This is my second blog post on homeopathy for headaches and migraines. You can find my first post from 2024 here: https://karenleadbeater.co.uk/homeopathy-for-headaches-eleven-remedies/
I decided to write a second post to highlight the homeopathic strategies I find most effective in the homeopathic treatment of migraines. As those of you who experience them will know very well, migraines are more than just a headache. They are a neurological phenomenon that typically includes head pain alongside a range of other neurological symptoms (called an aura), and sensory disruption, fatigue, nausea and vomiting. Migraines with aura may include visual disturbances (for example, flashing or flickering lights, blind spots or blurred vision), speech problems (aphasia), dizziness, and numbness or muscle weakness in parts of the body.
Homeopathic treatment takes a highly individualised approach. Each person’s migraine pattern is unique to them, and professional care with homeopathy includes taking a very detailed history. We look at the way you experience your migraines, and carefully select homeopathic medicines that match your migraine pattern. The right medicines for you will stimulate healing and for most clients will bring about a gradual improvement in your experience of migraines, over the course of a few sessions of treatment.
Migraine attacks – urgent options
Migraine is a chronic long term condition which is episodic – migraine attacks occur periodically in a different way for each person. For example, some people have their migraines in a predictable and frequent pattern, others have episodes which occur more randomly, with no predictable timing. While the best way to use homeopathic treatment is via professional care – this is aimed at reducing your susceptibility to migraine attacks – there are homeopathic remedies that will reduce symptoms when a migraine comes on. This can be helpful for those who prefer to keep pharmaceutical treatment to a minimum, and also for those who are considering or just beginning professional care. Self selection is sometimes effective here, and I also discuss urgent care remedy options with those beginning treatment, so they have remedies on hand for when needed.
Here are brief symptom profiles of a small selection of the remedies I use in the treatment of migraines.
The selection of the most suitable homeopathic medicine for your migraine pattern, relies on observation of the following aspects: the pain sensation you experience, the typical location of the pain (is it localised to one side of the head or the other, for example), and the factors that influence your experience of the pain. You will see examples of these in the profiles below. Your self selection of homeopathic remedies (and your description of your symptoms if you decide to work with a homeopath) will become much more accurate if you begin to tune in to your personal symptom patterns. Do make a note of your experience for reference.
Belladonna – a well known homeopathic remedy, Belladonna should be considered in migraines that are characterised by intense throbbing or pulsating pain, especially where the symptoms come on suddenly and violently. Typically the pain is localised to the right side of the head, and is frontal, with a sensation of heat and fullness. The face is often flushed, and pupils dilated, and there is a strong sensory component, with acute sensitivity to light, noise and odours.
Glonoinum – this remedy is more commonly known as a remedy for the effects of sun exposure (including sun headache and sunstroke). It is also a useful migraine remedy where the symptom profile matches. There are some similarities with Belladonna. The pain sensation in Glonoinum may have more of a bursting quality, with an intense sensation of pressure. Most characteristically, the pain tends to come in waves. As in Belladonna, there is a typical sensation of heat in the head, and the face may be flushed and the eyes bloodshot. The headache may be accompanied by palpitations. I have often used Glonoinum in the treatment of hormonal migraines, especially around menopause.
Sanguinaria – I use this remedy frequently in the treatment of migraines. It is one of the first remedies to think of for headaches that return periodically once a week. As with Glonoinum, it is also a remedy for hormonal migraines that come on around menopause. The typical Sanguinaria migraine pattern is right sided pain which starts at the back of the neck, and moves forward to settle over the right eye, with pain that feels bursting or pressing outwards. It is often described as a ‘sick headache’, and the person typically feels a little better once they have vomited. Sensory disturbance is also common, with aggravation from light, noise and strong smells.
Spigelia – this remedy is very helpful in migraines where the pain pattern is of a uniquely Spigelia character. The pain sensation is stitching or stabbing in nature (as if from needles) and located above, around or through the eye. The left eye is most often affected, with only occasionally a right sided focus. The pain is worse for motion (especially any jarring motion) and noise, and tends to be worst in the morning, diminishing as the day goes on. Migraine may also be accompanied by a stiff neck.
Melilotus – I have used this remedy in the treatment of migraines associated with nosebleed. The typical migraine pattern in Melilotus is pain sensation of bursting or throbbing character, often with a flushed face. Those who benefit from Melilotus will typically be prone to nosebleeds, and when a nosebleed comes on this relieves the headache. The headache may be accompanied by retching and vomiting, visual disturbance (blurred vision), and tenderness of the scalp. The migraine pattern may recur in a weekly or monthly pattern.
Iris – in homeopathy Iris is a well known migraine remedy, and will help ease symptoms where the migraine pattern matches. The symptoms typically begin with gastric disturbance (nausea and vomiting, sometimes diarrhoea), and visual aura with blurred vision. Iris headaches are periodical – often either at weekends, or every eighth day, and are more often right sided, though they may also alternate sides. The pain sensation is throbbing or shooting, and frontal, typically beginning over one eye.
Cimicifuga – intense headaches that begin on the top of the head, may be accompanied by stiffness at the top of the spine. Pain can be distressing, with a feeling as if the brain is too large for the skull, or as if the top of the head will come off. Visual disturbance is common, with dark spots or red flashes before the eyes. The eyes are strongly affected, with sharp, stitching sensations and intense aching in eyeballs.
If you are thinking of professional care for recurrent headaches or migraines, you can book a discovery call or appointment via this link: https://karenleadbeater.co.uk/work-with-me/
