Headache

Diet and Nutrition: (references)

Eliminate foods that cause an allergic response or to which there is a sensitivity (fast, use an elimination diet, or allergy test to isolate such foods)
Avoid dietary amines: chocolate, cheese, citrus and alcohol
Avoid food additives and colorings
Avoid red meats and saturated animal fats
Eliminate foods and drinks containing aspartame (NutraSweet) - source of many chronic headaches
Increase fiber and complex carbohydrates

Vitamins and Minerals: (references)

Vitamin B2: 60 mg.
Vitamin B6: 25 mg. TID
Vitamin C: 2 - 8 gm. in divided doses
Vitamin E: 400 - 800 I.U.
Niacinamide: 500 mg.
Magnesium: 400 mg. TID
Calcium: 600 mg.

Supplements: (references)

Quercetin: 500 mg. 15 minutes prior to eating
EFA: 1-5 gm. taken at breakfast and at dinner
Melatonin: 3 mg. at 9:00 PM every night
5-Hydroxytryptophan : 50-100 mg. TID (Note: approximately 1-3% of oral tryptophan enters the brain compared to 70% of oral 5-HTP)

Botanicals: (references)

Liquid Extract - *Passiflora incarnata (1), *Corydalis bulbosa (2), *Valerian officinalis (2), *Filipendula ulmaria (1), *Piscidia piscipula (1): 1/4 tsp. every hour until headache eases

Individual botanicals to be considered for this condtion:

Homeopathic Remedies: (references)

Headache from mental exertion:
Aur., Cact., Calc., Calc-P., Glon., Lyc., Nat-C., Nat-M., Nat-P., Nux-V., Ph-Ac., Pic-Ac., Puls., Sil.
Hammering headache:
Bell., Ferr., Ferr-Ar., Glon., Nat-M., Sil., Sulph., Nat-M.
Headache on the left side:
Brom., Sep., Spig.
Headache on the right side:
Bell., Calc., Carb-V., Ign., Iris, Sabad., Sep.
Headache in the forehead:
Acon., Am-C., Am-M., Arn., Ars., Bell., Bery., Caps., Cocc., Dros., Hep., Hyos., Ign., Kali-S., Lac-C., Laur., Merc., Nat-A., Nat-C., Nat-M., Nux-V., Phos., Puls., Sil., Spig., Stann., Sulph.
Headache in the occiput:
Apis, Arn., Bell., Bry., Carb-S., Carb-V., Caust., Chin., Cimic., Cocc., Fl-Ac., Gels., Glon., Jug-C., LacC., Nux-V., Onos., Petr., Ph-Ac., Pic-Ac., Sep., Sel.
Headache on the sides:
Alum., Arg-N., Coff., Kali-C., Kali-I., Kali-P., Ph-Ac., Plat., Puls., Sars., Spig., Suf-Ac., Verat., Zinc.
Headache in the temples:
Arg-N., Anac., Bell., Carb-Ac., Chin., Cycl., Kali-C., Kreos., Lac-C., Lyc., Nux-M., Par., Plat., Puls., Sabin., Tarax., Thuj., Verb.
Headache in the vertex:
Apis., Brom., Cact., Carb-An., Cimic., Ran-S., Sulph., Verat.

(For an overview of Homeopathy, click here.)

Other Therapies: (references)

Constitutional hydrotherapy
Get regular exercise
Consider biofeedback therapy
Consider acupuncture

Recommended Labs:

Rule out allergies: IgG Food Allergy Antibody, IgG and IgE Inhalent Allergy Antibody
Rule out brain tumor and other malignancies: PET Scan, MRI
Rule out congestive heart failure: ECG, Exercise Stress, B-Type Natriuretic Peptide, Multiple-Gated Acqusition Scanning, Angiogram
Rule out dental disorders: Dental Exam
Rule out diabetic acidosis: Oral Glucose Tolerance, Urine Ketone Dip
Rule out drug side effects: Drug Reference Information Analysis
Rule out heavy metal poisoning: Hair Analysis
Rule out herpes zoster: Viral Culture of Skin Lesion, Tzanck, CBC with Diff
Rule out hyperparathyroidism: PTH
Rule out hypertension: Sphygomanometry
Rule out migraine: MIDAS
Rule out ocular disorders: Ophthalmic Exam
Rule out osteomyelitis: MRI, Bone Scan, X-Ray, CBC with Diff
Rule out otitis media: Otoscopic Exam
Rule out rheumatoid arthritis: Latex, ESR
Rule out sinusitis: CT Scan, Illumination, Percussion
Rule out thyroid disorder: Thyroid Panel with TSH
Rule out TMJ syndrome: Physical Exam
Rule out tuberculosis: PPD Skin

* The recommended use of this supplement or therapy is based on a physiological mechanism or empirical data and is not necessarily supported by peer-reviewed research studies.