Headache Relief

Headaches are one of the first symptoms recorded in the history of man. Today they are the most common of all medical complaints. A number of chemicals released by arteries and nerves may set up "vicious cycles" in the tissues or structures of the head, which may be come inflamed, compressed or irritated, You now have a vicious headache; the pounding in your head is unbearable yet you must stay at work. The following tips relieve the pain.

Where is your headache? Which side? Over the top of your head? Across the forehead? The hand or hands you will work on depend on the location of the pain. Right hand for rightsided headache, both hands for a full-blown model. The spot is in the webbing directly on the narrowest part of the first metacarpal bone. It is best worked by using your index finger to hook into the bone from the thumb-side of the hand, not from the webbing. Hold this point until you feel the headache recede. This will work for an ordinary tension headache. As you hold the spot, take long deep breaths. Visualize the colour of the headache and the colour of the healthy part of your head. Breathe in the healthy colour; breathe out the headache colour. The visualization helps you to focus on the pain and resolve it instead of ignoring it and hoping it will go away.

Some headaches stem from muscle strain because of your posture, or the work you do or the tension of trying to go forward. Then, you want to work on the points at the base of your skull and, just below the collarbone.

Many headaches are caused by your refusal to speak your piece (peace). When you control what you say, you automatically tighten your jaw, your tongue root, your trachea and diaphragm. You also tighten your hands, calves and feet. Your whole structure is affected. The best correction is to find a way to speak openly and honestly. The way to release tension in the facial muscles, throat and diaphragm is very silly looking and very effective. Using a washcloth, take hold of your tongue and pull it out as far as you can, then rotate your tongue one way and the other.

Some headaches are caused by food – too much, too little or the wrong kind.That kind of headache responds to pressure on a thigh point. While standing with your hands at your side, locate the spot under your middle finger. Press in for 7 seconds; release for 7 seconds; press for 7 seconds until you feel relief.

There are many kinds of headaches – some caused by tension, some by food, or lack of food, sleeping positions. Here are a few you may recognize:

• Ice-cream headache as cold hits the palette or constricts the throat.
• Gnashing your teeth will make you feel your head is in a vice.
• Caffeine withdrawal should be gradual to avoid dilated vessels in your head.
• Hot dogs, lunchmeats and their nitrates, nitrites may also result in pain as will too much salt.
• The wrong shoes and specifically spike heels will cause a spinal imbalance that may turn into a headache.
• The turtle headache is due to sleeping under the covers and depriving you of oxygen.
• Formaldehyde from your new mobile home takes four years to dispel itself.
• Premenstrual headaches may be assisted by taking Vitamin B6 to relieve water retention in brain tissues along with Evening Primrose Oil.
• High levels of ozone in high-flying jets have been shown to cause headaches in passengers. The antioxidants, Vitamin E, C, selenium, and biflavonoids may help to reduce high altitude problems.

When headache pain strikes, the first treatment many herbalists would reach for is willow bark or Salix Alba. Used as a therapeutic herb since the time of the ancient Egyptians, willow bark is a source of salicylic acid, the compound that was used as the basis for synthesizing acetylsalicylic acid - better known as aspirin. As an herb, willow bark causes none of the side effects that plague aspirin users. I will write more about headaches and specifically migraines next month.

Yours in health,
Yvette

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E-mail Yvette Eastman with any questions.
yvette@touchpointreflexology.com