Headaches & Stress

Is Stress giving you a Headache?

Stress, a major cause of tension headaches, is a physical or emotional strain on the body. Prolonged or excess stress sends a message to the body to produce more adrenal hormones, secreted by the adrenal glands, situated above the kidneys. When there is no physical outlet for the increased adrenal hormones released into the bloodstream, the body channels the response inwards, and this affects the circulatory, digestive or nervous systems, resulting in problems such as insomnia, anxiety, constipation or diarrhoea, high blood pressure and chronic headaches.

Headaches are brought on by tension, depression, and stress that strains the muscular tissues or blood vessels in the head or neck, usually called tension headaches. Most people have experienced this type of headache at some point and understand that stress and tension are contributing factor. There are thought to be a number of other triggers for headaches, including alcohol, tobacco, anaemia, low blood sugar, disturbances in circulation, allergies, constipation or bowel problems, and hormonal imbalances to name a few.

The frequency and intensity of headaches are also affected by a person’s nutrient status. As stress reduces the absorption and increases the loss of nutrients in the body, prolonged or excess stress causes a greater than normal requirement for many nutrients, including the B vitamins, vitamin C, zinc, iron, magnesium, potassium and calcium. As these cannot simply be met by diet alone, the treatment of headaches using natural therapy may involve improving nutrient levels with vitamin and/or mineral supplementation. An elimination diet may also be recommended, removing certain foods from the diet that may trigger a headache, and this can be different for each person.

Herbs are also very effective to relax and support the nervous system and reduce the load on the adrenal glands, as well as to improve liver function, as a reduced ability to clear toxins in the body can be a causative factor for headaches. Some of these herbs include Skullcap, Passionflower, Zizyphus, Schizandra, Bupluerum, Withania, St. Mary’s Thistle and Valerian. Improving circulation and digestive function are also an important part of treatment, as are lifestyle changes like increasing exercise and relaxation techniques such as yoga and meditation. Massage and acupuncture can also reduce the incidence of headaches and may also be recommended.

For an thorough health assessment with Naturopath Michelle Bryceland you can call

9376 4666 or 0413 836 388.