Headaches and Migraines

These suggestions are not intended to replace appropriate professional advice.  Please check labels and consult your pharmacist if you take medications.

There are various types of headaches and many different causes or triggers. It may take some experimenting with any of the following suggestions that appeal to find what works best for you. 

A Healing Diet

• Stay hydrated.  Drink 7-10 glasses of room temperature filtered or spring water.  Avoid chlorinated water.
• Consume a diet that is 75-80% alkalizing.  If your system is acidic you are more likely to experience headaches.
• Shift up to organic.  Pesticides and other chemicals can trigger headaches.
• Make fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts, beans, legumes, and whole grains the mainstays of your diet.  Eat wheat only if it’s sprouted.
• Eat complete protein no later than lunchtime for better digestion of amino acids.
• Fermented foods improve mental health and correct pH.
• Ginger tea improves circulation, relieves nausea, and reduces pain.  In Traditional Chinese Medicine it is prescribed to prevent silent strokes.
• Cook gently.  High heat generates acrylamides and advanced glycation end products.

Here is a list of foods known to trigger a migraine or headache. Keep a food diary.

• Processed Meats
• Chocolate
• Dried Fruit
• Cold or Iced Drinks
• Aged cheese
• Alcohol, especially red wine
• MSG
• Fermented dairy products
• Pickled foods
• Excess coffee
• Bottled soft drinks
• Beans

Basic Supplements to cover common deficiencies:

• Bio-Strath – improves stress tolerance, corrects pH, relieves fatigue.
• Vitamin D - 8,000 IU for one month then reduce to upper limit of 4,000 IU anti-inflammatory, relieves fatigue, antidepressant.
• Vitamin C – anti-inflammatory, reduces anxiety and fatigue. 
• Magnesium – a common deficiency associated with migraines and headaches. 
• Omega 3 fatty acids – *See study results below.
• Probiotics – correct pH, play a role in balancing mood.

Special Care for Headaches – the following remedies have proven helpful. Try them on their own, or in combination.

• Co Enzyme Q 10 – 100 mg – studies show it can reduce migraine frequency.
• Feverfew has a long history of successfully relieving headache pain.  Daily use may have a preventative effect.
• *A large 2 month study of migraine sufferers found that a combination of omega-3 fatty acids and curcumin significantly reduced the frequency, severity and duration of migraine headaches.
• There are homeopathic remedies that deal effectively with specific types of headaches.  Columbrina is helpful for a hangover or for a headache brought on by overeating or constipation. Kali Phos is for crushing headaches, etc.
• Peppermint oil is applied directly to the temples to relieve pain, while lavender oil can be applied to the upper lip and inhaled to reduce symptoms.

Additional Suggestions

• Keep all pathways of elimination clear. Dry body brush to open skin pores and encourage lymphatic drainage – take enough magnesium to keep bowels moving easily. The more circulating waste (acid) there is in your system, the more likely you are to suffer from a headache.
• Perform the 4-minute workout by Dr Zack Bush 2-3 times daily to keep nitric oxide levels high and vessels open.  (view online)
• Watch your posture.  Chronic slouching, inappropriate footwear, sitting for long periods of time at a computer can all contribute to headache frequency.
• Try a Neti Pot.  Many customers and staff have eliminated headaches, reduced frequency of colds and flu, and corrected inner ear disturbances.
• If you have ever had a head injury you may benefit from a course of Serrapeptase.  When taken on an empty stomach, this enzyme scours the body breaking down old scar tissue and other inflammatory material that can interfere with blood, oxygen, and nerve pathways.
• Learn to relax and let go of tension.  Make your wellbeing your No.1 priority!
• Fresh air, sun and play are foods for Life.  Breathe deeply, exhale thoroughly. 

Many customers have enjoyed multiple health benefits following this plan.

We hope you will, too!

*Revised September 2024