Migraine Headaches: their Relation to Digestion and Natural Remedies for Migraines and Headaches

1a) From the Traditional Herbal point of view all of these pains have similar origins. However, by and large, the most common causes for migraines and headaches is due to digestive disruption or severe indigestion. This can be produced by an a) emotional situation or b) the actual food that is being eaten. A massive migraine can be triggered by simply eating certain types of specific foods. For some it may be chocolate, for some it is rich creamy (dairy products) foods, for others it can be heavy greasy foods hard to digest foods. For others certain food additives may trigger it. For some who's stomach is already impaired not eating can also bring it on. This occurs because when the stomach is not digesting it takes part in an eliminatory process. Should a particular toxin find its way to the stomach when it is in this mode a headache may ensue in some people.

Many who have this as the cause of their migraines are not aware that they even have or are having a digestive problem. Yet, some of these people who suffer terribly from their migraines typically do not get relief from their headache until they actually feel nausea and end up vomiting the stomach contents which usually relieves their pain completely or for the moment. This is a very clear indicator that their digestion in general, their stomach or their stomach contents in particular is somehow related to their problem.

The mechanism by which a pain in the area of the head could arise from a problem that is actually much lower in their anatomy is actually quite simple.

Simply imagine what happens to any food that sits where it is being kept warm and moist but is not actually digesting. After a relatively short time it will start to ferment. Fermentation is just a more glamorous or elaborate word for "rotting."

The concept that what we eat can actually rot inside of us is not too far-fetched. Many people have bad breath, strong body odor, pass partially digested foods in their bowel movements, bloat, partially regurgitate food (reflux), etc  these effects are produced from what is fermenting rather than being digested in their digestive tract. The digestive process starts in the stomach. If something goes wrong in the stomach headaches and migraines might occur.

It is the purpose of food to be assimilated into the body through digestion to ultimately become flesh but, before it can become flesh it must first be converted into blood. Where there is normal digestion this process occurs without discomfort. But, where there is a digestive problem the contents of the stomach partially ferment. One of the by-products of fermentation are gases. Some of these gases enter the blood stream in small quantities. Gases by their lightness tend to rise within the body to the area of the head. Once there, the heat of the head (which is naturally a warm body area) makes the gases expand just enough to create the often unbearable pounding pain of a migraine headache. The pain can be constant or be in harmony with the rhythmic beating of the heart. This gives the clue that it is blood related. And, as blood is directly formed through digestion. Something is in the blood that should not be there because of digestive impairment.

How to help this problem? Some resort to the most common approach; they chose to numb the pain. This, of course, resolves nothing and in due time the head ache is back. Others blame their genetics and their DNA which also resolves nothing. Most go on for years suffering from this very simple but very debilitating problem and accept it as normal. The usual remedies used can also have severe side effects with prolonged use. This is not speculation, it is a matter of fact.

Some people use simple things like cayenne pepper to create heat in their stomachs to consume the excess vapors of fermentation to remove their headaches. This does consume the vapors and often does remove a massive head ache but, does not restore stomach functions. Others use a digestive remedy. Both methods work. The cayenne is more temporary the digestive remedy is generally more long lasting because it restores the digestive process.

Digestorum and/or Paracelsus Elixir are great digestive remedy formulated to support stomach, pancreatic and liver functions. They are often used for severe Migraines. For most it works immediately. For others it needs to be taken for about 1 to 6 weeks to produce lasting results.

See Digestorum Paracelsus Elixir Paracelsus Anti-Toxin

b) Sometimes there is pressure around the area of the head that can also produce a head ache. This can sometimes be alleviated by simply placing something cool around the front of the neck. Anything from a cool wet towel to a can of cool soda pop can be placed on the front of the neck. Sometimes people simply place their hands into warm or cool water to "draw down" this pressure.

c) As mentioned above some people suffer from indigestion that causes foods to accumulate and ferment in the bowel. Sometimes a colonic or a simple enema can completely remove a headache in minutes. Needless to say, as effective as this method can be it is not always the most convenient or the most popular method.

d) Nervous tension can also bring on a headache. In herbal theory nervous tension aggravates digestive function; especially stomach functions. As mentioned above one result can be a headache.

2) A very typical headache pattern appears to start at the base of the skull proceeding along the sides of the head and into the eye sockets. If one were to examine a simple acupuncture chart they would notice that this pattern of pain follows what is commonly referred to the upper "gallbladder meridian." When there is pain along this meridian line it usually indicates, what is termed in herbal jargon as, a stagnation of energy. As mentioned this meridian terminates behind the eyes. When the energy is stagnant within this meridian the energy of bright light can further overload this energy stagnation further aggravating the pain.

Usually making this energy move more freely relieves the pain - this is simply done by finding the pressure point at the base of the skull and pressing it. When this point is found there is no mistaking it. It is sensitive and it hurts to the touch. There are two points, one on each side of the base of the skull. By pressing hard there or having someone else do it for you, will produce an increase of pain that is released as soon as the pressure is removed. The result is usually that the headache is gone or at least lessened.

Sometimes eating some simple food moves the stagnation. By simple food - foods like oatmeal, good bread etc. is intended.

3) Some people due to nervous tension or other reasons put their own spines out of alignment. This misalignment is enough to interrupt proper energy flows along the spine and skull and can also produce a migraine/headache. In such a case a chiropractic adjustment provides noticeable relief.

Attention: There is also something to be said about head pains that are caused by other types of circulatory stagnations that can produce tumors. These are of an entirely different order than headaches caused by digestive disorders and the other circumstances mentioned above. These type of problems are outside of the scope of this article and the herbal products seen on this web site.