Headaches are among the most common medical problems. Some people have headaches often, while others hardly ever have them. Both chronic and recurring headaches may be painful and distressing but rarely reflect a serious medical condition. However, a change in the pattern or nature of headaches--for instance, from rare to frequent, or from mild to severe--could signal a serious problem and calls for prompt medical attention.

Supplements and Herbs offer relief in migraine headache
Petasites also known as butterbur. For more petasites information.
5-HTP may be helpful (see below)  You can find 5-HTP here.
Feverfew may help a small percentage of users. 1 capsule 3-4 x/day for one month, then decrease dosage to 25 mg of dried herb twice daily. For more feverfew information. You can find Feverfew supplement here.
Magnesium
Riboflavin (vitamin B2) may be helpful

5-HTP beneficial for headaches
Serotonin is a brain chemical involved in mood, appetite control, sleep, and a number of other important functions. Many antidepressants, such as Prozac, and other medicines have their effects by influencing levels of this brain chemical. Interestingly, there is an over the counter nutrient called 5-HTP, which stands for -5-hydroxytryptophan, that also influences serotonin levels. When you take a 5-HTP pill, it makes its way to the brain where it can be converted into serotonin. In addition to having a role to play in mood disorders and weight control, 5-HTP has been found to be helpful in headaches. In a study conducted at the University of Coimbra in Portugal, 65 patients with chronic tension-type headaches were treated with 5-HTP or placebo for 8 weeks. In comparison with the group treated with placebo, there was no statistically significant change in the number of days with headache or in headache intensity in the group treated with 5-HTP; however, there was a significant decrease in the consumption of pain killers. During the 2 weeks after treatment, there was a significant decrease in the number of days with headache and reports from patients indicated that they were pleased with the benefits from 5-HTP. Previous studies have also indicated that 5-HTP may be helpful in the prevention or reduction in severity of migraine-type headaches.
   Comments: 5-HTP is appropriate for those who have headaches associated with mild depression and poor appetite control. The daily dose is best limited to less than 50 mg. Take a break from use two days a week and one week per month. For more 5HTP or 5-HTP information.

Causes of Headaches
Most headaches are muscle tension headaches, migraines, or head pain with no obvious cause. Many headaches are related to problems with the eyes, nose, throat, teeth, and ears. Most chronic headaches attributed to eyestrain are actually tension headaches; a new, severe pain in or around the eyes may signal high fluid pressure (glaucoma) in the eye and is a medical emergency. High blood pressure may produce a throbbing sensation in the head, but high blood pressure rarely causes chronic headaches.
   Major life changes may play a role in as many as a quarter of chronic daily headache cases that arise among otherwise healthy adult men and women.

Headache Diagnosis
Usually a doctor can determine the cause of a headache from the patient's medical history and a physical examination. However, occasionally blood tests may be needed to detect an underlying illness. Only rarely are chronic headaches caused by brain tumors, brain injuries, or lack of oxygen to the brain. If the doctor suspects a tumor, stroke, or other problem with the brain, computed tomography (CT) scanning or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be ordered to provide images of the brain.

Causes of Headache
Emotional or physical stress, genetic, hormone level fluctuations, weather changes, glare/flickering lights, premenstrual syndrome, lack or excess sleep, missed meals, alcohol, chocolate, birth control pills, menstruation. Drugs such as antibiotics (tetracycline, Bactrim) corticosteroids, Accutane, tamoxifen, Tagamet.

Treatment of migraine headaches
Wake up at the same time each morning.
Exercise at least 3 times a week. Exercise stimulates endorphins.
No smoking, no caffeine after 3 pm.
No artificial sweeteners.
No MSG (monosodium glutamate).
Reduce or eliminate red wine, cheese, alcohol, chocolate, and caffeine.
Try a gluten free diet.

Standard tension headache treatment
Tension headaches may be prevented by prescription medications such as tricyclic antidepressants, beta blockers and divalproex sodium. Over-the-counter medications -- such as aspirin, acetaminophen and ibuprofen -- can help alleviate pain.

Headache and gastrointestinal problems have some relation
Symptoms of headache are higher in people with gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms such as nausea, acid reflux, diarrhea, and constipation, than in people who don't have these bothersome symptoms. Dr. Anne Hege Aamodt and associates from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, reviewed questionnaires completed by 43,700 participants in the Nord-Trondelag Health Study, including information on GI symptoms as well as headache. After adjusting for gender, age, depression, anxiety and other factors that might influence the results, the research team noted a significantly higher prevalence of headache among participants with reflux, diarrhea, constipation, and nausea, compared to those without such complaints. Cephalalgia, February 2008.

Risk of migraine headache
Migraine patients who have frequent attacks or a long history of migraines have an increased risk of progressive brain damage. Headache, July/August, 2008.