| "Oh, how densely packed your head is, my | | | | mother. What a wonderful friend for an emerging |
| sweet," sighs Grandmother Growth. "I'm afraid | | | | crone! Try 10-25 drops of the tincture of the |
| there's no room for new growth. If you could | | | | fresh herb several times a day to relieve |
| empty your mind, leave off worrying and planning | | | | headaches. |
| for a while, and give in to the chaos and its | | | | - The beautiful spring primrose (Primula veris) |
| random pleasures, just for a short time, I think | | | | offers relief from menopausal headaches if taken |
| you'd feel less pressure and your head would hurt | | | | regularly. The golden carpet of Schlesselblume on |
| less. The energy of your womb now circulates | | | | Bavarian pastures and roadsides is one of my |
| inside you and throbs in your head. Sit quietly; | | | | favorite memories of Germany. If you don't visit |
| breathe out through the top of your head and | | | | or live in Bavaria, you can grow and gather the |
| imagine the breath falling gently down to earth. | | | | blossoms of Primula officinalis instead; they're also |
| Rest your forehead against the earth. Place this | | | | a good source of pain-killing salicyn. Make a tea of |
| cool stone on your third eye. Your Crone's | | | | the dried flowers and drink several cups a day for |
| Crowning comes closer. This is the work of your | | | | some months. CAUTION: Sip your first cup |
| body; let your mind rest." | | | | mindfully and slowly, as some folks are allergic to |
| Step 0: Do Nothing | | | | primrose. NOTE: The roots of most primroses |
| - Follow your natural instinct: lie in total silence, in | | | | contain oil-soluble estrogenic factors and |
| complete darkness, and sleep, if possible, until the | | | | cell-softening saponins, suggesting use as an |
| headache is gone. | | | | ointment for tender, dry vaginal tissue. |
| - Like fatigue, a headache, especially a migraine, is | | | | - Connections between foods and headaches are |
| a way to get some time alone. Is finding time for | | | | sketchy. There is little evidence that plants |
| yourself usually a headache? | | | | indigenous to the Americas, such as chocolate and |
| Step 1: Collect Information | | | | nightshades (tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant, |
| - Menopause often brings relief to the woman | | | | peppers, tobacco) contribute to headaches. I do |
| who has had migraine headaches since | | | | suspect that chemicals in processed foods (such |
| adolescence. Other women experience headaches | | | | as aspartame, MSG, and nitrates) and in some |
| for the first time during menopause, usually the | | | | natural ones (aged cheeses, miso, red wine) can |
| result of fatigue, stress, rapidly changing hormone | | | | trigger headaches. With other foods, you're the |
| levels racing through the liver, and rushes of | | | | best judge. |
| kundalini moving into the crown area. | | | | Step 4: Stimulate/Sedate |
| - Menopausal headaches may also be triggered by | | | | - Avoid alcohol. It is a known headache trigger. |
| sudden (and usually short-lived) allergies to certain | | | | - Keep cool. Being hot, from hot baths, saunas, |
| foods. | | | | hot flashes, exertion, or air temperature, is the |
| - Headaches and migraines are a common side | | | | second most common headache trigger. Stay |
| effect of ERT/HRT. | | | | cool. Stay in the shade. And just say "no" to hot |
| Step 2: Engage the Energy | | | | tubs. |
| - Rub a drop of lavender or chamomile oil briskly | | | | - Sedate headache pain with tinctures of skullcap, |
| between your hands. When palms are warm and | | | | 3-5 drops, and St. Joan's wort, 25-30 drops. I take |
| tingly, place them on the part of your head that | | | | them together, as frequently as needed, up to |
| aches. (It's also wonderful to have someone do | | | | half a dozen times a day. Migraine sufferers take |
| this for you.) | | | | them as soon as the aura begins, before there is |
| - If it's tolerable for someone to hold your head, | | | | pain, and repeat every ten minutes for 3-6 doses. |
| try this: sit in a chair or lie down. Lean your head | | | | - Anti-inflammatory, hormone-rich wild yam eases |
| back into your friend's hands and allow them to | | | | the aching heads of menopausal women. A dose |
| support your head in their palms (fingers pointing | | | | of wild yam root tincture is 10-30 drops up to 6 |
| down, thumbs above the ears) for up to five | | | | times a day, or infused, 1-2 teacupsful a day. The |
| minutes. Breathe fully. | | | | lower dose, taken daily, relieves chronic |
| - Blinking red lights can relieve extreme or severe | | | | headaches. In acute situations, use the higher |
| migraines, within an hour, 72 percent of the time. | | | | dose. |
| Wear goggles that restrict side vision for | | | | - Soak your feet in cool water scented with a |
| maximum effect. | | | | few drops of rosemary oil. Breathe deeply. |
| - Women with chronic migraines often benefit | | | | - Migraines are most frequent between 6 a.m. and |
| greatly from the help of a skilled feminist | | | | noon. Take headache remedies before bed and on |
| therapist. | | | | awakening to ensure maximum effect. |
| Step 3: Nourish & Tonify | | | | - To banish simple headaches, soak a handful of |
| - Tea, infusion, or tincture of garden sage leaves | | | | fresh lemon balm (Melissa) leaves in a glass of |
| offers immediate relief from a headache and | | | | wine for an hour, or drink a tea of dried leaves. If |
| helps prevent future ones. | | | | you want sleep as part of your headache cure, |
| - Black cohosh root tincture or a vinegar of fresh | | | | substitute catnip (Nepeta cataria) for the Melissa. |
| willow leaves will ease a headache with pain-killing | | | | - Feverfew (Chrysanthemum parthenium) is a |
| methyl salicylate. Ten drops of the tincture or one | | | | much-publicized remedy for migraine. It is most |
| teaspoon/15 ml of the vinegar is equivalent to | | | | effective as a preventative measure: eat a sprig |
| two aspirin. | | | | of the fresh plant daily. For acute headache, 2-4 |
| - Vervain (Verbena officinalis) was a sacred herb | | | | fresh leaves or a cup of strong tea may help. |
| in the ancient matriarchies. Menopausal women | | | | CAUTION: May irritate mouth. |
| use the tincture of fresh vervain flowers, 20-40 | | | | Step 5b: Use Drugs |
| drops in water, before bed and as needed, to | | | | - Painkillers are many women's first thought for a |
| strengthen the nerves, relieve insomnia, dispel | | | | headache remedy. But habitual use increases the |
| depression, treat nervous exhaustion, and | | | | duration and frequency of headaches. |
| moderate headaches, including migraines. (Vervain | | | | - Taking ERT/HRT? Ease off and see if your |
| was a favored plant for the Maiden's altar and the | | | | headaches ease up. |
| moon lodge, where she was used to promote the | | | | Step 6: Break & Enter |
| onset of the menstrual flow, ease cramps, reduce | | | | Some women say their headaches are so bad |
| flooding, and quicken desire.) | | | | that they want to blow their brains out. Perhaps |
| - Lady's mantle, another ancient sacred plant, has | | | | menopausal headaches, like sleeplessness, are part |
| many magical attributes, including an ability to aid | | | | of the physical "mind-altering" process of |
| women who are taking on or leaving the role of | | | | becoming a crone. |