The cause of headaches on a pathophysiologic level is not well understood. Different types of headaches have different triggers. And what triggers a headache differs from person to person. Headache triggers range from the simple such as eyestrain, poor posture and dehydration to nutritional deficiencies, certain foods, environmental triggers, hormonal fluctuations and medical conditions.

Experts agree that migraine is a neurological disease. Migraineurs have hyperactive nerve cells. It has been observed that during a migraine serotonin levels are low and dopamine levels are elevated. Some researchers maintain that prior to a migraine blood platelets release serotonin, which causes intercranial blood vessels to contract. They subsequently dilate when serotonin levels drop putting pressure on the nerves of the smooth muscles in the blood vessels. In tension headaches, which are the most common type of headache, the smooth muscles around the scalp or in the neck and shoulders contract. Recent findings however suggest that the cause of headaches is more complicated than that and some research points to a connection with the limbic system, the seat of our emotions1. Many experts now speculate that migraine and tension headache have the same origin in the brain.

In order to get lasting relief we need to look beyond the immediate triggers some of which we can avoid, and some of which are unavoidable, to the underlying cause of a headache, which goes beyond chemical changes that take place in our brain.

The underlying cause of headaches seems most often to be

Stress

Though not all headaches result from stress, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 87% to 95% of all physical and nonphysical health problems have stress as their origin. Headaches are the primary symptom of stress manifesting itself in the central nervous system. Stress affects hormonal fluctuations, which in turn bring about the chemical changes that control the pain pathways. Stress comes from two sources. We experience stress from external circumstances and from internal thoughts conscious, subconscious or semi-conscious. External stressors are the triggers; internal stress makes us vulnerable to the triggers.

If you suspect that external stress is the culprit in making you sick and you are not able to remove yourself from the stressful situation, you can learn to control your response to these stressors through various techniques among which are Biofeedback, Yoga, Qigong, Meditation and relaxation techniques such as Shiatsu and Progressive Relaxation..

Internal Stress

Our coping mechanism to deal with stressors can be impaired due to psychological factors. Often self-destructive thoughts such as negative self-talk, anger, jealousy, fear, feelings of guilt either real or false and inner conflict, are subconscious or semi-conscious. We don't realize that these destructive thoughts cause us to be chronically in a flight or fight mode. Our bodies are continuously flooded with stress chemicals, which over time cause us to succumb to disease in the place where we are genetically most vulnerable. In case of headaches it is our head. These unhealthy thought patterns can also create clinical depression, a mental disorder often associated with headaches. These thoughts and feelings may have their origin as far back as our early childhood.

To relieve the stress we have to bring these unconscious, unhealthy feelings to the surface and address them. This can be done through psychotherapy, in depth counseling or through a method that is pioneered by Dr. Alexander Loyd, N.D., Ph.D., called 'The Healing Codes'. This system makes it possible for a person to address his subconscious negative emotions and heal them in 15-minute daily sessions. According to Dr. Loyd it is based upon the knowledge that everything at its root is an energy frequency (E=MC2) and that illness and disease can be traced to an unhealthy energy frequency. (Similar to the way an MRI determines health problems.) If you can change the unhealthy frequency to a healthy one, the illness or disease will go away without drugs, surgery, counseling, or even effort.

The Healing Codes teaches you the technique to bring about a change in your emotional well-being and spiritual health which in turn alleviates the physical issues related to it. In other words it deals with the underlying cause of your headaches. This natural healing system has brought healing to hundreds of people.

Another energy healing system that has gained considerable popularity due to its proven effectiveness in healing all types of diseases is the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT). This healing system promotes healing by tapping with the fingertips on established energy meridian points. It's based on the premise that "The cause of all negative emotions is a disruption in the body's energy system."

EFT concurs with the notion that our unresolved negative emotions are major contributors to most physical pains and diseases.

In summary, whatever the immediate triggers of your headaches, in order to get permanent relief, it behooves you to explore if there is an emotional basis for your distress and seek the proper care to resolve it.

1. Keith R. Edwards - Mechanisms of Prolonged Headache.

I was a chronic headache sufferer for over twenty years. Pharmaceutical drugs were ineffective or I couldnn't tolerate the side effects. I turned to natural therapies and found some relief but it was when I began to deal with my emotional issues that my headache symptoms began to improve. I created my website because I want to help other headache sufferers find the help they are looking for. Elisabeth Ullom http://www.headachefreeliving.com