More than 50 per cent of the population lives with varying levels of tension headache every day. This type of headache can be quite debilitating because it affects physical and mental performance and emotional status.

Tension headaches manifest as a tight, heavy sensation or constant pressure around the head, and in most cases are associated with symptoms of anxiety, depression, hyperventilation, constant facial-muscle contraction, frowning, jaw clenching, muscular aches and weakness of the entire body. Tension headaches can eventually develop into a severe muscular, vascular and migraine headaches, with symptoms such as throbbing, pounding, pulsating pain that is hard to control.

The build up of life’s physical, mental and emotional stresses generally initiates tension headache. A diet that includes lots of sugar, alcohol, icy-cold food and drink, nitrites in cured meat, and MSG can cause dilation of the blood vessels, which is the most common cause of the headache. Chronic bacterial, viral and fungal infection, food allergens, oestrogen or trauma induce the release of macrophages and lymphocytes. These cytokines in turn cause a more severe type of headache, which can be long lasting and resistant to pain-killing medication.

Traditional Chinese medicine classifies headache into two major types:

Type one is related to fire in the liver and gall bladder channel. This type clinically presents headaches of a more serious nature. Constant ache, throbbing, heavy pressure, pounding, eye pain and strain, nausea, anger, dry mouth with a desire to drink all the time, constipation and red flushed face are the main symptoms of this type.

People experiencing type-one headaches often have an underlying liver dysfunction arising from chronic exposure to stress. They are high achievers, work long hours, eat on the run, and regularly take painkillers, which let them to function without pain, but does not address the problem. They also drink alcohol to help them relax, indulge in excessive sexual activity, have late nights and dream-disturbed sleep. They drink too much coffee and tea to keep going during the day and they constantly suffer from intracellular dehydration, which causes toxic overload in their system.

Type-two headache is related to blood deficiency in the spleen, liver and kidneys. This type of headache clinically presents as a dull, constant, vague ache around the whole head. Patients often experience light-headedness, shortness of breath, dizziness, depression, physical and mental fatigue, lack of motivation, sluggishness, poor memory, and slow metabolism. They also suffer deterioration of eyesight, hearing and the nervous system. Type-two headache sufferers are mainly female who have experienced multiple pregnancies and childbirth, have a long history of heavy bleeding, surgery, physical and emotional trauma, and chronic poor diet - especially when they were growing up.

Successful treatment of any type of headache is not the pain-killing medication western people use so freely. Natural practitioners are concerned not only about the headache, but also the toxic effects arising from regular use of pain medication, which is more dangerous to the health. You don’t want to live your life with a constant but suppressed headache only to die from liver disease or bowel cancer. So the first step always is to identify the root cause of the headache.

I have a 100 per cent success rate in my clinic in treating any form of headache. For type-one headache, I use a liver-fire reducing herbal compound, while for type-two headache I prescribe a blood-building herbal compound. These herbal formulations eliminate the symptoms of headache and help stop the use of the pain-killing medication.

Once we determine the cause of the headache, we design a personalised treatment program according to the principle of the differential diagnosis. Detoxification, lifestyle education and change of diet are necessary for patients suffering liver-fire headache, while treatment for blood-deficiency headache patients involves blood building, adrenal support and nervous-system support. The foundation of both types of treatment is emotional support.

Many of my patients have been using pain-killing medication for a decade or longer. Some were even prescribed steroid-based drugs by their doctors because painkillers become ineffective. After three to five months’ treatment, all these people are headache free, declaring their life to be worth living again.

While it’s difficult to outline a treatment program in a short article, here is our primary strategy:
Symptomatic relief, eliminate drug use.
Bowel and liver detoxification.
Adrenal support to help adapt to stress and restore adrenal function.
Nervous system support.
Lifestyle and diet improvement.
Emotional detoxification, support and emotional nutrition.
Maintenance.
Here are four simple self-help techniques:
Drink 250ml of purified water every hour.
Allocate 10 minutes for relaxation every day.
If you work in an office, take a five-minute walk at lunchtime, and spend another five minutes stretching.
Try to have a 15-minute power sleep in the afternoon: this is infinitely more beneficial than a cup of coffee, a can of cola, a sweet pastry or a cigarette.
This article was first public in the magazine “Nature and Health”

Contact us now for professional guidance.