Headaches
Brain Pain
By Nicole Kwan
Four ways to banish nagging headaches
THE YOGI
The Treatment: "Tension headaches are a symptom of stress to our
nervous system," says Judi Bar, owner of HeartLight Yoga in Bay
Village, Ohio, and a yoga therapy practitioner. "They can be caused by
tightening of your head and neck." To relax these areas and destress,
try "The Yoga Headache Rx" routine on the next page.
The Fine Print: For the best treatment through yoga, do your best to
maintain a regular practice. "Chronically tight muscles will loosen,
preventing the problem from starting," Bar says.
THE HERBAL PRACTITIONER
The Treatment: When stress causes imbalances in the body, heat builds
and rises to your head, says Judyth Shamosh, a medical herbalist in
Magdalena, New Mexico. She says two standard herbal formulas can
prevent tension headaches: Jia Wei Xiao Yao and Zhen Gan Xi Feng,
available through a specialist or online Chinese herbal pharmacies.
The Fine Print: Eastern medicine attempts to solve the entire problem,
not a single headache, so see a specialist to find the best overall
formula for you, Shamosh says.
