Includes

Headache, cephalalgia, migraine.

Description

A cephalalgia, or a headache, is a subjective symptom defined as pain felt near the cranium, either on one side or all over.

Migraine is a disorder characterized by recurring headaches, sometimes accompanied by vision or digestion problems. There is often a genetic predisposition involved.

The key contributing factors are stress, menstrual periods, alcohol, certain foods and hypoglycemia.

From a naturopathic perspective, headaches and migraines often have similar causes. Acidosis or food intolerances (see our article on Food Allergies) should not be ruled out, nor should a magnesium deficiency, which is often a major factor.

Dietary Considerations

Reduce your consumption of simple sugars. Be sure to eat enough protein at every meal. Eat at least 3 meals a day. Limit your consumption of alcohol and coffee. Eat an alkaline diet (see section on Acidosis). If your symptoms are associated with your menstrual period, avoid soy and all soy by-products.

Supplements

• DC 22 or DC 37
• DC 52
• DC 26

Note

Certain chemical substances in food can aggravate or trigger migraines, such as:

• Tyramine: found in cured meats, chicken liver, fermented sausage, red wine (particularly Chianti) and sour cream
• Nitrates: a preservative used in cold cuts and/or prepared meats
• Lactose: a sugar found in milk
• Caffeine: found in coffee, tea, energy drinks and caffeinated soft drinks
• Histamine: found in beer, cheese, fish, pickled cabbage and wine
• Phenethylamine: found in chocolate and cheese
• Aspartame: an artificial sweetener

Other

• DC 45 in the case of migraines.