It’s estimated that some 50-75% of all adults endure at least one headache annually. Headaches are considered by the World Health Organization to be one of most common complaints known to mankind.

Are you one of those people who suffer with periodic head pain?

Homeopathy can help.

While there are too many homeopathic remedies capable of helping someone with an acute headache to list in one article - here are a few of the more commonly used remedies to consider the next time pain strikes:

Aconite: The headaches calling for Aconite can scarcely be described; they come on with such violence. They are sudden and wild – accompanied by thirst, restlessness, anguish and fear. These headaches may present with much tearing and burning pain or with a heaviness or fullness in the forehead. The skull can also feel as if it is wrapped with a tight rope. Headaches of this nature after exposure to cold air often respond to Aconite.

Belladonna: A person needing this homeopathic remedy will typically find themselves with a headache of great violence and often one that comes on rapidly. The pain is frequently throbbing and can also be of a knife-like, stabbing nature. A person with a Belladonna headache can experience pain of a bursting nature – almost as if the skull might fly apart. Other indications for Belladonna include a flushed red, hot face and dilated pupils. Belladonna headaches are worse from jarring, noise, walking, going up stairs, light, and lying and are often better with pressure and drawing the head back. This is a commonly used remedy after sunstroke.

Bryonia: A Bryonia headache tends to be of a bursting, head splitting variety that is made much worse by motion of any kind. In fact, a hallmark of Bryonia is that all the patient’s symptoms are made worse from motion – not just those of the head. Someone needing Bryonia tends to be irritable, worse at 9:00PM and thirsty for large amounts of cold fluids at intervals. The lips and mouth are often dry. They may also try holding their head perfectly still (or hold it with their hands) to keep it from moving during the headache.

Glonoine: Headaches requiring Glonoine are even more severe than Belladonna headaches. The patient feels a rush of blood to the head as well as waves of terrible, bursting, pulsating, throbbing pain. Like in the Belladonna case – the face of someone needing Glonoine will be flushed red or even a bit purple. Unlike Belladonna – someone needing Glonoine is worse bending the head back. They are also much worse from the heat of the sun. 

Natrum muriaticum: People with headaches requiring this remedy often complain of feeling like there are little hammers in the head as soon they move and or sometimes upon waking in the morning. The headaches have also been described as feeling as though the head is in a vice. It is not uncommon to have Natrum mur headaches begin at 10 or 11:00AM and may last until 3:00PM or into the evening. Headaches from sadness or disappointment may respond to this remedy. Heat and heat of the sun make this headache worse, and can also trigger a headache.

Sepia: A person needing this remedy will frequently complain of head pain in the back of the head – and the pain may be accompanied by nausea. Relief may come from lying quietly and from sleep – in fact sleep often “cures” this headache. Oddly – strenuous exercise may also make the head pain feel better. Heat may also help. The pain is typically made worse by stooping, coughing, jarring, or light.

Remember - this is just a partial list of homeopathic remedies that may help someone with a headache. If you are brand new to homeopathy and unsure what remedy to try, you may also want to try a combination remedy like Washington Homeopathic Product's Be gone™ Headache for relief.

Once you have chosen a remedy that appears to match your symptoms (remember – homeopathy is individualized medicine – the remedy you need must match your symptom profile) dose with either a 30C or 200C potency to start - placing one pellet under the tongue or one pellet in water, stirring vigorously and taking teaspoon doses as needed. Always cease dosing when relief begins and only re-dose if symptoms again worsen. As with any medical condition, consult with your physician if you have any concerns about the severity of your problem as it may first require medical diagnosis and/or intervention and monitoring.

About Dr. Lisa Samet

Dr. Lisa Samet N.D. provides Washington Homeopathic Products with a weekly column on using homeopathy for the family. She's a naturopathic physician who specializes in homeopathic medicine and she's a partner with Dr. Andre Saine N.D. Dr. Samet graduated from the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in 1998 and has been practicing in Montreal since then. She was born and raised in New York.

Dr. Samet has chosen to focus on homeopathy because in her experience it is the deepest healing modality available in that it does not just soothe or palliate symptoms but can actually stimulate the body to start to heal itself. Dr. Samet sees patients in her Montreal office as well as remotely using Skype. Learn more here: Dr. Lisa Samet

Photo credit: Lisa Brewster via Foter.com / CC BY-SA