BIOPHILE 16 â JUNE/JULY 2007 R25 - Biophile Magazine

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There are headaches and then thereare headaches. Some are mildand disappear after a while; othersonly subside after a headache tabletor two. Then there are those splittingtypes of headache and more seriousmigraines, which keep coming backregardless of how many headachetablets one takes.Some people experience moresevere and recurring headaches andoften have no choice but to seek thehelp of professional medical specialists.Some of the causes of headachesand migraines are emotionalstress, fatigue, lack of sleep andeven the food we eat. Withoutany further consideration, oftenwe turn to the quick fix in theform of a pill, neatly wrapped,labelled and convenientlysupplied by pharmaceuticalcompanies. Yet forthose who are not so eagerto swallow bitter pills,healthier alternatives doexist. Nature has providedus with many miracle curesin the form of plants sincethe beginning of time. Forthousands of years plantshave served to feed, clothe,comfort and heal generationsafter generations allaround the planet.Marjoram and Oregano(Origanum species) arerecommended for nervousheadaches as well as insomnia,while Rosemary (Rosmarinusofficinalis), can be used in theform of tea to alleviate headaches.Violet or Sweet Violet(Viola odorata) — four flowersand about five leaves boiledusing one cup of water — canbe used to calm and soothetension-related headaches.Scullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora)could be very usefulespecially when combined withValerian (Valeriana officinalis).Both of these herbs are most effectivein the soothing of tensionrelated headaches.Lavender (Lavendula angustifolia)which happens to be one of the mostcommon herbs in gardens and nurseriesin our part of the world, is helpfulin soothing stress related headachesas well as the calming of nerves.Lavender flowers should be infusedand drunk three times a day. Thereare over fifty listed species of thisherb. Ginger, tried and tested overcenturies and known for its headwhat’syourHEADACHE?by Paul Zapasnik46Biophile Issue 16
Thereis nothinglike havinga little herbalpharmacy rightat home. Oftenthe cure is just amere cup of teaaway.ache soothing properties, comes highlyrecommended by some herbal healers.Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium), canbe eaten fresh on sandwiches just likelettuce. Three to five Feverfew leavesdaily could be helpful with migraines.However, beware! Feverfew can causemouth ulcers in sensitive people.Peppermint (Mentha piperita) andSpearmint (Mentha spicata) also a verycommon herb, in the form of tea, canbe blended with other herbs such asValerian and Marjoram. Peppermint orSpearmint leaves mashed in a tiny bitof oil and massaged into areas affectedby migraines. An infusion of LemonBalm (Melissa officinalis) can alsosoothe headaches. The dried flowers ofCowslip (Primula veris) and Primrose(Primula vulgaris), can be infused asa tea to soothe headaches. The root ofPrimrose can also be infused. EveningPrimrose (Oenothera biennis) seed oilalso available in capsule form can beuseful not only for headaches but alsofor premenstrual tension and menopausaldiscomfort.Most of these herbs and many othersare available at health shops, pharmaciesand in plant form at nurseries.When approached, the manager ofthe Lantana Nursery located in Blackheath,said that one the most popularremedies for headaches is lavender.Many healing plants are not too difficultto grow at home, whether it is in agarden or in pot plants in your home onwindowsills. To ensure good growth it isimportant to note the fact that variousspecies of plants have different needsin terms of soil types, amounts of waterneeded and the exposure to sunlight.There is nothing like having a littleherbal pharmacy right at home. Oftenthe cure is just a mere cup of tea away.Besides the cures for both headachesand migraines in the form of tea infusedfrom dry herbs, there is also the optionof therapeutic massage, concentratingon pressure points optionally usingherbal oils. Infused Thyme oil (Labiatae)is perfect when used for headmassage.Nevertheless, many people areconvinced that the chemicals suppliedby pharmacies are all they everneed to cure or prevent sickness.There are also people who wouldrather put their faith in naturalremedies. Pharmaceutical headacheremedies often contain potentiallyharmful chemicals. Some argue it isgenerally not as easy to find naturalremedies, as it is to find their pharmaceuticalcounterparts. If one is inneed of herbs such as Lavender orFeverfew, only select or specialist shopswould stock these. Yet the quick fixheadache tablets seem to be always easilyavailable not only at pharmacies butalso at just about every grocery storeand petrol station. This makes it seemto be a more convenient, short-termsolution. We live in a world where ‘convenient’does not always mean healthy.Yet herbalists and herbal remediesin general are greatly underestimated.This is possibly due to lack of knowledgeas well as the convenience of modernliving in world of passive consumerism.When approached on this subject,Mr. Fox the manager of a nursery inRandburg, had the following to say “Asironic as it is, as somebody involvedwith plants to the extent that I am,whenever I have a headache I tend toresort to headache tablets”. Yet Mr. Fox,just like other people who run nurseries,acknowledges the fact that manyplants have medicinal properties. Peoplewho lead busy lifestyles, often tendto resort to what they think is the easyway out, often without consequence orconcern for their health in the long run.When using herbal remedies, as isthe case with conventional medication,one should not ignore possiblesensitivities that individuals may havefor certain plants. When using herbs,as is the case with anything else thatpeople consume, allergies and negativereactions may occur and requirecareful observation, according to eachblood type and possible sensitivity. It isimportant to know your body and theremedies you use.Herbal remedies should not be usedexcessively and have to be administeredwith utmost care because the body mayeventually become immune to the healingeffect of that remedy.Furthermore, whoever you may beand whatever your headache, there isa cure for you somewhere in the herbgarden. If all else fails, other therapieswhich may just be the solution in termsof desired relief and also prevention ofmigraines are aromatherapy, nutritionaltherapy, massage, yoga, meditation, acupunctureas well as osteopathy whichis a system of diagnosis and treatmentbased on a theory of the association ofailments with the disorders of the musculoskeletalsystem.There is always the option of brewingherbal tea and even starting your ownherb garden, which could be a greathobby and a productive way of spendingyour spare time at the same timetrying to preserve the ancient knowledgeby learning more about the healingproperties of plants.Biophile Issue 1647
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BIOPHILE 16 â JUNE/JULY 2007 R25 - Biophile Magazine