Headache relief, naturally
If you suffer from chronic tension headaches or migraines, you don't need me to point out the paradox of the rebound headache. You take an analgesic to relieve your pain, but when the pills wear off—one monster of a headache is unleashed. Unfortunately, just about any common over-the-counter remedy, including Tylenol and Advil (or ibuprofen), can cause this problem. In fact, Tylenol is one of the worst offenders. Often it becomes a vicious cycle that doesn't really address the underlying problem, and is a risky practice to get into, to boot. For example, Tylenol, which can be highly toxic to the liver in even modest doses, not to mention the 15,000 people who die each year from taking them—hardly a "safe" remedy.
And there's excellent research that has been done to confirm what many doctors have been saying for years: Exercise, relaxation techniques and acupuncture can relieve tension headache pain effectively—minus the rebound effect or the clawing up of your stomach.
In one study, researchers in Sweden recruited 90 patients who had suffered with chronic tension headaches for an average of seven years. None of the participants were allowed to take pain medication during the study. They were randomly divided into three groups. One group received weekly 30-minute acupuncture sessions for 10 to 12 weeks. The second regularly did cycling, stretching and repeated neck and shoulder exercises, and the third group was taught relaxation and stress-coping strategies like focused breathing.
All three groups showed improvement in both headache intensity and the number of headache-free periods. While none of the subjects did all three interventions at the same time, the researchers did recommend incorporating all three of these strategies for the best possible results.
I agree, and I'll go their advice one better—take a look at your diet. Sugar, artificial sweeteners, and caffeine are common headache triggers. Many of my patients find complete relief with making just simple dietary changes. Alcohol, aged cheeses, chocolate, dairy products, citrus fruits, and eggs can also cause problems. Try an elimination diet by removing one food type at a time and see if you experience any change in the frequency of your symptoms. This will help you zero in on any dietary culprits in no time.
