The causes, symptoms and treatments of headaches

Headache is a very complex symptom that may affect 40–50% of the population. Most people experience a headache at least once in their lives, but many struggle with this problem every day.

In this case the pain does not come from the brain but from the tissues and blood vessels surrounding it. As we know of different types of headache, the trigger can also be many things.

In primary headaches the symptom itself is the “illness”, while behind secondary headaches there may be some other illness or organic change. So the cause may be something as small as stiff neck muscles or even a cold, but in more severe cases processes in the brain or a head injury can also trigger the headache.

As for treating headaches, doctors usually recommend painkillers regardless of the cause. However, taking too many NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory painkillers) can also generate headaches.

In the case of primary headache – that is, when there is most likely no underlying illness – alternative methods such as ear piercings are becoming more and more widespread. Of these, the Shenmen and the migraine piercing, both separately and together, are able to reduce the number and intensity of headaches significantly.

In the sections below I have collected everything important you need to know about headaches and about the Shenmen and migraine piercings.

1. Causes and types of headache

In a headache, the complaint is not caused by a problem in the brain inside the skull; the pain starts much more from the soft tissues and blood vessels covering the skull.

Depending on what problem lies behind the pain, we can distinguish a great many types of headache. In certain cases it is easy to establish that an acute respiratory illness (e.g. a cold, flu) is triggering the headache, but often it is not so clear-cut, and we may even think of a more serious problem. If the headache doesn’t pass within a few hours and you experience the pain regularly regardless of any other factor, it is worth having the cause investigated and treated. It may also be that you have migraine headaches.

2. Primary headache

Primary headache is not caused by another illness; the complaint is triggered by excessive activity of the pain receptors. The headaches are caused by some muscle tension (neck muscles) or a blood vessel problem.

Most types of headache are classed as primary, but in rarer cases an illness may trigger the complaint here too. These can be headaches linked to coughing, orgasm or exercise.

We must not forget either that sometimes we ourselves can trigger a headache, for example if we eat too much meat and drink too much alcohol, eat and sleep irregularly, don’t work on our poor posture, get stressed and drink too little fluid.

The Shenmen and migraine piercing has its best effect in primary headache, as in this case the symptom and the cause are very likely to be the same.

Let’s now look at the types of primary headache, that is, which headaches we can treat effectively with the Shenmen / migraine piercing.

a) Cluster headache

Cluster headache got its name from the headache attacks that come in cycles (cluster periods). The pain can develop within a few minutes, without any prior symptoms. The pain is sharp, piercing or burning, and is accompanied by a typical eye symptom: as if a hot stick had been pushed into the eye, or as if the eye wanted to fall out of its socket.

Cluster headache usually develops on one side only, and throughout life it appears only in that one place.

Other typical symptoms of cluster headache:

• throbbing headache that calls for ice,
• restlessness,
• the pain gets worse when lying down and is eased rather by movement,
• wanting to be alone,
• red eye and watering on the affected side,
• symptoms also typical of migraine: sensitivity to light and sound, nausea,
• autonomic symptoms: blocked nose, facial flushing and swelling (on the affected side), sweaty, pale skin, constricted pupil, drooping eyelid,

The last two symptoms may remain for a long time after the attack; the other symptoms stop together with the headache.

b) Migraine headache

Migraine is perhaps the most common type of headache, affecting 17 per cent of women and 6 per cent of men.

It is typical of this headache that the throbbing, pulsating pain appears on only one side of the head (rarely on both sides). The headache may be accompanied by sensitivity to light and sound, nausea and vomiting.

We distinguish three types: without aura, with aura, and aura only, without migraine.

I have written a complete article about migraine, which you can read here.

c) Tension (or hypertensive) headache

This is the other most common type of headache, which also mostly affects women (80%). It usually involves mild or moderately severe pain, and it can develop in any part of the head. People often report pain at the back of the head or a tight, band-like pain.

Symptoms of tension headache:

• dull / tight / aching headache,
• the pain lasts 30 minutes to 1 week (it can be continuous or come back from time to time),
• the pain is located in the forehead, between the two temples,
• it can radiate into the shoulders,
• in certain cases it appears in the morning, but it can also develop as a result of stress,
• tiredness,
• sleep problems,
• the head, neck and shoulders are sensitive to pressure,
• irritability,
• loss of appetite,
• difficulty concentrating,

Many people feel tense and hungry before the pain appears. The headache can be made worse by teeth grinding, a head injury and joint problems.

3. Causes and symptoms of secondary headaches

A secondary headache is not so much a complaint in itself but in most cases a symptom of a well-defined problem or underlying illness, so besides the pain other complaints completely unrelated to the head may also appear.

Whether a milder or a more serious problem lies behind the headache, it is definitely worth having it investigated and treated.

Some illnesses that can come with secondary headache:

• dental problems
• dehydration
• middle ear infection
• high blood pressure
• panic disorder
• stroke
• glaucoma
• certain medicines

4. Types and causes of secondary headaches

a) Headache from external pressure

Many people wouldn’t think so, but wearing a tight hat or a helmet can also trigger a headache.

b) Cold headache

Just like the various weather fronts, cold can also have a serious effect on our head. But the pain can be caused not only by cold weather – even eating too much ice cream too quickly can generate a headache for a short time.

c) Sinus headache

The facial and nasal cavities, that is, the sinuses, are air-filled cavities that can fill up with fluid during a cold, and this feeling of pressure can affect the whole head, causing pain in this area.

d) Thunderclap headache

This sudden pain can be an accompanying symptom of certain illnesses.

e) Medication-induced headache

Headache can be among the side effects of certain medicines, and we must not forget either that taking too many painkillers can also come with headaches.

5. Continuous / daily headache

There can be many reasons behind continuous headache, and as it can make everyday life considerably harder, it is worth going to a headache clinic as soon as possible for a full investigation and to start treatment early.

6. Headache in the forehead area

Headache in the forehead area can be caused by drinking too little fluid, that is, dehydration, and substances that have built up in the sinuses can also put pressure on this area.

7. Headache at the back of the head

Headache at the back of the head may be caused by a blood pressure problem or by stiff neck muscles. In severe cases it can even be triggered by an injury to the brain and the serious condition that follows, which is exactly why, if it appears suddenly and you experience other complaints (e.g. dizziness), see a doctor as soon as possible!

8. Headache around the temples

A significant percentage of complaints around the temples develop because of a jaw joint problem, but migraine and tension headache can also appear in this area. Headache in the temple area can also be a symptom of more serious problems (for example an ear infection or meningitis).

9. Headache at night

Headaches that appear at night include migraine and cluster headache; in addition, if you drank too little fluid during the day, you may even wake up to pain at night. There is a certain “alarm clock headache”, which typically develops between 1 and 3 a.m. and occurs in people over 50.

10. Headache caused by stress

Stress is harmful to the whole body in every respect, and it also intensifies pain considerably. Too much overthinking and worry can easily cause headaches, which is exactly why it is worth learning various stress management techniques that fit well into everyday life.

11. Headache that comes with neck pain

Neck pain and headache often go hand in hand, because overtense neck muscles can even cause daily complaints around the head. And what can make these muscles overtense? A problem of modern people is frequent mobile phone use and time spent in front of screens, which has a negative effect on posture, and this affects the cervical section of the spine first. The often-seen “text neck” is one of the typical symptoms of this problem, and it often comes with headaches.

12. Cramping headache

The much-mentioned migraine and cluster headache can be cramping in nature, but even the tight neck muscles mentioned earlier can generate a cramping headache.

13. Weather-sensitive headache

Mainly warm fronts can trigger headaches, which can affect older people, women and people with a weak immune system. Changes in temperature, wind and humidity can have a negative effect on people struggling with headaches and migraine. When a warm front arrives, blood pressure can fall while the pulse rises, which is another reason headaches can develop.

Besides the headache, there may also be:

• sleep problems
• irritability
• difficulty concentrating
• low energy
• inattention
• slow reflexes

14. Possible treatments for headaches

If the headache makes everyday life considerably harder and other symptoms also come with it, it is recommended first to see a doctor, who will diagnose the underlying cause and recommend treatment.

What I myself see in my guests is that in primary headaches serious improvement can very often be achieved with the migraine / Shenmen piercing. Behind secondary headaches, however, there is often some hidden illness, which should first be investigated and treated, and only then should the effect be boosted with a migraine piercing.

Headaches are most often treated with medication. In many cases taking an over-the-counter painkiller is enough. If, however, this no longer helps, ask your doctor for help.

IMPORTANT! See a doctor immediately if you experience the following:

• nausea, vomiting
• problems walking
• high fever (39–40 °C)
• stiff neck
• visual disturbance
• slurred speech
• weakness or paralysis of a limb
• confusion
• fainting

15. Treating primary headache with the migraine piercing

It was already recognised in ancient China that stimulating certain points of the ear can have a positive effect on certain internal processes. It was observed that certain points in the area of the outer ear are connected to the organs, and these were written down. Reflexology of the soles of the feet and the hands came about in a similar way.

The migraine piercing (known in English as the Daith piercing) and the Shenmen piercing both work on this principle. The piercing at the piercing site keeps the 10th cranial nerve, also called the vagus nerve, under constant stimulation, which has a pain-relieving, calming and anxiety-reducing effect on the whole body.

In the Western world, the Daith piercing only began to be used in the 1990s, and then only as a fashion, not because of its healing effect. However, wearers noticed that they had fewer or no headaches since the piercing was placed, and that their anxiety had also decreased. That is when its effect on the body began to be studied.

The Shenmen piercing began to spread in Hungary from 1985, after Dr Ajándok Eőry invited an American psychiatrist, Dr Michael Smith, who in his home country had successfully treated people addicted to drugs and alcohol with acupuncture therapy of this point.

The migraine piercing is placed in the fold above the ear canal, while the Shenmen piercing is located in the uppermost segment of the outer ear. The piercing requires great accuracy and precision.

What I see in the people who come to me is that in most cases placing a migraine piercing on its own can help relieve or eliminate the headache, but sometimes it may be necessary to place a reinforcing piercing as well.

Placing the migraine piercing is painless and done within 15 minutes, so in the case of primary headache it is definitely worth giving it a try. Both my son and I have been completely symptom-free since we got our migraine piercings. That is exactly why I decided to set up the Medical Piercing studio and help other people with headaches too.

I look forward to welcoming you at my studio in District 13, at Újpesti rakpart 7, if, like me, you have already tried everything for your migraine / headache, but nothing has brought the real breakthrough. Click the button below to book an appointment straight away, so I can see you within 1–2 days!

16. How effective is the migraine piercing?

My elder son and I have completely got rid of our migraine since we got the piercing. For years I struggled with headaches that came in attacks, which seriously made my life miserable. I believe in the migraine piercing so much that I set up Medical Piercing, my own business, where I would like to help others recover from headaches too.

More than 500 people come to me every week, and day after day I see improvement and receive positive feedback from my guests. Experience shows that in the vast majority of cases the migraine piercing is able to drastically reduce or completely eliminate primary headache. Sometimes placing an additional piercing boosts the effect further.

In Hungary there are already several tens of thousands of people with migraine who have recovered or found relief and who owe their easier everyday life to the migraine / Shenmen piercing. That is why I suggest that if headaches make your life miserable, as they once did mine, you come and see me and we give the piercing a chance.

17. Migraine piercing guarantee

At Medical Piercing I consider it essential that we achieve our goal with placing the migraine / Shenmen piercing, that is, for your headache complaints to decrease / go away.

Of course, there may also be cases where you do not necessarily notice enough positive change within 6 weeks of the first piercing. That is exactly why I came up with the guarantee, with which I can ensure that we achieve the greatest possible effect for you too!

At my studio I offer the following 100% guarantee on every Shenmen and migraine piercing I place:

• If there is still no satisfactory improvement in your headaches after 6 weeks, I will place another piercing for you free of charge.
• Likewise, if your piercing is damaged or breaks for any reason, I will also replace it for you under the guarantee.

18. How long until the positive effects can appear?

In 70–80% of cases the complaints decrease significantly after 2–3 weeks, and most people experience the changes after 6 weeks.

So if you struggle with strong headaches, the migraine and Shenmen piercing may reduce the frequency and intensity of the headaches.

And if you only have mild headache complaints, the pain may stop almost immediately after the piercing is placed.

19. How much does the migraine piercing cost?

At Medical Piercing the price of the migraine piercing is 24,900 HUF, which includes the following:

• assessment, with manual point location.
• immediate placement of the piercing.
• a sterile piercing made of medical-grade metal.
• the 100% guarantee.
• unlimited and free check-ups,
• and regular information for you about what you need to know about the piercing and its aftercare.

20. Booking a migraine piercing

On the Medical Piercing website you can immediately see my free appointments in my online calendar and book the one that suits you.

I look forward to welcoming you at my studio in District 13, at Újpesti rakpart 7. If you come by public transport, take tram 4 or 6 to the Jászai Mari tér stop, from where it is a 7-minute walk; if you come by car, it is best to park on the embankment, where you can easily find a parking space at any time of day!