Case Studies: Natural Migraine Relief

Enlarge Image Image Gallery Christopher Hobbs’s case studies are gleaned from his thirty years of studying and practicing herbalism

Recipe: Headache Tea 

Nearly everyone has a headache at one time or another. Headaches are the most common cause of missing work and, besides fatigue, the most common reason for visiting a physician. One writer on headaches said: “Millions drag themselves to work only to endure another day of decreased productivity.” An estimated 40 million to 50 million Americans experience chronic headaches severe enough to disrupt their lives. Science has increasingly identified the major mechanism of migraines and tension headaches—the trigeminal nerve (fifth cranial nerve), responsible for sensory and motor functions in the face, teeth, mouth, and nasal cavity. Headaches are believed to be triggered by pro-inflammatory substances released by the immune system due to an allergic reaction or autoimmune reaction. Certain neurotransmitters such as serotonin might also play a role.

Karen’s case

Karen was experiencing a headache when she came into my clinic. Her brow was furled, and she had a look of anguish in her eyes. I began treating her with some simple headache relievers that I have found successful. The main headache acupuncture point in the body is between the thumb and first finger near the middle of the fleshy part of the web. Applying steady or intermittent pressure to a spot you can find that is especially sensitive—even painful—for a few minutes can quickly ease some kinds of headaches, especially tension headaches or headaches due to digestive or liver imbalances. Because liver tension and hyperactivity due to stress, drugs, alcohol, and other factors is nearly always associated with headaches in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), I also pressed on the tender spot on the top of the foot between the big toe and first toe, right above where the bones come together to form a fork. This spot is a major liver-release point and can often ease a headache due to liver imbalances. The two points together are called “four gates” and are among the most popular acupuncture prescriptions for many kinds of headaches and liver problems.

I inserted needles into these two points and then began to rub a little St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) oil (with a small amount of lavender essential oil added) into the other popular headache point, the “tai yang,” at the temples. I also rubbed a little oil into the occiput—the tender spots in the hollows on the right and left under the bony ridge at the back of the skull. These are the best spots to push and work for five to ten minutes for tension headaches that start at or affect the back of the head. These are wonderful spots for releasing headaches in general, especially if you can identify a very tender and sensitive point on each side, which actually make the headache a little worse at first when they are pushed.