25 Types of Headaches and What to Do About Them…

Headaches are unwelcome visitors.  Our headaches natural remedies guide below covers 25 different types of headaches and some helpful tips for each. This list is not exhaustive and detailed discussion and remedies for an additional 28 are listed by J.H. Kellogg, M.D. in the members area FlipBook.

Headache types and your next step

• Nervous tension headaches: Continual pain in one area or many, while also experiencing sore muscles in neck and upper back, also lightheadedness and dizziness. Treatment of this most common of headaches includes application of ice packs on neck and also upper back. Take extra vitamin C and bioflavonoids. Avoid sugar, caffeine, food allergens, stress.  Especially relevant is to get enough exercise.

• Cluster headaches: Strong, throbbing pain on one side of head, tearing of eyes, flushing of face, congestion of nose. May occur 1-3 times a day for weeks or months. Take enough protein, avoid inhalant allergens, and keep a diet diary.

• Hangover headache: This headache has throbbing pain; it is caused by drinking liquor. Put ice on the neck and drink lots of water and fruit juices. Stop drinking alcohol.

• Exertion headache: This headache is caused by physical exertion or sexual excess. Apply ice packs to the point of pain, improve the diet, and stop the excesses.

• Caffeine headache: It is a throbbing pain that happens when you try to quit your coffee addiction too fast. First of all, drink a small amount of coffee to stop the headache; and then gradually reduce the amount and frequency therefore getting away from this addiction.

• Sinus headache: A nagging pain to the right and left of the nose and over it. Apply moist heat, to reduce sinus trouble (381), and take more vitamin C.

• Bilious headache: The temples throb, and there is a dull headache in the forehead. It is caused by overeating, wrong eating, and inactivity. Take an enema; then change your diet and get more exercise.

• Menstrual headache: A headache which feels like a migraine (560); it occurs at menstruation or during ovulation. Take potassium, magnesium, and vitamin B6.

• Hunger headache: A general headache which occurs just before mealtime, and is caused by skipping meals or excessive dieting. Eat better meals, which include complex carbohydrates and protein, to help carry you to the next meal.

• Eyestrain headache 1: Pain in the frontal lobes, just behind the eyes. Many think this is caused by uncorrected vision problems; but it can also be caused by too much brain work at late hours. Change your way of life; perhaps you need a change in eyeglasses.

• Arthritis headache: Pain at the back of the head or neck, which increases with movement. Feverfew herb teas are recommended, but not during pregnancy.

• Hypertension headache: A dull pain over much of the head, increased by movement. You need to reduce your blood pressure.

• Eyestrain headache 2: Frontal pain on both sides, which is unusual, may be caused by overuse of the eyes; eye muscle imbalance; uncorrected vision; astigmatism. Check your vision and correct if need.

• Fever headache: Headache develops with fever, due to inflammation of the blood vessels of the head. Reduce fever; apply ice packs.

• Migraine, classic: Similar to the common migraine; but it is preceded by auras—such as visual disturbances, numbness in arms or legs, smelling of strange odors, or hallucinations. It is caused by excessive dilation or contraction of blood vessels in the brain.

• Migraine, common: Severe throbbing pain, often on one side of the head; nausea; vomiting; cold hands; dizziness; and sensitivity to light and sounds. This is caused by excessive dilation or contraction of blood vessels of the brain. —See Migraine Headaches.

• Sinus headache: Gnawing, nagging pain over nasal/sinus area, often increasing in severity as the day goes by. Fever and discolored mucus may be present.

Allergies, infection, nasal polyps, food allergies. Often caused by blocked sinus ducts or acute sinus infection. Increase intake of vitamins A and C; use moist heat to help get sinuses to drain.

• Temporal headache: Jabbing, burning, boring pain; pain in the temple or around the ear when chewing; weight loss; flu-like symptoms; problems with eyesight. Usually seen in people over fifty-five. Untreated, can lead to blindness, stroke, heart attack, or a tear in the aorta. Caused by inflammation of temporal arteries. Apply cold cloth; get more rest.

• Bilious headache: Dull pain in the forehead and throbbing temples. May be caused by indigestion; overeating; lack of exercise. Colon cleansing can help.

• Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) headache: Temporal, above-ear, or facial pain; muscle temple pain upon awakening. Caused by stress, contraction of one side of face; clicking or malocclusion (poor popping of jaw; neck or upper back pain; bite), jaw clenching. gum chewing. Reduce stress; use relaxation techniques, biofeedback, nutritional supplements, ice packs.

• Tension headache: Constant pain, in one area or all over the head; sore muscles with trigger points in neck and upper back; light-headedness; and dizziness. The most common type of headache and is caused by emotional stress, anxiety, worry, depression, anger, food allergies, poor posture, or too-shallow breathing. Apply ice packs on neck and upper back; take supplements of vitamin C with bioflavonoids, bromelain, magnesium, primrose oil, and ginger for relief of muscle spasms.

• Tic douloureux: Short, jabbing pains around the mouth, jaw, or forehead. More common in women over fifty-five years old. Take nutritional supplements.

• Tumor headaches: Progressively worsening pain; projectile problems with vision, speech, and equilibrium; personality changes. Treat as for cancer.

• Vascular headaches: Throbbing on one side of the head, therefore sensitivity to light and often nausea. Related to cluster headaches and migraines. Caused by disturbances in the blood vessels. Lie down and keep your blood pressure under control.

• Aneurysm-associated headache: Early symptoms mimic those of cluster headaches and migraines. If an aneurysm ruptures, it can cause sudden extreme pain, double vision, rigid neck, and stroke leading to unconsciousness. A balloon-like bulge or weak spot on a blood vessel wall; or high blood pressure. Keep blood pressure low.

—Also see Migraine (560) for more information.

(See Sample of the Members FlipBook)