Most of us have experienced a headache at some point in our lives. In 2021, headache disorders affected 40% of the population, or 3.1 billion people. Let us investigate this common ailment, its causes, triggers and how to prevent and manage it.

It is essential to understand the type of headache you are experiencing. The cause of a headache can vary, and the underlying condition can be identified based on its location, intensity, duration, and recurrence.

Acute new-onset headache

The summertime rise in temperature and glare can cause an acute new headache. The common cause of a headache could be water deprivation. Excessive sweating occurs, and if fluid intake does not replace the fluid lost through perspiration, your body becomes dehydrated. It is a dull headache, less severe than a migraine. There is no facial pain, but the pain is aggravated by turning the head. Giddiness, weakness, muscle cramps, and lowered blood pressure can also present alongside the headache.

A new headache presenting with other signs and symptoms, such as fever, vomiting, numbness or weakness in the limbs, difficulty speaking, or a patient over the age of fifty-five who describes it as the worst headache they have ever experienced, requires immediate hospital care and further investigation.

Homoeopathic management depends on treating the underlying cause of the headache. A complete description of symptoms, including location, sensation, aggravating factors, duration, and intensity, helps in prescribing medication. Atropa Belladonna is a suitable remedy for acute-onset headaches and can be prescribed as first-line treatment. Natrum Carbonicum is a valuable remedy for summer headaches triggered by exposure to the sun. Natrum Muriaticum is useful for headaches in young girls. Medicines such as Glonoine, Sanguinaria canadensis and Sanguinaria Nitricum, and Melilotus Alba are essential Homoeopathic medicines in the treatment of headaches.

Recurrent headache or chronic headache

A recurrent or chronic headache is usually not dangerous and is a primary headache type. Location, duration, and time of headache are helpful guides for diagnosis and prescription.

Migraines

Migraines are the most common cause of headache, affecting approximately 15% of women and 6% of men. It is a harmless recurring headache which presents with nausea and vomiting. Other symptoms along with migraine are dizziness, difficulty in vision, scalp tenderness, sensitivity to light and noise. Migraines are often recognised by their triggers, such as hunger, menstruation, glare, stress, worry, and certain food items like chocolate and strawberries. Stress and emotional disturbances can often trigger migraine episodes. As psychological factors commonly trigger migraine and are therefore frequently ignored by family members, they assume that the patient is feigning an attack. Many patients, especially women, are used to consuming painkillers to subdue the headache. Most patients who suffer from migraines misdiagnose themselves as suffering from acidity and rely heavily on antacids and induced vomiting. Avoid induced vomiting as it has damaging effects on the body. Most migraineurs often have a first relative who has been a migraine sufferer.

Homoeopathic individualised medicines offer treatment for migraine in terms of reducing the acute pain but also preventing further episodes. Natrum Muriaticum is a common Homoeopathic medicine used for classic migraines, characterised by headaches accompanied by visual disturbances. Medicines like Lachesis Mutus and Secale Cornutum are used for menstrual migraines, where the oestrogen surge is a trigger factor. Remedies for migraine headaches include LacDefloratum, Lac-Caninum, Silicea, and Epiphegus Orobanche, which have given excellent results and must be taken under the guidance of a Homoeopathic physician.

Tension Headache

This term describes a chronic headache characterised by a band-like, tight discomfort on both sides of the head. The muscles on the back of the head are tight, and the patient describes a feeling of the head being pressed from the sides. Tension headaches are common in all age groups, and females tend to be the most common sufferers. Anxiety and depression co-exist with tension headaches. The headache may be episodic or chronic and present more than 15 days a month. Decreased water intake and dehydration can trigger a tension-type headache. A tension headache is often confused with a migraine headache. A tension headache does not worsen with physical activity; hence, a patient might continue with their daily work despite the distressing symptom.

Homoeopathic medicines such as Cimicifuga Racemosa, RhusToxicodendron, and Spigelia Anthelmintica are excellent choices for tension headaches. Cimicifuga Racemosa is prescribed when the patient experiences neck muscle tightness, accompanied by an anxious, nervous state. RhusToxicodendron helps relieve muscle tightness and stiffness.

Chronic sinusitis

A sinus headache is often associated with facial pain. Patients frequently complain of facial puffiness, toothache, or earache, along with other symptoms. Exposure to dust and pollen can trigger allergies, which in turn can lead to sinus headaches. The pain is aggravated by bending forward—Sinusitis patients often complain of burning or watering of the eyes along with a headache. Patients resort to frequent nose blowing to relieve heaviness. Forceful blowing of the nose may affect the eardrum or aggravate an existing ear condition. Consuming cold drinks and ice cream after travelling in the sun can precipitate a sinusitis episode.

Homoeopathy is of aid in treating chronic sinusitis and managing an acute attack. Medicines such as Kali-Bichromicum and Hydrastis Canadensis are helpful in cases of chronic sinusitis characterised by thick, sticky nasal discharge—medicines such as Atropa Belladonna and Sanguinaria Canadensis help manage an acute attack.

Cluster headache

Cluster headaches are the most severe form of headache, even more intense than a migraine. They tend to last for a short duration. Because they occur seasonally, they are often diagnosed as allergies. A cluster headache is extremely periodic, occurring at the same time each month or year. The headache is characterised by a jabbing and stabbing pain behind the eye, accompanied by watering and a burning sensation in the eyes. The patient is usually a male under 30 years old. They are often misdiagnosed as migraines for a long time. Bright lights or loud noises often trigger cluster headaches. Homoeopathic medicines such as Cedron-Simaruba and Spigelia Antihelmintica are very helpful in Cluster headaches.

Quick measures for headaches

A patient must maintain a headache diary to identify the trigger factors.
A healthy diet and good hydration are essential not only for preventing acute episodes but also for managing chronic conditions.
Regular exercise and pranayama are often advised to keep stress at bay, which is a significant trigger for headaches.

References

Principles of Internal Medicine by Sir Tinsley Harrison
Headaches and their concomitant symptoms by King, Jno C
Headache and its Materia medica by B.F. Underwood.
Diseases of the Ear, Nose and Throat by Dhingra.
World Health Organisation. 2025. Migraine and other headache disorders. Link accessed on December 4, 2025: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/headache-disorders

First published on September 20, 2020