By Simon BD Henderson
For many people headaches are not a mere inconvenience, but can turn into full blown migraines, a debilitating affliction that causes a great deal of lost time and opportunities, with days spent hiding from light and noise, or dependent upon medicine and drugs to get relief.
Pain in any part of the body can be unbearable and if it is in the head, it can quickly turn into a pulse like a hammer knocking on your temples. Headaches are mostly caused by the constriction of blood vessels in or flowing to the head leading to a lower supply of oxygen to the brain, or too much blood in the head but not in the brain, as in the case of caffeine withdrawal. Chronic headaches and migraines can leave one completely helpless and bedridden. Anxiety and stress are the leading causes of the constriction of blood vessels, due to tight necks and shoulders. Relaxing the body and calming the mind will bring natural relief from the pain.
Remedies
There are a number of pills available on the market which dilate the blood vessels or thin the blood in order to let it flow more easily through the constricted blood vessels. However, this provides temporary relief only. After the medicine wears off, at the first sign of stress, the muscles tighten and the head starts to pound again. Another pill is popped and the cycle repeats itself. This may lead to chemical dependence and damage to the liver over a period of time. The best answer seems to be to treat the problem holistically, by using natural methods instead of resorting to drugs.
Alternative remedies
There are a number of alternatives available. Yoga and meditation, Pranayama or deep breathing to calm the nerves and still the mind are some of the most common solutions. However, these practices take some time to perfect. For many it is particularly difficult to condition the mind to do what we want. In fact, more often than not, if we try to quieten the mind, it will tend to become more agitated, throwing up a whole host of worries and leaving us with a bigger headache than we started with. Reiki, acupressure and Shiatsu are other ways to deal with headaches, but we don't always have the time, money or a therapist on hand when needed.
Brain entrainment
A new concept that is becoming more and more prevalent is 'brain entrainment' or synchronizing the brainwaves to a particular frequency with the help of external stimuli like light or sound. Specific sound waves are generated by computer to play in the range of 4 to 40 Hz (the same as brainwave frequencies) and the brain naturally seeks to align itself to the frequency being played in its surrounding, this is a scientific phenomenon knows as Frequency Following Response. For example, if two clocks of nearly the same frequency are placed near each other, they will eventually fall in sync with each other. Similarly the brain also exhibits 'Frequency Following Response' and falls in sync with the frequencies played near it.
Isochronic tones
These are rhythmic single tones with a rapid on and off pulse. They have an advantage over other methods like binaural beats in that there is no need for headphones and they are more effective, since they influence the whole brain and therefore more quickly bring the brainwaves to the desired state. Frequencies of 8 - 10 Hz are known to produce calming effects and should be played at the first indication of a headache or migraine. What's more, the regular use of brainwave entrainment encourages the brain to develop new neural pathways, meaning headaches and migraines will occur less and less over time, while encouraging a naturally relaxed and receptive state.
Playing a recording of isochronic tones of 8 - 10 Hz for about 20-40 minutes a day will help to reduce the incidence of headaches considerably leaving you feeling rejuvenated, fresh and headache-free.
Simon BD Henderson is an international Shiatsu Therapist, trained at the London College of Shiatsu in the UK. He is interested in helping people live longer, happier, more healthy lives in the most natural way possible.
The isochronic tone soundscapes discussed in this article are available at the following website: http://www.isochronic-meditation.com/headaches
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