MD Cause : Psychological stress. Unknown.

MD Rx : Non-narcotic Pain meds.

ND Cause: Calcium and magnesium deficiencies in tension headaches; Calcium, magnesium and Omega-3 EFA deficiencies in Migraines.

Discussion: If psychological stress was the cause of headaches then everyone in the United States would have headaches all day long during the presidential election season. Stress can be a catalyst, or a trigger for the appearance of a headache, but is not the cause. The muscles of the body need calcium and magnesium in order to constrict and relax properly. If there is not enough calcium and magnesium to go around then the muscles will constrict but not relax. This is referred to as a muscle cramp or spasm. When the muscles in the neck and head become cramped, you get a tension headache. Why it is the muscles in the head and neck that constrict due to psychological stress - and not the muscles of some other part of the body (the hand for instance) is a question that conventional science, in its arrogance, does not concern itself with, Once the body is replete with the 90 EN (which includes Calcium and Magnesium) then the muscles will be hard pressed to become cramped.

The same mechanism is at play with Migraine headaches but there is an additional culprit which makes migraine headaches so debilitating: Omega-3 EFA deficiencies. There is a curious subset of biochemicals in the body called Prostaglandins. They act like mini-hormones. They are found in virtually every part of the body. They are made from fatty acids. There are 10 things that prostaglandins do that science has discovered so far. Some of their more noteworthy functions are the dilation and constriction of blood vessels; regulation of calcium movement; and regulation of inflammation. If there exist deficiencies in prostaglandins, then the intensity and duration of headache pain will increase.[1]

My Rx: In addition to the 90 EN and the elimination of the 12 Bad Foods:

• Beyond Osteo Fx powder or liquid: 1 bottle per 100 pounds per month. 1 heaping scoop per bottle per day of the powder; 1 capful per bottle per day of the liquid – taken in 2 divided doses. You can also take a dose of this During a headache to help to shorten its duration. Mix 1 scoop with 3 ounces of fresh squeezed orange juice and 3 ounces of water.

• Ultimate EFA+: 2 bottles per month. Take 3 caps twice daily with food.

Homeopathic medicine offers an excellent treatment of headaches that do not yield to the Medical Nutrition program outlined above, most of the time the treatment must be individualized. See if any of the remedies listed below matches any of your symptoms and give it a try. Failing that, call my office for an appointment or see Appendix II for a list of homeopaths that I recommend.

Menyanthes trifoliata:

• Menyanthes has many headache symptoms, very often localized at the vertex or forehead; often it is a pressing, compressing or bursting head-ache, and often the phenomenon, that (hard) pressure gives relief, leads to this remedy. A strange symptom in the head is a swashing.

Belladonna:

• Congestion of blood to the head, with external and internal heat; distended and pulsating arteries, stupefaction in the forehead, burning, red face; worse in the evening when leaning the head forward, from the slightest noise, and from motion.

• Stupefying, stunning headache, extending from the neck into the head, with heat and pulsation in it; worse in the evening, and from motion; better when laying the hand on the head, and when bending the head backward. 

Sanguinaria canadensis:

• The headaches are periodic (which includes before/during/after menses).

• Begin in the morning and increase during the day till evening (come and go with the sun).

• Accompanied (at height of headache) with severe nausea and vomiting (food, mucus, bile, bitter).

• With marked congestion of head and flushes of heat; possibly accompanied from a feeling of heat or burning from head to stomach; or with chilliness and pale face.

• The pain extends from the occiput and settles behind the right eye.

[1] Omega-3 EFAs have been shown to reduce the frequency, duration and severity of headaches.