Headache Relief

The past week or so here in the Czech Republic has seen a large amount of thunderstorms and with them barometric pressure changes and headaches all around. My youngest daughter and I suffer the most with actual migraines, complete with nausea and light sensitivity, whereas the rest of my family feels the pressure in the sinuses and the band of tension around the head. Either way, when a pressure system comes in and a headache is imminent or presenting, we reach for our headache relief.

According to Migraine Relief Center:

“Barometric pressure is the method scientists use to measure the atmospheric pressure or weight of the air where it presses on the surface of the earth. This affects the weather by causing changes to the way air currents move around the earth. A device called a barometer is used to identify the pressure, and the barometric reading is helpful in forecasting incoming weather changes. High barometric pressure is usually linked to clear, sunny weather, while low pressure provides the perfect conditions for clouds and moisture to develop.

SYMPTOMS OF BAROMETRIC PRESSURE MIGRAINES

Apart from the debilitating and severe pain, symptoms of a barometric migraine include:

• nausea and stomach pains, which are sometimes accompanied by vomiting and diarrhea
• pain around one or both temples, which can also affect the eyes, ears, forehead or back of the head
• feelings of depression and changes in perception of things
• increased sensitivity to light or the development of an aura, which may last for several hours
• numbness and tingling in the face, head and neck, which can also spread to the arms and legs
• waves of pain that throb in time with the patient’s heartbeat”

Headache Relief Tincture

• 3 parts Feverfew, leaves and flowers (dried or fresh)
• 1 part Lemonbalm leaves (dried or fresh)
• 1 part Peppermint leaves and flowers (dried or fresh)
• Alcohol (at least 45%, brandy, vodka or Everclear)
• Sterilised jar and lid

Grind or chop the plant material as finely as possible. I use my juicer to grind the dried plant material.

Add the plant material to the jar: Dried- fill 1/2 of jar

                                                            Fresh- fill the entire jar

Add the alcohol. Fill to the brim. Keep an eye on it for the next several minutes and keep adding alcohol until all the plant material is covered.

Seal well and label with the plant name, date, percent and type of alcohol and the date 6 weeks out.

Shake the jar daily and store in a cool, dark place.

After 6 weeks, strain out plant material and decant the tincture into sterilised bottles for use.

Label bottles with the tincture name.

Adult dose: 3-5 ml 3x day as a preventative, or 5 ml as needed during an acute migraine.

Herbal actions:

Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium): well-known for its prevention against migraines, it is an anti-inflammatory, pain-reliever, antirheumatic, stomachic and against menstrual pain and pain during childbirth.

Lemonbalm (Melissa officinalis): carmintaive (aids in digestion), antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, nervine, diaphoretic.

Peppermint (Mentha piperita): anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antispasmodic, carminative, diaphoretic and nervine.