An Herbalist’s View-

Headaches
7Song, Director
Northeast School of Botanical Medicine
P.O. Box 6626 Ithaca, NY 14851
607-539-7172 www.7song.com

Headaches are a very common problem. A majority of people will experience at least
one major headache yearly while a substantial number of others will suffer through
many more than this. Headaches decrease the quality of life for numerous people who
are constrained by the pain and disorientation of these events. Headaches are a
symptom rather then the problem itself, and are generally a referred pain originating
from various body origins. They can indicate a serious disorder such as a tumor or
cerebral hemorrhage but much more commonly they are a symptom unrelated to the
brain or any serious disorder. The brain is basically insensitive to pain; hence
headaches are rarely an indication of any problem there. They are a sign that
something is amiss somewhere, whether it’s a pathophysiological or constitutional
dilemma. This suggests that when treating headaches, especially chronic, it is
imperative to look for its underlying cause. By just relieving the pain, a causal
pathology may worsen. Relieving the pain is still a primary objective, but the reason for
the headache will still need to be addressed.
Headaches are notoriously hard to treat. Their origins are often mysterious and a
surfeit of reasons may lead to this vexing problem. Unfortunately, even after an
efficacious remedy is found, its effectiveness often seems to wan quickly. This is not
meant to discourage remedial attempts, but to let practitioners know that this situation
commonly occurs. Any relief one offers may make an appreciable difference in a
headache sufferer’s life. An important point for herbal practitioners to take into account
is to remember that we often see people who have taken many medical routes before
‘resorting’ to an herbalist. This often makes for difficult cases, but herbal medicine
coupled with a good evaluation may prove successful.
Another problem herbalists need to address is evaluating the virtues of using herbs
with strong sedative qualities when it is difficult to reduce the headache itself. The
problem that lies here is common when treating any debilitating pain. You can
generally give herbs that are strong enough to reduce the sensation of pain, but these
often interfere with cognitive function. And as someone with reoccurring headaches still
needs to continue with their daily activities, strong sedatives herbs may make them
groggy and decrease their ability to function well. It is a trade-off between their feeling
pain and being able to conduct their daily activities satisfactorily.
 Types of Headaches
The below list of is a non-inclusive, somewhat random listing of headache categories.
It is intended to introduce a number of headache types based on both modern
pathophysiology concepts and on wholistic constitutional models.
In the realm of medical pathophysiology there are broadly two major categories of
headaches, tension and vascular. These two types are the most likely seen on a day-to-
day basis. The list below names a number of headache types, many others were left off
for brevity’s sake.
Many headaches are idiopathic, without a known cause, the symptoms and triggers
being specific to an individual. While they are sometimes classifiable, they often fall on
the margins or outside defined categories.
Within the constitutional model, the medical diagnosis may be taken into account
but the focus is on examining the individual and looking for patterns such as excesses
or deficiencies that may be creating the imbalances leading to the headache (see
Constitutional polarities).
1. Allergic response- induce headaches by several mechanisms including release of
inflammatory chemicals and changes in vasculature. The pain is often of a boggy,
full and dull nature, especially in the later allergic stages.
2. Altitude headache- very common at higher elevations, often associated with other
altitude problems such as lethargy and sleeplessness. Remedies include descending
to a lower elevation and chewing Ligusticum root. They will generally decrease
before long with time and acclimation.
3. Brain tumors- though brain tumors can cause headaches the vast majority of
headaches are not brain tumors. Tumors are serious and not easy to tell apart from
other types of headaches. If a tumor is suspected, imaging with an MRI or CT scan is
necessary to determine whether one exists.
4. Bacterial and viral infection- infections may bring on headaches as seen with food
poisoning (bacterial) or influenza (viral). Treatment is based on palliative remedies
such as antiinflammatories for the pain while treating the infection.
5. Cluster headaches- these are characteristically acute, very painful, and the
individual headaches are of short duration. They generally take place a few times a
day, and occur in clusters for several weeks. While they are not common, they make
life difficult for the people who have them. They are a vascular type headache.
6. Constitutional excesses or deficiencies- these are a common type of constitutional
imbalance, which may lead to a number of different types of headaches. Excesses
and deficiencies are a good place to begin to explore an individual’s constitutional
disparity. One method of determining in which of these two realms the problems lies
is to find out whether the headache improves or feels worse after a bowel movement.
If the headache is of an excess nature it will often feel better after a bowel movement
and one of a deficient nature may worsen. As with most constitutional-based
problems, the remedies try to bring the disharmony back to balance. This includes
using herbs such as nutritive herbs for deficiencies and reducing herbs for excesses.
7. Dehydration- a common cause of headaches outdoors. Ask people how much water
they have recently drank, especially if outdoors. Ask them also to distinguish water

2
 from other beverages such as soda or coffee. They should initially drink water slowly
as drinking water too quickly can cause an upset stomach and temporarily
aggravate the headache.
8. Digestive problems- while not widely acknowledged in medical books, a wide range
of digestive irregularities cause headaches. They are often easier to assess and treat
in a constitutional picture rather than a stricter pathophysiological model.
Constipation is a source of headaches, potentially from absorbed toxic products.
When working with idiosyncratic headaches consider treating any anomaly in their
digestive tract.
9. Exertion headaches- headaches may be caused by extra physical exertion.
Relaxation is important and will generally help diminish headache symptoms
promptly.
10. Eye related- a number of situations may cause headaches including straining,
excessive light exposure and driving. Eye relaxation may help as well as
understanding the cause and preparing for it.
11. Facial pain- a range of facial pains can cause headaches. These include
temporomandibular (tmj) joint pain, tooth abscesses and ear infections.
12. Head trauma- brain injury may occur from direct damage as with a fall or
automobile accident. Headaches after any kind of accident should be suspect for this.
A skilled diagnosis and medical supervision are important here as there may be
occult cerebral damage.
13. Hormonal fluctuations- seen primarily in women, hormonal changes may bring on
headaches especially pre-menstrually and during the first trimester of pregnancy.
Birth control drugs may also cause headaches.
14. Hypertension- in general it is not very common for high blood pressure to cause
reoccurring headaches, though it is more common with blood pressures elevated
above 200/110. Medical research has not found any definitive reason why people
with elevated high blood pressure experience headaches, though it appears that
anxiety may play a role. High blood pressure medicines can induce headaches.
15. Lack of food- many people develop headaches if they are without food for a certain
(sometimes a relatively short) amount of time. These people are sensitive to small
fluctuations of hunger and it is more common in women. The headaches are
generally non-severe and happen along with other symptoms such as wandering
mind and/or muddled thoughts. Eating will generally help within 15 minutes. This
condition is sometimes called hypoglycemia, though it may not technically be so.
16. Meningitis (infection of the meninges)- may cause severe headaches with stiff neck
and fever. A medical diagnosis is necessary here.
17. Migraines- one of the most common and disruptive forms of headaches. They are
classified as vascular headaches due to the changes in cerebral blood flow, though
the importance, and whether this is the cause of the headaches, is uncertain.
Symptoms include: nausea, vomiting, photophobia, lightheadedness, scalp
tenderness, diarrhea, visual disturbances, and other neurological disturbances.
There are many triggers for migraines, some common ones include: red wine,
hunger, menses, lack of sleep, glare, excess stress and strong smells. Migraine may

3
 be preceded by an aura- a change of perception in the visual field. They are
notoriously hard to treat.
18. Rebound headache- this is caused by regular daily use of aspirin, acetaminophen
and other pain-relieving medicines. When the use of these medicines are
discontinued a painful rebound headache occurs. These can last for days or weeks.
Taking medicines for acute pain rather than on a continuous basis will prevent this
problem from taking root.
19. Sinus headaches- Irritation or infection of the nasal mucous membrane may cause
localized headaches often behind the eyes and felt around the forehead and sinuses.
Treatment consists of killing causative organisms and using decongestants.
20. Stress headaches- these headaches develop during times of emotional stress such as
giving a public speech or a job interview. Relaxation techniques such as deep
breathing are helpful. Nervine and sedative herbs may also alleviate pain.
21. Substance use and/or its withdrawal- many imbibed substances can cause
headaches. Some of these affect a broad swath of people, while others have reactions
to items that generally don’t cause problems. Conversely the withdrawal of certain
products may also lead to headaches. Below are some of the more common culprits of
both categories.
ÆAlcohol- causes a variety of headaches, particularly hangovers.
ÆTobacco- withdrawal of tobacco after habituation often causes headaches
ÆMarijuana- morning-after type headaches
ÆIce cream- can cause headaches in sensitive individuals
ÆCaffeine- both use and withdrawal may cause headache.
ÆRed wine- causes headaches, migraines and flushing in some people.
22. Systemic illness- almost any illness may cause headaches. Some of the more common
ones include; mononucleosis, SLE, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, irritable bowel disease
and many of the complications from HIV.
23. Temporal arteritis- blood vessels supplying the head and neck often become
inflamed in the elderly and can cause headaches. If first time headaches begin in
people over 50, temporal arteritis should be considered, and medically diagnosed.
24. Tension headaches- these are the most common form of headache and the type a
majority people may occasionally experience. The term tension here refers to the
sensation of the pain felt, as this form of headache has a typical constricting (tense)
feeling. It is often described as “vice like”. While they are called tension headaches,
they are not necessarily brought on by excess stress, though this can be a
contributing factor. Tension headaches are associated with fatigue, caffeine, alcohol,
certain foods and lack of food among other triggers. Many of the headaches in this
list fall under the heading of tension headache. The exact mechanisms of these
headaches are not well understood.
25. Vascular headaches-the second most important group of headaches. These are
associated with changes of the blood vessels supplying the head. Migraine and
cluster headaches are categorized as vascular type. Like tension headaches, the
mechanics of vascular headaches are poorly understood.

4
 General Triggers-the quick list
This is a short list of some of the more common causes of episodic headaches.
1. Alcohol 11. Hunger
2. Allergies 12. Injury and inflammation
3. Birth control pills 13. Muscle tension
4. Caffeine withdrawal 14. Sinus infection
5. Dehydration 15. Sleep-lack of
6. Diet 16. Smells
7. Depression 17. Stress- physiological, physical,
8. Drugs- a wide variety mental, emotional
9. Eyestrain- (cars, computers, etc.) 18. Tight jaw
10. Hormonal fluctuations

Guidelines

One-drop dosage. When administering herbs for any kind of acute pain, start with a
one-drop (or less) dosage. With this low dosage you can observe, and ask the painee,
whether the medicine is helping, not making a difference, or worsening the pain.
With stronger medicines (i.e., Atropa) use a smaller ‘checking out’ dosage by putting
one drop in a few ounces of water and give one drop from this dilute mixture

Ask questions. Make sure to ask people with acute headache pain a few vital
questions before proceeding with giving remedies. At the same time be sensitive to
the fact that answering questions may not be one of the things that they want to be
doing at that painful moment. So in a non-headache aggravating voice, ask a few
pointed questions to help determine the remedial course of action.
Î
Some questions to ask before treatment
9Is this your first headache? (It is a significant sign if they are having their first
bad headache)
9How often do you get headaches? Does this one feel typical in intensity, location or
other detectable patterns?
9What has helped in the past? Medicine, relaxation, massage, exercise or any other
pain relieving technique?
9What has made the pain worsen?
9When asking about substances that someone may have used to ease their pain,
make sure to give wide latitude in their answer to include any remedial agents.
They may self-medicate using a variety of substances that they may not deem
important, so ask pointedly if they use products such as ginger ale, coffee,
Cannabis or anything else that may help with the pain.

Treating chronic headaches. With chronic reoccurring headaches it becomes even
more important to seek out the root cause(s) contributing to the headaches. The
strategy is to help both the current acute pain and treat the underlying pathology to
help relieve further episodes. Not that this is easy; it may take a while of looking at
patterns and trying a range of herbal medicines while looking at eliminating triggers
and building native strength.

5
 Discerning Headache Patterns
There are number of ways to attempt to discern the cause and nature of a headache.
These include the below observational and questioning techniques.
1. Location- ask the client to point or hold their head on where they feel the pain. Stay
with this task awhile as knowing the location of the headache may offer insightful
clues to its origin or constitutional type
2. Times- when does the pain feel worse and better? Which hours of the day, month,
year, season, weather or preceding event?
3. Intensity- does it vary from any notable inputs?
4. Diet Triggers- many headaches are caused by various foods and beverages. Try to
pinpoint any specific type of food that is associated with the pain. Have them keep a
food journal to look for patterns.
5. Diet Deficiencies- see if there are any elements of their diet that they are deficient
in. Lack of protein is a common cause of food related headaches.
6. Triggers- this is an important aspect as removing a vector can be the single most
useful aspect of treatment. Tracking them can be frustrating for both patient and
practitioner, as many causes are far from apparent.
7. Allergic reactions- many allergies can bring on headaches, mainly dull, low level
throbbing types. Inquire whether they have any obvious allergic reactions to inhaled
substances including pollen, molds, dander, etc. Are they subject to allergic rashes
or have strong reactions to food or drugs?
8. Pulse taking- there are a number of methods of taking pulses as an assessment tool.
These include the techniques employed by practitioners of Western clinical
herbalism, Traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurveda. Taking the pulse can help
discern a wide array of patterns.
9. Tongue diagnosis- as with pulse taking, there are a number of methods of reading
the tongue. The tongue may offer additional insights into the underlying pathology.
10. Other symptoms- sometimes a headache dulls out all other pain occurring
simultaneously. The other associated pain may offer further clues, such as with a
headache occurring with stomach pain with only the headache pain being noticed.

Constitutional Approaches
Constitutional evaluation and individual-based treatment is an efficacious approach
for both chronic and episodic headaches. In this context there is no limit to the
categories of herbs or other treatments that may be helpful. The origin of the headache
may be stemming from a number of single or multifactorial roots, hence the herbalist
needs to think beyond headache remedies to treat the source(s) of the ailment. Below
are some evaluative methods for assessing some of the underpinnings that may lead to
headache pain. As with all constitutional techniques, look to make connections between
other health issues that the person is experiencing. Since headaches are most commonly
referred pain, there is a good chance that other corresponding symptoms exist.

6
 Constitutional polarities
The below paired terms form a basis for a constitutional therapeutic approach. This
mode consists of determining which side of the polarity the client and their symptoms
are more aligned to. To use the temperature polarities as an example, one would try to
determine whether the person and/or their symptoms leans more towards hot or cold.
Since this is an energetic model, it is more of a conceptualization rather than based in a
scientific-based measurable model. To put headaches into the context of temperature,
by characterization hot headaches tend to be acute, with hot or burning sensations,
often with sharp shooting pains. If the headache is colder in nature, the pain may feel
duller, boggy, deeper and chronic. The person with the headache can also be viewed as
having a hot or cold nature judging by their physical makeup and their temperament.
That said, these are generalizations and people are rarely on the outside edge of either
pole, but within the shades between. By careful questioning and observation it is
possible to tease out on which side of the constitutional equation they incline.
The value of this approach lies in that after determining where someone’s underlying
problem sits, the orientation of the treatment can focus on pulling them back towards
the center by using herbs and therapies that lie closer to the opposite end. An example
would be giving cayenne in small doses if an ailment tended towards the cold spectrum.

1. Active vs. Lethargic 7. Hypertonic vs. Hypotonic

2. Acute vs. Chronic 8. Sthenic vs. Asthenic
3. Anabolic vs. Catabolic 9. Sudden onset vs. Long-time coming on
4. Excess vs. Deficiency 10. Surface vs. Deep
5. Exogenous vs. Endogenous 11. Wet vs. Dry
6. Hot vs. Cold 12. Windy vs. Stagnant

Ayurvedic constitutional framework of headaches

In Ayurveda, people are divided into three main types called doshas. They are Vata,
Pitta, and Kapha and each one has a tendency towards certain types of headaches. The
remedies look to correct imbalances that are often inherent in these doshas. Some
specific medicines may be applicable for all three doshas, such as the salicylates and
other antiinflammatories. It is beyond the scope of this paper to explain the principles
of Ayurveda but the below examples are for those familiar with them.

Vata
Symptoms
1. Digestive-associated pain 5. Sensation overload
2. Emotional distress 6. Sudden onset
3. Nervousness 7. Superficial (top of head)
4. Pain-comes and goes 8. Windy-moves around

7
Triggers for Vata headaches
1. Many triggers are possible due to the heightened sensitivity of Vata.
2. Constitutional deficiencies lead to a generally weakened state increasing the
possibilities of headaches.
3. Their nervous system is especially vulnerable – anxiety, stress and sudden changes
are likely triggers.
4. Digestive- Vata types tend to have vulnerable digestion and any digestive problems
may lead to headaches.
5. Lack of sleep- Vataians often have fitful sleep and are prone to waking up often. This
lack of sleep may lead to a run-down jittery state.
6. Caffeine and other stimulants push the nervous system.
7. Environmental triggers- Vataians (especially when out of balance) are easily set off
by stimuli such as light, heat, noise, smells, tastes and general sensory overload.

Therapies for Vata

1. Lay down in a dark, quiet, non-odiferous room
2. Herbs that damp down the sensorium
3. Use herbal medicines in small amounts to not overwhelm senses
4. Be cautious of the alcohol in tinctures
5. Tonification- use anabolic and building herbs
6. Nutrition plays a key role in Vata stability

Categories of Remedies
1. Adaptogens 5. Mood-alterers
2. Anxiolytics 6. Nervines
3. Demulcents 7. Sedatives
4. Hypnotics

Herbs
Be cautious with the amounts and types of herbs as Vata is easily over-stimulated.
1. Acorus 11. Lavandula
2. Anemone 12. Matricaria
3. Avena 13. Melissa
4. Centella 14. Mentha
5. Dioscorea 15. Ocimum
6. Eleutherococcus 16. Parthenium
7. Filipendula 17. Passiflora
8. Ginkgo 18. Rosmarinus
9. Glycyrrhiza 19. Salix
10. Hypericum 20. Scutellaria

8
Pitta
Symptoms
1. Heat 4. Pain-sharp, tight
2. Inflammation 5. Specific area of head
3. Red in the face

Triggers for Pitta headaches

1. Anger aggravates Pitta leading to ‘stress’ headaches.
2. Headaches often have an inflammatory character.
3. A tendency towards holding back thoughts and feelings and trying to control
situations
4. Lack of sleep- Pitta types may have trouble falling asleep as they mull over events in
their mind. There is also a pattern of waking up around 4:00 am (‘liver time’) and
not being able to fall back asleep.
5. Muscle tension- Pittarians often clench their muscles, especially the shoulders and
neck, and jaws.
6. Spices and spicy foods
7. Hypertension and elevated blood pressure

Therapies for Pitta

1. Antiinflammatories 7. Playful diversions
2. Aromatherapy 8. Relaxing exercises
3. Bitters 9. Sedatives
4. Counseling 10. Skeletal muscle relaxants
5. Liver tonics 11. Tension relievers
6. Nervines

Herbs
1. Actaea (Cimicifuga) 8. Piper
2. Cannabis 9. Passiflora
3. Chionanthus 10. Salicylate herbs
4. Curcuma 11. Scutellaria
5. Epipactis 12. Stachys
6. Humulus 13. Valeriana
7. Lactuca 14. Verbena

Kapha
Symptoms
1. Chronic 6. Dull
2. Cloying 7. Long-lasting
3. Cold 8. Stagnant
4. Damp 9. Thick
5. Deep 10. Whole head

9
Triggers for Kapha headaches
1. Kapha tends towards lethargy and sluggishness. Headaches can be brought on when
this propensity is out of balance, so most therapies are stimulating to move the
stagnation.
2. Hot muggy weather- heat can build up inside the Kaphic frame.
3. Lack of exercise
4. Heavy foods-especially fatty and oily
5. Excessive dairy
6. Cold food and drinks
7. Constipation
8. Depression

Therapies
1. Aromatherapy- stimulating 7. Exercise
2. Astringents 8. Laxatives
3. Bitters 9. Salicylates
4. Depression relieving 10. Stimulate body systems in general
5. Dispersing remedies 11. Stimulate digestion in particular
6. Diuretics 12. Warming and heating remedies

Herbs
1. Achillea 9. Ginkgo
2. Betula 10. Ilex
3. Camellia 11. Myrica
4. Capsicum 12. Salix
5. Centella 13. Thea
6. Coffea 14. Zanthoxylum
7. Curcuma 15. Zingiber
8. Filipendula

Therapeutic Categories
1. Adaptogen 14. Constitutional remedy
2. Allergen withdrawal 15. Demulcent
3. Analgesic 16. Diuretic
4. Anti-hangover 17. Food elimination
5. Antihistamine 18. Hormonal alterative
6. Antiinflammatory 19. Hypnotics
7. Anxiolytic 20. Liver tonic
8. Aromatherapy 21. Laxative
9. Astringent 22. Nervine
10. Bitters 23. Salicylates
11. Caffeine replacement 24. Skeletal muscle relaxant
12. Cerebro-constrictor 25. Vulnerary
13. Cerebro-dilator

10
 Categories of Medicines
Anti-allergy - these herbs are useful with headaches associated with allergic
reactions such as seasonal allergies with sinus congestion, itchy eyes, and hive
rashes. Some have antihistamine-like action.
1) Ambrosia 3) Euphrasia
2) Chrysanthemum 4) Parthenium

Antiinflammatories- one of the most useful categories of herbs as

inflammation is a common component of headaches. They are further subdivided
into specific categories.

Antiinflammatories- Salicylate containing herbs- these herbs contain

differing amounts and compositions of salicylates. Other plants also contain
salicylates but these below are common and contain enough for a therapeutic
dose.
1) Betula 4) Populus
2) Filipendula 5) Salix
3) Gaultheria 6) Spiraea

Antiinflammatories- Non salicylate containing- some of these are

mucilaginous and others have corticosteroid-like effects. They are generally
soothing to the digestive tract.
1) Althaea 5) Glycyrrhiza
2) Anaphalis 6) Matricaria
3) Curcuma 7) Zingiber
4) Dioscorea

Cerebro-dilators- are useful for headaches due to cerebro-constriction. Some of

these herbs have strong dilating properties and should be used with caution
especially for people with vascular disorders. Start with a one-drop dose.
1) Centella 4) Rosmarinus
2) Clematis 5) Vinca
3) Ginkgo

Liver Tonics- certain types of headaches are due to decreased liver function.
Many bitter herbs stimulate liver activity and increasing its efficiency.
1) Achillea 4) Silybum
2) Chionanthus 5) Verbena
3) Curcuma

Nervines and Sedatives- these two important categorical terms are in

continuum with each other. In general nervines have a nourishing action on the

11
nervous system while sedatives give a more immediate calming effect. These
terms are fluid and the actions of both are largely influenced by the
sensitiveness of the taker and the dosage and form used.
1) Cannabis 8) Lobelia
2) Epipactis 9) Matricaria
3) Eschscholtzia 10) Passiflora
4) Ethanol 11) Piper
5) Humulus 12) Scutellaria
6) Lactuca 13) Valerian
7) Lavandula

Skeletal Muscle Relaxants- headaches may be caused by tense muscles,

particularly the neck, shoulders and jaw. These herbs are more effective when
used in conjunction with muscle relaxing exercises.
1) Actaea
2) Pedicularis
3) Piper

Non-Herbal Treatments for Headaches

1. Hydration 5. Reduce sensory stimuli
2. Massage 6. Sleep and rest
3. Nutritional support 7. Structural manipulation
4. Pressure points

The Headache First Aid Kit

This section is a round-up of herbs that I would include in a first aid kit
specifically for headaches. It is not a comprehensive list but includes the
remedies I find most useful in the field. Important- before giving any of the
below (or any) remedies test with a one-drop dosage to make sure the medicine
does not exacerbate the pain. With acute headache pain, it is possible to see a
subtle shift in the pain after trying one drop to that may either lessen or
increase intensity. The following dosages are very generalized and peoples’
reaction to herbal medicines varies extraordinarily so please use these only as a
basic guideline. Practice with low doses initially to do the least harm. The doses
for the tinctures below are described in drops and milliliters (ml.). A dropper
from a standard 1 ounce (30 ml) tincture bottle contains 1 milliliter (ml.) when
fully filled. The reason to make the distinction between a dropper and 1 ml. is
due to the vagaries of how much fluid the dropper will hold from the average
squeeze that people generally give tincture bottles.
1. Actaea (Cimicifuga) tincture- Black Cohosh is my preferred skeletal
muscle relaxant. It is especially useful if the headachee comes in with their

12
 shoulders bunched up or the headache happened after a recent accident and
there is a lot of muscle tension. Actaea is sometimes useful with a frontal
(forehead) headache. In this it is peculiar because it can also cause this same
type of pain. Test with one-drop to be sure it does not aggravate a frontal
headache. Dose lightly; start with (after checking with one drop) 5 drops and
work your way up to 15 drops. Usually if this amount doesn’t help, neither
will larger doses. Take 5-15 drops as often as needed.

2. Clematis tincture-Clematis is an intriguing and specific remedy for

cerebro-constricted headaches. That is to say that it is a cerebro-dilator or
functions similarly in action. I use a number of wild Clematis species to
prepare the tincture utilizing the fresh aboveground parts. People with these
headaches have the appearance of scrunching up their head or trying to make
their head smaller to avoid the pain. Clematis is a toxic herb and needs to be
used cautiously. Here comes the admonition again; use the one-drop dosage.
To give too much Clematis for the wrong kind of headache is to risk the life-
long ire of the person whose pain you’ve just spiked. Dosage; commonly 1
drop will show up as helping or not. If it does, use 5-10 drops as needed. For
whom Clematis helps it is a boon, as it is often one of the few herbs that helps
these headaches. (A tip of the hat to Michael Moore for this one).

3. Euphrasia tincture- Eyebright is for headaches associated with allergies.

Look for classic allergic reactions such as itchy puffy eyes, runny nose, and
other symptoms. Learn to differentiate allergies from viral infections (i.e., the
common cold) which both cause sniffles. This is a safe herb rarely
aggravating pain or causing unwanted effects. Dose; ½- 2 ml. as needed.

4. Filipendula tincture and/or tea- Meadowsweet is a safe useful all-

purpose antiinflammatory. It is especially suited for headaches stemming
from infection and digestive disorders, but can be tried safely for about any
headache. The tea is better for headaches originating from digestive
maladies. Dose; ½-2 ml. as needed.

5. Matricaria tea and/or tincture- Chamomile is a safe, pleasant-enough

tasting tea and tincture. Its virtue lies in both those qualities, and its stress
reducing and gut-appeasing properties. Its classic distinctions still stand-
bellyaches and nervousness. If these are causing your headache, try
Matricaria. Dose; Tea- try to find high quality herb and steep a good ½
handful in a covered jar to keep those relaxing essential oils in the water.
Tincture-anywhere from 10 drops to 3 ml as necessary.

6. Salix tincture- for a long time, I didn’t feel Willow lived up to its name and
storied history. That’s behind me now. Salix has a well-deserved place in the
headache-reducing pantheon as a tincture as well as its famous constituents-

13
 the salicylates. That said, it is not aspirin and its indications are not as
generalized as its synthesized bastard offspring. I find it useful when the
headache pain is not too intense and it’s hard to pinpoint its source. It is also
good for people who rarely get headaches (lucky them). Dose; It may be
necessary to use moderately large doses of Salix tincture to conjure its effect,
approximately ½- 3 ml as needed. I have, out of necessity, had people chew
the bark and leaf, and surprisingly have occasionally seen that work.

7. Scutellaria tincture- Skullcap wiggles its way into a host of ailments,

likely due its quieting effect on the nervous system. The same is true as a
headache remedy, use it when nervousness and stress (say, giving a public
speech) play a role in causing the headache pain. It is also a serviceable
muscle relaxant. Like many herbal medicines, Scutellaria works as a charm
for some while it seems to have little effect on others. Dose; Idiosyncratic in
effect. For those that it does influence, small amounts may be sufficient while
others will need 2-5 ml. If the fresh plant is around try chewing it or prepare
a tea.

8. Tanacetum tincture- Feverfew is perhaps the most famous plant for

headaches due to a series of scientific clinical trials performed over the last
decade. These were mostly aimed at treating migraines as the plant has this
as its reputation. While the studies had varied results (no surprise there) the
tincture is a useful adjunct for migraines. The key in helping migraines is to
use the plant as a preventative at the first sense of the headache coming on.
The earlier the better. While it may only work with a small percentage of
people that warrants its place in the first aid kit. Unfortunately, I have
not seen much success using herbs after the migraine headaches are full on.
Hypnotics and comfortable surroundings may be your best choice then. Dose;
½- 1 ml as necessary. Some of the studies have indicated that chewing the
fresh leaf daily helped prevent attacks.

9. Valeriana tincture- Valerian is a valuable and unpredictable sedative

hypnotic. My preferred form is a fresh root tincture. It is not so much for
headaches but rather to help the headachee sleep or space out. Caution- I
have probably seen more unwanted effects from Valeriana than any other
commonly used herb (excluding coffee, etc.). Its contra-effect is the opposite of
its intended use, it causes excitability and agitation. Not so nice if your giving
it to relax. Again, this is an important herb to initially try one drop and then
administer anywhere from 5 drops to 3 ml. Large doses of Valerian may
cause drug-like hangovers, and the dose that may help somebody get over the
pain and fall sleep may be the hangover dose. Let them know if they are
taking a large dose or in sensitive individuals.

14
 10. Aspirin and Non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)-
While it may be deemed herbally incorrect to list these, by virtue of utility
they are included here. NSAIDs include acetaminophen and ibuprofen.
Though they do have side effects and are not wildcrafted or organically grown
they can often help. I prefer aspirin over NSAIDs due its long history of use
and general safety record, but it does upset people’s stomach where an
alternative may not. Commonly, when working at first aid stations, someone
clearly in headache pain will approach me and ask for an aspirin or NSAID. I
usually will offer them a choice between herbs and these drugs. This is after
quickly ruling out a dehydration or ‘non-aspirin helping’ type headache. I
give them whichever one they want at the time. If they are unsure, I will try
one of the various herbal remedies listed in this paper after sussing out which
would be most appropriate.

Materia Medica List

1) Achillea millefolium- Yarrow 29) Humulus lupulus- Hops
2) Aconitum columbianum- Aconite 30) Hypericum perforatum- St. Johnswort
3) Acorus calamus- Calamus 31) Ilex paraguariensis- Yerba mate
4) Actaea (Cimicifuga) racemosa- Black cohosh 32) Lactuca spp. Wild lettuce
5) Althaea officinalis- Marshmallow 33) Lavandula spp. Lavender
6) Ambrosia artemisiifolia- Ragweed 34) Leonurus cardiaca- Motherwort
7) Anemone spp.- Anemone 35) Lobelia inflata- Lobelia
8) Atropa belladonna- Belladonna 36) Matricaria recutita- Chamomile
9) Avena sativa- Wild oats 37) Melissa officinalis- Lemon balm
10) Betula lenta- Black birch 38) Mentha x piperita – Peppermint
11) Centella asiatica- Gotu kola 39) Myrica spp.-Bayberry
12) Coffea arabica- Coffee 40) Passiflora incarnata- Passionflower
13) Camellia sinensis- Tea 41) Pedicularis groenlandica-Elephanthead
14) Cannabis spp.- Marijuana 42) Pedicularis spp.- Lousewort
15) Chionanthus virginicum- Fringe tree 43) Piper methysticum- Kava kava
16) Chrysanthemum spp- Chrysanthemum 44) Populus spp.- Poplar
17) Clematis spp.- Clematis 45) Rosmarinus spp.- Rosemary
18) Curcuma spp.- Turmeric 46) Salix spp.- Willow
19) Dioscorea villosa- Wild yam 47) Scutellaria lateriflora- Skullcap
20) Epipactis helleborine- Epipactis 48) Silybum marianum- Milk thistle
21) Eleutherococcus senticosus- Siberian 49) Spiraea spp- Spiraea
ginseng 50) Stellaria media- Chickweed
22) Eschscholtzia spp.- California poppy 51) Stachys spp.- Wood betony
23) Euphrasia spp.- Eyebright 52) Tanacetum parthenium- Feverfew
24) Filipendula ulmaria- Meadowsweet 53) Valeriana officinalis- Valerian
25) Gaultheria procumbens- Wintergreen 54) Verbena hastata- Blue vervain
26) Gelsemium sempervirens- Gelsemium 55) Verbena officinalis- Great verbena
27) Ginkgo biloba- Ginkgo 56) Vinca spp.- Periwinkle
28) Glycyrrhiza spp.- Licorice

15