Headaches are common at this time of year due to allergies wrecking havoc on your sinuses. Fortunately, there’s an alternative, yet natural way of healing the aching head. According to Chinese medicine, headaches may want to tell you something.

The pain in our body is a signal that there is a blockage of energy and blood. Our body is asking us to notice, evaluate and change the behavior that caused the pain. So, it is best to treat pain using natural remedies in order to avoid side effects and to become more aware of our body’s unique needs as well.

So what’s going on when a headache strikes? Tension headaches are often the result of muscle tightness and spasm in the neck, upper back and shoulder areas pulling on the scalp. In a migraine, blood vessels contract causing pressure, inflammation and a throbbing, pounding pain. Whether migraine or tension, headaches are most commonly triggered by sinus problems, muscle tension, eye strain, jaw clenching, a virus, stress, hormonal imbalance, lack of sleep or allergies. (more…)