Herbs

In England, the herb feverfew is widely used in the treatment of migraines. The dried leaves of this plant in the chrysanthemum family (Tanacetum parthenium) are thought to work due to its anti-inflammatory properties. A double-blind crossover study conducted in Nottingham Hospital in England, revealed a 24 percent decrease in the number of migraines experienced in the 59 subjects studied. Patients received 82 mg. of dried powdered leaves daily. Because herbs vary in potency, it may be necessary to try several brands of the herb to determine if it will be helpful.

Feverfew has been a very successful remedy for Lory Reyes, a 44 year-old coordinator for a newspaper in Plantation, Florida. "I was going through a bottle of 100 htmlirin per week. My headaches started when I was 15 but they really got bad a few years ago. I was prescribed various drugs which helped, but I decided I didn't want to be on medication. So I started taking feverfew along with 400 mg. of magnesium daily. Compared to 12 months ago, I'm 95 percent better."

Tia Yoshiwara, a 49 year-old marketing director in Chicago, suffered from severe headaches since childhood. She found a variety of herbal baths help with her headaches. "For headache with pressure, I like to take a bath with a few drops of eucalyptus essential oil (it can be used as a steam inhale if you have sensitive skin) as well as my usual lavender-it relaxes me but tends to make me drowsy, and rosemary which keeps me alert though relaxed. For stress headaches, I rub diluted lavender and rosemary essential oil on my temples and lie down. My sister has had good luck using this technique for migraines. She's also found feverfew capsules to be very effective for her menstrual migraines."

In David Hoffmann's The Holistic Herbal, marjoram and peppermint are suggested along with lavender and rosemary as effective herbal rubs.

Daniel Jiao, L. Ac., an Asso-ciate Professor of the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in San Francisco, has been treating people with headaches for over 12 years. "In Chinese medicine," Dr. Jiao explains, "each patient is treated differently even if the headache symptoms are similar. We first ask the patients many questions: what time of day they get headaches, what makes it better or worse-like weather, PMS, menopause, music, or a hot shower. We then find out about diet, lifestyle, and occupation. Checking the tongue and pulse are used for diagnosis, along with a medical history. Then we are ready to do the acupuncture and prescribe Chinese herbs. It usually takes about six to 10 sessions, but it's different for each person."

After experiencing terrible migraines for 10 years, Jackie Hirtz, a freelance writer, found acupuncture helped her more than anything. "It was by accident. I was seeing an acupuncturist for stomach and back pain. When I told her I was taking injections for migraines, she began working on me for that problem, too. After 12 sessions, I was much better and I rarely get headaches now. I haven't had one for six months." Hirtz advises, "It's really important to follow your gut. I had tried acupuncture before without success. The acupuncturist I use now is a true healer and I have a lot of trust in her."

When it comes to headaches, each person has a unique profile. For some, food is a key trigger; others may find odors or stress provoke their pain. The key is taking the time to do the detective work necessary to thoroughly understand the patterns and then try to avoid whatever aggravates the condition. Finding a health professional experienced with headaches can be very valuable in helping you to track your triggers, but it's important to find someone you trust.

There is no magic drug or drug-free bullet, but by eating a healthy plant-based diet, drinking water regularly and exploring various natural approaches, most will have success in reducing symptoms and gaining some control over chronic headache.