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's causing this frontal headache and how should it 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 obstacles, anemia, constipation, gas poisoning, alcohol poisoning, and nervous fatigue. Headaches may be caused by the stimulation of the meninges, increased tension due to blood vessel constriction, or 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 cranium; vessel traction, stretching, displacement, or dilation due to tumors; stimulation of the meninges; muscle contraction; direct stimulation of sensory nerves controlling the head and face—all can cause headaches.
Neurological and Psychological Factors: When the mind and body 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 patients with depression also experience 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 allows ethanol to act on blood vessels, similarly causing headaches—all of these are migraines 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 trigger headaches, and similarly, stressful work can also cause similar symptoms.
Disease Factors: Conditions such as eye, ear, nose, sinus, tooth, and 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:
1. 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.
2. Rest Lying Down: If possible, rest in a dark, quiet room during a migraine attack. Generally, sleeping for half an hour can alleviate the migraine.
3. 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 use your fists to lightly rotate and massage from the temples to the hairline.
4. Drink Green Tea: The substances in green tea are effective in relieving migraines, so it is advisable to drink it in moderation to overcome severe migraines.
5. Mindfulness Meditation: Using yoga and meditation is a new method to treat migraines. You can purchase a CD with such music and close your eyes to meditate while listening to the harmonious sounds of nature, helping you forget the pain.
6. Wrap a Towel Around the Head: It may look funny, but this is indeed an effective method for treating migraines. During pain, wrap a towel or soft cloth around the temples loosely to suppress 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 seek medical diagnosis and use medication under the guidance of a doctor 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 and 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 water over low heat for two hours, then add ribs and stew 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 lamb.
It is very helpful for relieving headaches and is warming and nourishing, making it suitable for everyone. Give it a try.
Tianma Treats for High Blood Pressure, Dizziness, Headaches, Drooping Mouth and Eyes, Numbness of Limbs, and Infantile Seizures: In traditional Chinese and Western medicine, tianma is often combined with other herbs to treat convulsions, numbness of limbs, headaches and dizziness, neuralgia, angina pectoris, and facial spasms.
Usage of Tianma Stewed Pork Brain: Eat the meat and drink the broth.