Patient's question:
Recently, I don't know what's going on, my forehead has been aching a lot. Especially when I wake up in the morning, it's very uncomfortable. Even after taking medicine, it hasn't helped. I want to ask what could be causing this forehead pain and how it should be treated?Doctor's answer:
Hello, there are many reasons for headaches, such as colds with fever, problems with the five senses, abnormal blood pressure, head injuries, anemia, constipation, carbon monoxide poisoning, alcohol poisoning, and nervous fatigue, all of which can cause headaches. Headaches may be caused by the stimulation of the meninges or increased tension due to blood vessel constriction, or they may be a signal from the brain indicating insufficient oxygen and the need for more oxygen. As long as blood rich in oxygen flows to the painful area, the headache will disappear immediately. However, it is essential to identify the cause of the headache to solve the problem.Physical Factors: Various causes that can lead to inflammation or injury inside or outside the skull; compression of blood vessels due to tumors, resulting in traction, stretching, displacement, or expansion; stimulation of the meninges; muscle contraction; or direct stimulation of the sensory nerves that control the head and face can all cause headaches.
Neurological and Psychological Factors: When the body and mind are exposed to adverse external stimuli, emotions such as worry and anxiety often arise, leading to the onset of migraines. According to surveys, 84% of people with depression also suffer from migraines. Additionally, discomfort or intense emotional stimuli like anger, anxiety, or excitement in daily life or work can cause general malaise and migraines.
Dietary Factors: Excessive consumption of coffee can cause blood vessels to dilate and stimulate nerves, triggering migraines. Eating very cold ice cream can also lead to headaches. Excessive alcohol consumption causes ethanol in alcohol to act on blood vessels, similarly causing headaches. These are all headaches caused by improper diet. Experts have ranked the foods most likely to trigger headaches as follows: chocolate, alcoholic beverages, raw dairy products, lemon juice, cheese, and red wine.
Sleep Factors: This is a common cause of migraines. Severe lack of sleep can cause headaches, and similarly, stressful work can also lead to similar symptoms.
Disease Factors: Conditions such as eye, ear, nose, sinus, tooth, or neck disorders can stimulate nerves, reflexively or diffusely affecting the head and face, all of which can cause reflexive or referred migraines.
Methods to Relieve Migraines:
- Cold Compress with Ice Pack: Place ice cubes in an ice pack or wrap them in a towel and apply them to the headache area. Once the cooled blood vessels in the head constrict, the symptoms will naturally subside.
- Rest Lying Down: If possible, rest in a dark, quiet room during a migraine attack. Generally, sleeping for half an hour can help alleviate the migraine.
- Head Massage: Gently massaging the head with moderate pressure is an effective way to relieve migraines. The temples are key points for migraine massage. You can press them with your index fingers or gently rotate your fists around the temples to the hairline.
- Drink Green Tea: Green tea contains substances that can help relieve migraines, so drinking it can help overcome severe migraines.
- Mindfulness Meditation: Using yoga and meditation is a new method for treating migraines. You can buy a CD with such music and close your eyes to meditate while listening to the harmonious sounds of nature to forget the pain.
- Wrap a Towel Around the Head: It may look funny, but this is indeed an effective way to treat migraines. During pain, wrap a towel or soft cloth around the temples loosely to inhibit blood vessel dilation and relieve pain.
Since there are many factors that can trigger migraines, patients should not take medication casually. It is essential to be diagnosed by a doctor and take medication under their guidance to achieve the best results.
Tianma (Gastrodia Rhizome) Migraine Recipe:
- One ounce of tianma can be stewed with one pound of meat, following this ratio.
- First, break the tianma into pieces, then soak it in hot water for a day and a night. Do not discard the soaking water, as all the efficacy is inside.
- Simmer the tianma and the soaking water over low heat for two hours, then add ribs and simmer for another hour. Do not add salt, only a small amount of Sichuan peppercorns and thin slices of ginger.
- Stewing tianma with ribs or chicken is best, but remember never to stew it with mutton.
- It is very helpful for relieving headaches and is warming and nourishing, making it suitable for everyone to try.
Tianma Treats:
- Hypertension, dizziness, headaches, facial paralysis, numb limbs, infantile convulsions, etc.
- In traditional Chinese and Western medicine, it is often used in combination with other herbs to treat:
- Seizures and numb limbs
- Headache and dizziness
- Neuralgia
- Angina pectoris
- Facial spasm
Usage of Tianma Stewed Pork Brain:
- Eat the meat and drink the broth.