MARCH 2013
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Headache Free in Every Season
by Thea Summer Deer
©2013 all rights reserved

Red Clover by Adam Caddick
Headaches sufferers know that this is no way to live yet most don't know the cause of their debilitating condition. I frequently hear "dehydration," "too much sugar," and "stress," mentioned as common triggers.

While dehydration may seem like an easy fix, many don't understand the effects of long-term dehydration resulting from depletion of deep yin fluids.

Making the effort to correct a yang driven, stress filled lifestyle doesn't always come easy when living in a driven society.

Headache powders and pills can keep us going most of the time and for those severe migraines, forced down time can result in loss of work and productivity.

We frequently push ourselves to keep going even when our bodies are crying for us to slow down. This pattern, especially when reinforced with toxic mimics like coffee, can be incredibly depleting.

The question that comes to mind is: Why has so much value been placed on the human doing while neglecting the human being and at what cost?

It's a story as old as time, but that story is changing. The human potential movement has us demanding new answers and new solutions. The paradox is that answers have been here all along. They are no further than we are right now. We are standing on our medicine.

Orthodox medicine considers the underlying cause of migraine to be unknown.  What we do know, and what migraine sufferers are constantly aware of, is that there are triggers that generally precede the onset of a migraine headache.

Headaches in general are the most common health problem and the most common side effect from prescription or over-the-counter drugs.

All prescription medications are yin depleting, or in other words, drying to deep yin fluids necessary to not only cool the liver and keep it from overheating, but also to lubricate the entire body.

In a society where it is easy to simply take a pill for a headache, we have not thought to differentiate between types of headaches as is done in Chinese Medicine according to the meridians and specific symptoms.

Just like the Eskimo have many words to describe snow, there are many different ways to describe headache. The two most common types are vascular headaches (dilation of blood vessels) and tension headaches (muscle spasms).

The most common triggers for migraine headache are stress (physical, emotional or mental) and fatigue.  Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is an elegant system that describes patterns of disharmony through its Five Element Theory. We all know that stress affects hormones and it is the Wood Element that corresponds with the liver.

The liver or Wood Element is largely responsible for regulating hormones.  The Wood Element is responsible for holding and releasing substances at the proper time including hormones and emotions.

Disharmony in the liver disrupts these processes and is almost always implicated in any kind of headache, especially cyclical or seasonal headaches. Other triggers can include environmental and dietary.  In all cases, migraines are the result of disruption of liver qi.

When liver qi or energy is disrupted due to liver congestion and stagnancy, liver heat rises, causing a turbulent inner wind.  This is a 'wind' that smacks us upside the head, so to speak.

Migraine symptoms like light sensitivity (Wood Element sense organ correspondence is the eyes) nausea (rebellious liver qi, energy moving up instead of down) or a migraine provoked by anger (repressed or otherwise) along with an increasing frequency of migraine episodes in the spring, all implicate the liver's role in migraine headaches. We see this through the Wood Element's correspondences of eyes (sense organ), anger (root emotion) and spring (season.)

Relieving liver congestion is fundamental to improving headaches of any kind and can be achieved with proper diet, rest, nutrition, and nourishing and tonic herbs.  Tonic herbs are herbs that are taken over a period of time usually from 3 months to a year.

The longest lasting result from herbs is seen in their tonic ability to restore bodily systems. Some of the better know hepatic tonics include: dandelion, burdock root and yellow dock.  Herbs that help to restore the yin fluids that cool the liver are: licorice root, reishi mushroom, schizandra, nettles and red clover.

Eating a lighter diet that includes the bitter flavor and lots of spring greens with herbal vinegar dressing or fresh lemon is helpful in clearing liver heat.

Full sweet (whole grains, legumes, sweet potato, winter squash, etc.) is harmonizing to the liver and increases liver qi (energy for the liver to do its work.)

If you suffer with migraines you may do well to work with an alternative medicine practitioner (herbalist, naturopath, chiropractor, acupuncturist) who understands and uses these concepts in their practice.

Adaptogenic herbs become a very important consideration when helping the body adapt to environmental and internal stress. They help restore balance and are another strategy to increase the body's resistance to stressors and provide a defense response to acute chronic stress.

Adaptogens are unique in their ability to restore balance of endocrine hormones, modulate the immune system, prevent and reduce illness while strengthening the body.  In Traditional Chinese medicine adaptogenic herbs are considered qi tonics that strengthen and stimulate the immune and defense functions of the body.

Some examples of adaptogenic herbs are He shou wu, Ashwaganda, Licorice, Schisandra and Reishi. By normalizing neurotransmitter levels in the brain adaptogens are used to prevent and treat neurological health problems including headaches and migraines.

The more we wake up and realize that increased productivity actually comes from replenishing and nourishing ourselves at the deepest level the more we realize our human potential. Nourishment comes in many forms including wholesome foods and the herbs listed above as well as creative expression and a life filled with purpose and meaning.

The good new is: There is hope for headache sufferers in every season.

 



Learn more in Thea Summer Deer's class, Love Your Liver: Spring and the Wood Element, a work at your pace, online class at Wise Woman University.

For an edible spring weed recipe visit: Thea's Kitchen. Visit Thea Summer Deer: www.theasummerdeer.com

 
Thea Summer Deer, Ph.D. is a clinical herbalist, educator, author and singer-songwriter. She began practicing midwifery in 1978 and was a founding mother of the South Florida School of Midwifery.

Her involvement in Alternative Medicine spans 35 years as owner of Mindbody Press and Evolutionary Press, and as the executive director of Resources for World Health. She is a graduate of the Botanologos School for Herbal Studies and received her doctorate from Venus Rising University.

Mother, Grandmother, avid cook and gardener, Thea is also an award winning songwriter performing in the acoustic duo, Thea & The GreenMan.

Her new book, "Wisdom of the Plant Devas: Herbal Medicine for a New Earth," published by Inner Traditions International/Bear & Company, bridges botanical medicine with Earth-Spirit wisdom. ~~ Order Here ~~

Learn more at www.theasummerdeer.com or "Like" her on Facebook.


Listen to radio interviews with Thea Summer Deer



Study with Thea Summer Deer Online

~ Indian Summer: Nourishing the Earth Element ~
( link to detailed description of Indian Summer: Nourishing the Earth Element )


This class will benefit herbal and alternative medicine practitioners at any level, and individuals who want to heal and understand their digestive system for optimum health and longevity.


~ Hidden Treasure: Kidney Essence & The Water Element ~
( link to detailed description of Hidden Treasure )


This class will benefit herbal practitioners at any level, and individuals who want to understand the vital role of Kidney Essence and how to achieve optimum health and longevity.


~ Heal Your Heart: The Fire Element~
( link to detailed description of Heal Your Heart )


Heal Your Heart: The Fire Element, contains information I hope will someday be taught to our children as a matter of course so they grow in the knowledge that healing takes place in the context of relationships – our relationship with each other, the earth and her seasons and with the heavens.


~ Love Your Liver: The Wood Element~
( link to detailed description of Love Your Liver )


This online course will benefit herbal practitioners at any level, and individuals who want to heal and support their liver for optimum health.


Testimonials:

"My goal in taking your class was to learn how the liver might affect hot flashes, but your gift of knowledge has far surpassed that and thank you." -- Helen Rollins Lord

"I just wanted to let you know how much I am enjoying the classes and how much healing I am experiencing in my own life/body right now because of the information you have shared. I truly appreciate the gift of this class." -- Kristina White

"I am so excited to have been guided to you and am so happy to be in this phase of my life with you. Thanks for being so very approachable and responsive." -- Sandi Manoogian

"These classes have been so inspiring, gracefully presented and dense with insightful information." -- Emily Sabino

"Thank you so much Thea Summer Deer. you have been placed on my path in perfect timing." -- Pat Alexander


The Wise Woman University (WWU) is a sacred distance learning environment for the reweaving of the healing cloak of the Ancients.
WWU is an online non-accredited distance learning environment, offering courses to women for personal empowerment and well-being. Register at the Wise Woman Bookshop to choose from WWU's empowering courses.
At the Wise Woman University you will find mentors with women-centered skills pleased to offer their wisdom to you in a format that is lively, interesting, and easily available.
Click to Learn more

 

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