Nutrition and Phytotherapy: A Winning Combination Against Headache

Document Type : Narrative Review

Author

Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy

Abstract

Headache is an endemic, pathological disease that affects all individuals, regardless of age, gender, or social status. The causes of this phenomenon are many, and not all are known. Headaches vary in duration and severity and have a significant incidence in daily life. Pain is the main manifestation that can be associated with lacrimation, nausea, irritability, and dizziness. It is very difficult to find a specific treatment, and the medicaments used often have debilitating side effects that discourage their intake for long periods. Many doctors believe that proper nutrition and a healthy lifestyle as much as possible will offer more possibilities for preventing headaches and relieving painful symptoms. A valid help also comes from phytotherapy. Today the use of natural methods is more and more pleasing to patients, because they can continue the cure for a long time without the fear of undesirable effects. Many plants have been known since ancient times for their effectiveness in the treatment of migraine, and modern analytical methods have scientifically demonstrated the validity of their use and the mechanism of action of the effective active compounds present in them.

Keywords


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