| Herbalists tend to regard the headache as a | | | | preceded by visual disturbances jagged lights to |
| symptom of some underlying disorder rather than | | | | the edge of the visual field or a sense that there |
| an illness in its own right. Those that seem | | | | is a strange out of focus area in what one sees. |
| centered behind the eyes suggest a digestive | | | | Occasionally the attack may simply comprise |
| disturbance while headaches that seem to start at | | | | these visual upsets, although more typically a |
| the back of the neck and creep forward are | | | | severe headache will follow, with increased |
| generally tension headaches. Pain and sensitivity | | | | sensitivity to light so that sufferers want simply |
| around the eyes or above the nose can be due | | | | to lie down in a dark room. Migraines can be |
| to a sinus problem. Muscle strain in the shoulders | | | | associated with gastric disturbances or pins and |
| and neck can also contribute to head pain. Sitting | | | | needles in one hand or arm. Foods can often |
| or working awkwardly hunched over a desk or | | | | trigger an attack or an attack can be associated |
| computer keyboard can easily lead to headaches. | | | | with stress or bright sunlight. Flickering lights, as |
| Massage neck and shoulders with a mixture of 5 | | | | when driving past trees on a bright sunny day, |
| drops each of thyme, lavender, and juniper oil in 1 | | | | can also trigger an attack. Many sufferers find |
| tablespoon of almond oil. Take a 600 mg tablet of | | | | that chewing feverfew leaves can help prevent |
| Siberian ginseng each day to improve stress | | | | attacks. Try two to three leaves in a daily |
| tolerance and thus reduce the risk of tension | | | | sandwich or else use a strong lavender oil rub (1 |
| headaches and try yoga or t'ai chi classes to | | | | teaspoon of lavender oil with 2 teaspoons of |
| improve relaxation skills. Some sorts of headaches | | | | almond oil ) massaged into the temples at the |
| are best relieved by a hot towel on the head in | | | | first hint of a migraine. Drink cups of lavender and |
| these cases use a massage of 10 drops of | | | | St. John's wort infusion (1 teaspoon of each to a |
| rosemary oil to 1 teaspoon of almond oil on the | | | | cup of water) during attacks. |
| temples and forehead. Migraine is typically | | | | |