Taking an aspiril1 or a tranquilizer may provide temporary relief, but it does not remove the cause, Moreover, the frequent use of pain-relievers causes nervous debility, weakens the heart and brings in other complications.
The best remedy to prevent headaches is to build up physical resistance through proper nutrition, exercise and constructive thinking. As a first step, the patient should undertake short juice fast. During this period, fresh fruit and vegetable juices, diluted with water on 50:50 basis, may be taken six times daily. By taking the load off the digestion, the patient will at once save nervous energy which can be utilized for more important purposes. The blood and lymph will also be relieved of a great burden. After a short juice fast, the diet should be fixed in such a way as to put the least possible strain on the digestion. Breakfast should consist of fruits, both fresh and dried. Lunch should consist largely of protein foods. Starchy foods such as whole wheat bread, cereals, rice, or potatoes should be taken at dinner along with raw salads. Spices, tomatoes, sour buttermilk and oily foodstuffs should be avoided.
Diet factor is of utmost importance in treating headaches. Dr. David W. Buchholz believes that the single easiest headache-provoking factor one can control is the diet. Thus, avoiding food culprits can be crucial in preventing headaches. He feels that headaches can be prevented by identifying and avoiding foods that trigger headache. His advice is to avoid for one month all foods most likely to trigger headaches and also caffeine-containing medications and painkillers. If the headaches subside or disappear, one can then experiment by adding back a food item one at a time every three days or once a week. If a headache occurs, one will then know the food which is a headache trigger and should avoid it. Dr. Buchholz cautions that it may take 24 hours after consuming a food for a headache to show up. After one determines which foods trigger headaches, one can avoid them. However, he recommends not adding caffeine back into the diet, if one has frequent headaches.
