4 Shares

Did you know that there are five main types of headaches? In this episode, Jen talks about migraines, tension, sinus, cluster and sexual headaches, why they come, how you can prevent them, the best ways to treat them and when you should get them checked by a doctor.

Did you enjoy the podcast today? Please let me know by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. Every month I draw one lucky reviewer to have a free one-hour consultation with me. Also, remember to subscribe wherever you’re tuning in from so that you always catch the next episode.

SHOWNOTES

Did you know that there are five main types of headaches?

Migraines
Sinus
Tension
Cluster
Sex and orgasm headaches

Now I should start with a disclaimer, there is far more to headaches than what we can cover in this episode, but I wanted to touch on it to give you some ideas that you may not have thought about yet and tackle it from a place of prevention.

So, let’s dive in!

Migraines

Migraines can be excruciating and debilitating and can last anywhere from 4 to 72 hours.

What are the symptoms of a migraine?

Pain in the face or neck
Throbbing in one area
Sensitivity to light and sound
Nausea
Distorted vision
Seeing zig-zagging lines, flickering lights, or spots
Partial loss of vision
Numbness
Pins and needles
Muscle weakness
Difficulty speaking

What are the triggers of a migraine?

Stress and anxiety
Sleep disruption
Hormonal changes
Skipped meals
Dehydration
Some foods and medications
Bright lights and loud noise

How can you treat a migraine?

Resting in a dark, quiet place
Placing an ice pack or a cold cloth on the forehead
Drinking water
Using Essential Oils – Lavender or Peppermint neat to the pain area
Louise Hay – You can heal your life book – suggests sex or masturbation

New research suggests that sex may relieve migraine pain for some people who suffer from intense headaches. Sexual activity relieved the pain of migraines or cluster headaches, severe, one-sided recurring head pains, for up to a third of patients.

The researchers aren’t sure why this happens but think that the rush of endorphins, the brain’s natural painkillers, during sex may numb the pain of migraines.

Sinus Headaches

Sinus headaches can last several days or weeks if left untreated. The key with sinus headaches is that they can’t be eased just with pain killers; you need to clear the snot that is causing the blockage.

What are the symptoms of a sinus headache?

Pain in the face, sinuses, eyes, ears or forehead
Congestion
Itching
Runny nose
Fever
Swelling in the face

How can you treat or prevent a sinus headache?

Aromatherapy – this can be great for moving the mucous that is creating the pressure in your head. Try by Breathe essential oil blend that helps to clear the air and your breathing. It includes Eucalyptus, Peppermint, Lavender, Tea Tree, Ginger, Lemon, Juniper and Cedarwood. It’s perfect for helping anything ‘snotty’.

Tension Headaches

Tension headaches are brought on by stress and can last from 30 minutes to several hours.

What are the symptoms of a tension headache?

Dull pain on either side of the head and pressure across the forehead tenderness of the face, head, neck, and shoulders
A feeling of pressure behind the eyes
Sensitivity to light and sound

How can you treat or prevent a tension headache?

Lifestyle changes and some treatments may help to prevent tension headaches. These can include:

Getting enough sleep
Regular exercise and stretching
Improving sitting and standing posture
Having an eye test
Management of stress, anxiety, or depression
Acupuncture
Taking magnesium tablets and magnesium-rich foods
Essential oils like:
- Peppermint or Lavender neat
- My Chill Out blend with Orange, Lime, Ylang Ylang
- My Sanity Saver blend which is the perfect workplace adrenal blend of Vetiver, Patchouli, Ylang Ylang, Geranium and Australian Sandalwood

Cluster Headaches

Cluster headaches are nasty and sudden. They come with no warning and can last between 15 minutes and 3 hours. As the name suggests, cluster headaches come in clusters, and people can experience up to eight hours a day.

What’s more, cluster periods can last for weeks or several months and usually be followed by a period of remission that can last for several months or years.

What are the symptoms of a tension headache?

Severe pain on one side, usually around the eye
It can be accompanied by a drooping eyelid, small pupil or tearing
Runny nose or redness on the same side of the head

How can you treat or prevent a cluster headache?

Minimising stress is a crucial element – listen to podcast Episode 1, 10 and 41
Use aromatherapy, particularly Peppermint or Lavender oil, neat

Sexual Headaches

The dull type of headache is usually due to muscle contraction in the head and neck from excitement, similar to a tension headache.

The explosive types of sex headaches are thought to be brought on by blood vessel regulation changes leading to blood vessel dilation, similar to migraine headache. Movement makes orgasm headaches worse.

Orgasm headaches are normal and usually nothing to worry about. However, a sex headache can sometimes be a symptom of an underlying condition. You should see your doctor if it’s your first-ever sex headache or if it begins abruptly.

When to see your doctor about a headache

Loss of consciousness
Loss of sensation
Vomiting
A stiff neck
Severe pain that lasts more than 24 hours
Muscle weakness
Partial or complete paralysis
Seizures

Other headaches

Of course, there are many other types of headaches. These include, but are not limited to:

Caffeine headaches – more than 2 cups a day can lead to caffeine withdrawal headaches.
Menstrual headaches – It’s important to look behind this to see what else is going on. Herbs like adaptogens are a great place to start to help balance the hormones that could be behind the headaches.
Hangover headaches
Head injury headaches

Helpful Links

Breathe essential oil – https://jenniferjefferies.com/product/breathe-blend/
Chill Out essential oil – https://jenniferjefferies.com/product/chill-out-blend/
Sanity Saver essential oil – https://jenniferjefferies.com/product/sanity-saver-blend/
Jen’s Adrenal Adaptogen Tonic – https://bit.ly/2KuWpve

Healthy Life Hacks

So, the healthy life hacks I want to leave you with today are:

Live from a place of prevention – To avoid tension headaches, focus on eating magnesium-rich foods to prevent them. Same with hangover headaches, drink water in advance and lessen alcohol intake
1. Implement some of the suggestions above to help you with your next headache

Are you looking for more great resources? Get a free copy of my Feed Your Body ebook here and be sure to explore my blog while you are there.

Pin4