Headaches, Reccuring

The Holistic Perspective

on Headaches, Reccuring

Recurring headaches are more than just pain in the head, they reflect deeper terrain imbalances in pace/energy, moisture, and tone. While they may show up as pressure, throbbing, or tension, the root causes differ depending on whether the body is overstimulated, depleted, congested, or spasmodic. Beyond the surface, headaches often have deeper affinities with the nervous system (nerve firing, stress response), the circulatory system (blood flow and vascular tone), and the endocrine system (hormonal rhythms and adrenal balance). Everyday triggers, from dehydration to screen exposure, can make headaches worse, but they act on top of these deeper terrain patterns.

• Rudimentary Root Causes

  Long-term nutrient depletion (especially magnesium, B-complex, and fatty acids)
  Stagnant breath patterns — shallow breathing, breath-holding

  • Chronic stress and nervous system overuse → excitatory imbalance.

  • Poor sleep or circadian disruption → weak restoration.

  • Dehydration or electrolyte depletion → vascular instability.

  • Nutrient deficiencies (magnesium, B vitamins, omega-3s).

  • Blood sugar dysregulation (skipping meals, insulin resistance).

  • Chronic inflammation or food intolerances (gluten, dairy, histamine foods).

  • Sedentary lifestyle → poor circulation and vascular tone.

  • Hormonal fluctuations (menstrual cycle, perimenopause, adrenal dysregulation).

  • Structural strain (poor posture, jaw clenching, cervical tension).

  • Gut dysbiosis or sluggish detoxification → inflammatory byproducts

  • • Eyestrain from screens or poor lighting → overactivation of ocular nerves and tension pathways.

    • Poor ergonomic setup (desk, car seat, bed) → chronic muscle strain, spinal misalignment, nerve irritation.

    • Lack of restorative sleep → reduced pain threshold and nervous system resilience.

    • Adrenal dysregulation → erratic cortisol output, amplifying pain sensitivity.

    • Dehydration or low electrolyte intake → reduced blood volume and vascular instability.

    • Low blood sugar crashes → insufficient glucose supply to the brain.

    • Jaw clenching, TMJ dysfunction, or post-dental inflammation → trigeminal nerve stimulation that may mimic or worsen cluster-type headaches.affecting circulation.

  • Environmental exposures: chemical irritants, strong perfumes, mold.

  • Drug/Herbal causes:

    • Overuse of pain relievers → rebound headaches.

    • Caffeine overuse/withdrawal.

    • Nitric oxide–stimulating herbs (ginkgo, cayenne) in sensitive terrain.

• Physiological Expressions

  Muscle spasms and tight fascia compress blood vessels and nerves.

  Vascular dilation and constriction create throbbing pain.

  Inflammatory mediators (prostaglandins, cytokines) sensitize nerve pathways.

  Low blood sugar → insufficient glucose to the brain.

  Dehydration → reduced blood volume, impaired circulation.

  Sinus congestion and mucous buildup → head pressure.

  Poor cervical alignment → nerve impingement and tension.

  Adrenal dysregulation → erratic cortisol output, amplifying pain sensitivity.

• Common Triggers

  Skipped meals or blood sugar crashes.

  Dehydration or excess diuretics (coffee, alcohol).

  Bright light, loud noise, or overstimulation.

  Hormonal shifts (menstrual cycle, perimenopause).

  Weather or barometric pressure changes.

  Strong smells (perfume, cleaning chemicals, smoke).

  Extended screen time or eye strain.

  Poor posture or jaw clenching.

  Alcohol, chocolate, aged cheese, MSG, nitrates.

  Medications: hormonal contraceptives, vasodilators, pain reliever overuse.

  Herbal mismatches: stimulating adaptogens or circulatory stimulants in excitative terrain.

  Social stress, resentment, or mental burden buildup.

  Prolonged screen time without breaks.

  Long hours in poor lighting or noisy environments.

  Extended sitting without movement.

  Weather changes or barometric pressure shifts.

  Strong smells (perfume, cleaning products, smoke).

  Alcohol, caffeine withdrawal, chocolate, aged cheese, MSG, nitrates.

  Medications: hormonal contraceptives, vasodilators, pain reliever overuse.

  Herbal mismatches: stimulating adaptogens or circulatory stimulants in excitative terrain.

• Organ Systems Affected

  Nervous System: Pain signaling, stress reactivity.

  Circulatory System: Vascular tone, blood flow, oxygenation.

  Endocrine System: Hormonal shifts, adrenal regulation.

  Digestive System: Gut-brain inflammatory signaling.

  Musculoskeletal System: Postural strain, muscle tone.

Different Types of Headaches

• Tension Headaches

  Dull, tight, or band-like pain around the forehead or back of the head, linked to muscle tightness and stress. (Tone – spasmodic, tension).

  Note: These patterns can overlap such as tension triggering vascular reactivity, or congestion worsening an already excitative terrain.

• Vascular / Migraine Headaches

  Throbbing pain, often one-sided, sometimes with visual or sensory changes, linked to vascular instability and inflammatory terrain. (Pace/Energy – excitation, irritative).

  Note: These patterns can overlap, such as tension triggering vascular reactivity, or congestion worsening an already excitative terrain.

• Congestive Headaches

  Heavy, full feeling in the head, worse with bending forward, tied to sinus congestion or sluggish circulation. (Moisture – congestive, mucous/boggy).

  Note: These patterns can overlap, such as tension triggering vascular reactivity, or congestion worsening an already excitative terrain.

• Hypofunctional / Depletion Headaches

  Dull pain, fatigue-associated, or worsening with fasting and low blood sugar, linked to low energy reserves and weak circulation. (Pace/Energy – hypofunction, hypometabolic).

  Note: These patterns can overlap, such as tension triggering vascular reactivity, or congestion worsening an already excitative terrain.

Recurring headaches are a reflection of your inner terrain, not just isolated pain. While root causes create the environment for them to develop, triggers like stress, skipped meals, or screen time often make them worse.

It’s important to know when professional medical care is needed: if headaches are severe, sudden, associated with vision loss, neurological changes, or accompanied by vomiting, fever, or head trauma, seek immediate medical attention.

For ongoing, non-emergency concerns, like persistent tension headaches, hormonal migraines, or congestion-related head pain, that’s where I come in. I’ll help you uncover the terrain-level root causes and guide you toward foods, herbs, and practices that restore balance from within. If you want terrain-specific solutions tailored to your body, book a consultation with me today.

Disclaimer

Each person’s condition has a unique root cause, and lifestyle, diet and herbal remedies must be tailored to the individual. The information on this page is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for personalized care. If you’d like support in understanding your specific situation, please reach out to me for guidance.