Headaches

BACKGROUND

Headaches are a major source of chronic pain. Although most people get an occasional headache, as many as 45 million Americans get them on a regular basis.

Tension Headaches

Tension headaches account for about three quarters of all headaches. They cause moderate pain on both sides of, and across, the forehead, tend to both start and fade away gradually, and are the result of muscle tightness coming from the (sternocleidomastoid) muscles in the neck. These are the muscles that turn your head from side to side. With tension headaches you can often find a tender knot right in the middle of the muscle. This knot, called a “trigger point,” refers pain and tenderness to the sides of your forehead (the temple area), and then sends the pain across your forehead. Although putting a hot compress or the pain creams on the temples and across the forehead may help temporarily, they are more effective when placed over the tender knots in the muscles on both sides of the neck.

Occasionally, tension headaches are felt at the base of the skull, on the top of the head, and/or behind the eyes. For these headaches, the pain is often coming from the muscles where they attach to the base of the skull at the top of the back of your neck. If you push on those muscles (called the sub-occipital muscles) where they attach at the base of the skull during a headache, they will be very tender and can make the headache better or worse. When the pain is reproduced by pushing on the area, you know that these muscles are part of the source of that headache. If this is the case, use heat over those tender areas.

If your headaches are severe and last over 24 hours, are associated with nausea or light and sound sensitivity (you hunt for a dark quiet room to lie down in), or you see flashing/shimmering lights before the headache, you may have migraine headaches.

TREATMENT

Because tension headaches are muscular, the same treatments discussed in muscle pain or in the SHINE Protocol will often eliminate the recurrence of these headaches. These are Sleep, Hormonal support, Infections, Nutritional support, and Exercise.

Recommended Supplements

Willow bark, Boswellia, and cherry

Herbal remedies such as Willow bark, Boswellia, and cherry can be very helpful for headaches.

Medications

Tylenol

Take an 1-2 Tylenol. Used occasionally, this is safe. Ibuprofen and other aspirin family medications kill over 16,500 Americans each year, so use the herbals or Tylenol.

Other Therapies & Advice

Menthol or peppermint containing creams or oils

Rubbed over the forehead & temples (sides of your forehead), menthol containing creams or oils help relieve headaches (keep it out of your eyes).

Physical therapy

A physical therapy technique called "stretch and spray," which approximately 10% of physical therapists are familiar with, is also an excellent and pain free way to release your muscles and eliminate a tension headache (and help prevent future ones).

A chiropractor is much more likely to be able to help than most physicians. They will release the muscle causing the headache, but be sure to use the SHINE Protocol or your muscles will tighten again in a few days.