We are in full-blown Spring here in Siskiyou County, and for many people that means headache season. Why? Because our sap is rising and going to our heads! Remember, we are a part of nature — what’s going on in nature is also going on in us!
Let’s talk about headaches a bit. Most of us have been visited by headaches. They come in many varieties from mild to severe, from tension headaches to agonizing migraines. They can be one-sided, whole head, frontal, occipital, at the temples. They can be connected to diet, weather, teeth-grinding, dehydration, tight muscles, emotional upset and more.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), a headache is an expression of “qi deviation” — qi flowing where it shouldn’t, qi moving upward that should be moving downward. When I treat headaches, the question is always, “WHY is the qi deviating?” We can give pain-killers, analgesics for the pain, but if we are going to prevent headaches, if we are going to cure the REASON why someone is plagued with headaches, we must answer that question.
The most common reason for headaches is tension in one form or another. For our qi to flow correctly we must be relaxed! When we overwork, when we strain (physically, emotionally or mentally) the qi cannot flow in its proper pathways at its proper rate. This is why relaxation techniques, meditation, yoga, gentle exercise, breathing techniques can help the simple common tension headache.
Some people experience migraine-type headaches after a period of high tension — at the completion of a big project, at the end of finals week, after the family reunion, etc. They have been pressure cooking themselves through the event itself and now the lid is off the pot and whew, it’s a biggie. These people need to learn to release tension as it’s happening rather than storing it all up.
Another cause of headaches is fatigue — it takes qi to move qi! People who are deeply, chronically fatigued will often wake up with headaches. The cure here is going to take more time — more sleep, better food, herbs and supplements to help us build back up. Fatigue is also usually related to tension — tension tires us out, so we may need to look at larger lifestyle choices, attitudes and situations that literally tire us out.
Emotion often plays a role in headaches. People call it “stress”, but that stress often has a charge on it. Deep down, they’re angry, frustrated, worried, fearful. If we don’t feel safe or capable of releasing that deep emotion, we begin to pressure cook ourselves till the steam has no choice but to blow out our heads! People with chronic headache patterns can often point to a stressful time of their life when their headaches began. “They started when my mother became ill.” ” They started when I was going through a divorce.” “They began in high school when I was experiencing abuse.” It requires a deep personal commitment to clearing these old emotions; it may require some counseling. But it’s well worth the effort!
Food allergies contribute to many headaches, especially the migraine variety. If you frequently experience headaches I strongly suggest you experiment with eliminating the most common allergens from your diet: wheat, cow’s dairy, soy, corn. Many substitutes for these products exist so it is not as hard as you think. I have seen many serious headaches clear up once the person identified their food sensitivity and eliminated it from their diet. Generally their digestion also improves at the same time — less gas, less bloating, more regular bowel movements. Food allergies are on the rise, so give this one some thought.
Chinese medicine (acupuncture and Chinese medicinals) is really marvelous with headaches, with changing those patterns of qi movement. Acupuncture helps to attune our bodies to the qi of the changing seasons. The medicinals help strengthen qi and keep it moving appropriately. We can strengthen digestion for people with food allergies. Acupuncture helps relax the emotional body as well as the physical body. Let me know if I can be of assistance!