomes valid. I'm sure the millions of people who use these methods in China and elsewhere are so thrilled to be validated.
Anyway, acupuncture along with relaxation training and exercise was found to provide "long-lasting improvement" for people with chronic tension-type headaches as reported by the journal Cephalalgia. See CNN's report on the study here.
The exercises used in the studies included ergometric cycling, stretching and exercises for the neck and shoulders.
The relaxation techniques included breathing techniques as well as stress coping techniques.
The researchers recommend that people who suffer from chronic tension-type headaches should use all three treatments for the best results.
I just love it when you see a study from one country that confirms what other countries and cultures have known all along. Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years in Eastern medicine and now that one Swedish-based study confirms it works... it becomes valid. I'm sure the millions of people who use these methods in China and elsewhere are so thrilled to be validated.
Anyway, acupuncture along with relaxation training and exercise was found to provide "long-lasting improvement" for people with chronic tension-type headaches as reported by the journal Cephalalgia. See CNN's report on the study here.
The exercises used in the studies included ergometric cycling, stretching and exercises for the neck and shoulders.
The relaxation techniques included breathing techniques as well as stress coping techniques.
The researchers recommend that people who suffer from chronic tension-type headaches should use all three treatments for the best results.
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