Tension headaches are treated with mild pain-relieving medicines (analgesics) like aspirin, acetaminophen (Tylenol), or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin). An acute migraine headache is most often treated with ergotamine. For prevention, many doctors prescribe either ergotamine, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. 

There is little doubt that food intolerance / allergy is the major cause of migraine headaches. The same factors may also play a role in tension headaches. Many carefully designed studies have shown that the detection and removal of allergic/intolerant foods will eliminate or greatly reduce migraine symptoms in the majority of sufferers. The most common allergens are milk, wheat, chocolate, food additives, artificial sweeteners like aspartame, tomatoes and fish. 

Foods such as chocolate, cheese, beer and wine as well as aspartame, precipitate migraine attacks in many people not only due to allergies, but also because these foods contain compounds known as 'vasoactive amines' which can trigger migraines in sensitive individuals by causing blood vessels to expand. Many migraine sufferers have been found to have significantly lower levels of a platelet enzyme that normally breaks down these dietary amines. 

FACTORS THAT MAY CAUSE HEADACHES 

Emotional changes, emotional let-down after stress and intense emotions such as anger.

Hormonal changes, e:g, mensuration, ovulation, effects of birth-control pills

Too little or too much sleep

Exhaustion

Poor posture

Muscle tension

Weather changes

Exposure to sun

Withdrawal from caffeine or other drugs

NATURAL ALTERNATIVES TO HEADACHE MEDICATIONS

Usually, simply identifying and eliminating the cause is all that is required for curing a headache. However, if additional support is required, here are two very useful natural alternatives to consider - magnesium, and a herb called Feverfew. 

MAGNESIUM

Several researchers have provided substantial links between low magnesium levels and both migraine and tension headaches, based on both theory and clinical observations. A magnesium deficiency is known to set the stage for the events that can cause a migraine attack as well as a tension headache. Low brain and tissue magnesium concentrations have been found in patients with migraines, indicating a need for supplementation, since one of magnesium's key functions is to maintain the tone of the blood vessels. Another possible benefit of magnesium for migraine sufferers may be its ability to improve mitral valve prolapse. Mitral valve prolapse refers to a loss of tone or slight deformity of the mitral valve of heart, which causes leakage of the valve and produces a heart murmur that can be heard by a stethoscope. A prolapse of the mitral valve is linked to migraines because it leads to changes in blood platelets that makes them release substances that ultimately cause the blood vessels in the head to expand. Since research has shown that 85 percent of patients with mitral valve prolapse have magnesium deficiency, magnesium supplementation is indicated. This recommendation is further supported by several studies showing oral magnesium supplementation improve mitral valve prolapse. 

For best results, use a highly absorbable form of magnesium like magnesium aspartate or citrate at a dose of 350 - 500 mg per day. 

FEVERFEW (Tanacetum parthenium)

(Indian names: Gajar/Carrot Ghas, Congress Ghas, Dhanura)

Feverfew has been used for centuries to relive fever, migraines and arthritis. According to a study migraine sufferers who had eaten feverfew daily for prolonged periods claimed that the herb decreased the frequency and / or intensity of their attacks. 

Many of these patients had been unresponsive to orthodox medicines. This improvement promoted two clinical investigations of the therapeutic and preventive effects of feverfew in migraine treatment. The first double blind study was done at the London Migraine Clinic using patients who reported being helped by Feverfew. Those patients who received the placebo (and as a result stopped using Feverfew) had a significant increase in the frequency and severity of headaches, nausea and vomiting during the first six months of the study, while patients taking Feverfew showed no change in the frequency or severity of their symptoms. Two patients in the placebo group who had been in complete remission during self-treatment with Feverfew leaves developed recurrence of incapacitating migraine and had to withdraw from the study. The resumption of self treatment led to renewed remission of symptoms in both patients. 

the effectiveness of feverfew is dependent apon adequate levels of parthenolide, the active ingredient. The preparations used in the clinical trials had a parthenolide content of 0.2 percent. While low dosages may be effective in preventing an attack, a higher dosage of 1 to 2 grams is necessary during an acute attack. Feverfew is extremely well tolerated and no serious side effects have been reported. However, sometimes chewing leaves can result in ulcerations in the mouth in about 10 percent of users.

If you suffer from chronic migraines or tension headaches you may also see a chiropractor or an acupuncturist. Both chiropractic manipulation and acupuncture have been shown to be effective in providing relief from headaches.