The Root Cause of Headaches and Migraines Points to Long Term Relief
A migraine is not just a bad headache but in analyzing the differences we may have lost the most important element: that a headache is simply our body trying to tell us something.
The ease of grabbing an over-the-counter pharmaceutical that often gives rapid relief hides the insidious nature of ignoring our body’s signals. The long-term use of prescription meds as a preventative is even worse. Popping a daily pill is simply suppressing the warning signs and adding a greater burden on the body in the form of side-effects.
By understanding the root cause we can treat it through giving our body what it needs and thus finding long term relief without medications.
So Many Silent Sufferers
We most often distinguish between tension headaches and migraines because of the broader symptoms associated with migraines and their particularly debilitating nature.
A couple of weeks ago I woke up and found myself unable to see properly. My eyes wouldn’t focus and I was sensitive to light but the pain in my head was only moderate. My whole day was a wash-out as I could only do gentle activities and couldn’t see well enough to work. I incorporated some of the natural remedies I mention below but only a good night’s sleep fully reset my brain.
Migraines typically involve throbbing searing pain with sensitivity to light and may involve nausea, dizziness, visual or auditory disturbances, shortness of breath and even numbness or tingling. The symptoms can be quite disconcerting if you’ve never had one before.
Studies indicate that 1 in 7 adults in the US suffer regularly from severe headaches and migraines. The World Health Organization states that headache disorders affect 40 per cent of the population – 3 billion people worldwide – and are a significant burden on individuals, imposing a financial cost and impaired quality of living. For employers, headaches can affect productivity more than most other conditions.
If you want to get into the weeds there’s many different kinds of headaches. But really they are just labels giving an indication of the underlying root cause or a slight variation in symptoms. We won’t distinguish the term further here.
Medication Options and Their Dangers
Headaches are a form of pain so the usual array of pain medications are used with a range of side-effects impacting our long-term health. Over-the-counter options such as acetaminophen (Tylenol or Paracetamol) and ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) are commonly used, plus the special headache formulas like Excedrin that adds caffeine.
Prescription Celebrex may be offered which is a Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory like ibuprofen or naproxen (Aleve) but it has a dubious safety profile and has been shown to be no more effective.
Triptans (such as Axert, Maxalt, Zomig, Relpax and many others) are Big Pharma’s answer to severe headaches. This class of drug acts as a “serotonin receptor agonist” meaning it enhances serotonin levels in the brain which constricts the blood vessels. The idea is that by reducing the blood flow around your brain, the pain is lessened in severity. But side-effects can be severe such as nausea, dizziness and cardiovascular complications.
For the preventative approach, doctors tend to focus on the anti-seizure medications such as gabapentin, blood pressure medications like beta-blockers and even antidepressants. All of which are detrimental to long-term health if taken indefinitely.
Getting to the Root Cause
Sometimes a headache has a single obvious cause like sleep deprivation, dehydration, physical exertion, neck or back misalignment, or too much screen use. But in chronic cases it may be a combination of factors that are causing underlying ill health with the headache simply the loudest symptom.
Addressing the root cause will improve the overall health of the body and generate long-term relief.
Here’s 10 of the most common culprits:
In one study nearly 42 percent of patients with chronic migraines were deficient in vitamin D. Riboflavin (vitamin B2) is another common deficiency linked to migraines, as is Magnesium and CoEnzymeQ10. Many deficiencies are caused by medications such as statins and birth control pills (see #10).
A number of chemicals commonly found in everyday foods such as MSG (monosodium glutamate, a flavor enhancer) and aspartame (an artificial sweetener used in diet sodas, iced teas and many processed food products) are notorious for triggering migraines.
Specifically blood sugar management. Headaches can be triggered by sugary foods and carbohydrates with a high glycemic index; particularly if not balanced with protein, fat and fiber.
can alleviate a headache in a pinch by restricting the blood vessels in the brain, but the over-consumption of caffeine can lead to chronic headaches.
vary by individual and can develop over time. But the most common foods known to cause chronic headaches include gluten (anything with wheat or certain other grains), corn (and high fructose corn syrup), dairy, soy and chocolate.
Estrogen is particularly noted as a major cause of migraines which is why a high proportion of sufferers are women of childbearing age. Poor thyroid health (the master hormone regulator) can also be a factor.
can be an underlying component for headaches. See my earlier articles on autoimmune disease and the microbiome.
have been found to increase the risk for chronic headaches. Both are associated with inflammation and a disordered immune system.
Conditions such as chronic Lyme disease or a parasitic infection can trigger headaches with no other noticeable symptoms.
Many medications such as Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) or antacids for heartburn and acid reflux, have been found to increase the risk for migraines by 70%. Overuse of headache medicines can also backfire.
In most cases, chronic headaches are a result of a combination of factors with the body struggling to get itself back in balance. A natural approach tends to support many aspects of health all at once so that overall balance is restored.
Natural Solutions for Long-Term Relief
Many of these strategies are simply addressing the root causes directly and may require trial and error to see what works best for you.
High quality supplements like magnesium glycinate or threonate, CoEnzymeQ10, a B-complex, and Vitamin D.
Essential Oils like peppermint, basil, rosemary and lavender, inhaled via a diffuser or rubbed into the temples. A drop of peppermint on each temple is my go-to.
Herbs like ginger and turmeric which are anti-inflammatory, as well as the adaptogens like ashwagandha and rhodiola which can help balance hormones.
Fix your food to eliminate ultra-processed and packaged fare, smoked meats, sodas and gluten, to focus on whole foods with plenty of organic leafy greens (high in magnesium), oily fish like salmon, and good fats like avocados.
Improve your microbiome to address leaky gut and enhance neurological function and hormonal balance. Read 10 tips to do so.
Tapping also known as Emotional Freedom Technique has been shown to provide relief from headaches. One easy to access resource is the Tapping Solution app.
Acupuncture has been shown to reduce frequency and severity of migraines.
For hormonal headaches try these natural thyroid support recommendations.
Gentle activity like going for a walk outside.
Additional natural pain relievers – as discussed here.
If you’re on medications today you’ll need to address the root causes and start incorporating the natural remedies before gradually weaning off the pharmaceuticals. Patience will be required. It may seem like it gets worse before it gets better but stick with it; your body will thank you!
