Homeopathic remedy for headache

Is the headache real? Have they tried Amytriptilyn ? Or Gabapantin?
ThoughMIL GP said she could take 8paracetamol.a day indefinitely She was 91 though He said liver damage at her age wasn't really an issue She lived to 93 (residual pain from shingles )

People with dementia may believe they have headaches but they may not have one that would be 'cured' by medication of any sort so a placebo, child's vitamin tablet, etc are all good ideas. Anya also mentions the problems around urinary infections which are very important to consider so increased water intake is vital (this helps us all regarding headaches!). My mother used to use a tiny block of 'frozen menthol' to rub on her forehead and temples which has a good effect too but I don't know if you can still buy it anywhere.

Rule number one when having an ailment - look at how much rubbish is in your diet and rubbish masquerading as healthy. People eat so much of it they dont know how it feels to be normal.

I think I am right in saying that Paracetomol is addictive and to some people to stop taking it is like coming off drugs. It is apparently unproved but very real for some. See www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-435796/The-silent-addiction-everyday-painkillers.html

If this is the case professional help will be needed to wean her off them, just substituting the pills will not do it. Your mum may not have a headache but need her fix.
However, if she does have a headache there is a roll-on available from Holland and Barratt in a silver tube, you rub it on your forehead - it smells like peppermint and works for a lot of people. Also, perhaps carbonated and/or flavoured water or juice instead of tea to keep the fluids up, and more fruit and vegetables. Constipation can cause headaches. And if she can get out each day for some fresh air that might help.

I wondered about dehydration and, ideally, she should be drinking straight water to rehydrate. There are about a dozen possible remedies for headaches, depending on other things, eg if her face is flushed and/or she's cross belladonna would be the one; if she's weepy pulsatilla would be appropriate and so on. The reflexology point in the hand is the tip of the thumb, so if you or she could massage that it might help. Peppermint oil (diffused) might help.
Good luck. It's rotten being in the wrong all the time. Hugs to you.

I find Tiger Balm rubbed into temples works very well & smells lovely- well I think so.Maybe just the smell makes you think it is working so it does- I don't know but it works for me. I got the idea from a natural practitioner who used to work at the osteopathic clinic where I worked.

There is a stick thing called 4Head which you put on your forehead - my friend swears by it for headaches (haven't tried it myself).
Here is a link to it on Amazon, but my friend gets hers at Boots I think.

www.amazon.co.uk/4head-Headache-Migraine-Relief-Stick/dp/B000KU51SQ/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1470653978&sr=8-1&keywords=4head+headache+%26+migraine+relief+stick

mini, dehydration was one of my wonderings too. Mum is underweight at <6.5 stone and eats very little. She didn't finish all her drinks yesterday. I'll keep making her cups of tea put I can't make her drink them.

My fears were somewhat confirmed just now when I came in from shopping and found that mum had emptied her bedroom bin into the kitchen bin. There was an emptied paracetamol packet. It had only contained two pills but any more from me would have taken her over the limit ?

Still no mention of headache so far today but she's saying she's tired. That could be down to infection recovery too.

Anyway, her face is a much better colour today. Relief!

She's blind (DM) and has glaucoma so her eyes are checked frequently.

Thank you, everyone, for suggestions. I'm taking note of them all. Support from GNers is such a blessing at times like this.

I hate to be too simplistic but does she drink enough- it is the best remedy if it's just a simple headache. Has she had an eye test recently- that can also be a factor?

Feverfew is a herbal remedy rather than homeopathic and dealt with my migraines brilliantly when I was young. I used to eat the leaves from a plant but you can buy it from health food shop in tincture form and I think as a tablet.

Taking analgesics makes headaches worse over time, plenty of medical evidence for that. What bout Tiger Balm or anything else soothing from the health food shop, they are pretty clued up in those places, Boots sell homeopathic remedies and can also advise.

I am watching mumsnet with astonishment at how many young people are addicted to over the counter meds..........

There are points on the hand that can be squeezed to help with head aches....and maybe new glasses might help. It is not a good idea to take so many Paracetamols.

Urinary infections can make older people act very strangely too.

Thatbags I think it is a n excellent idea to give
her a placebo. Nux Vomica is a good choice.
Sometimes they work or appear to work and if her mind thinks they work then they will work.

thatbags so sorry about your mum. Hope you can keep the paracetamol away from her. Here's a link to a site that lists types of headaches and the homeopathic treatment needed.
www.homeopathycenter.org/find-remedy/h

Have you tried lavender-essential oil few drops on a tissue or on her pillow. Helps if it is a tension headache.

This sounds very hard for you bags. I hope you manage to come up with a workable strategy. Do you think a placebo would work? I think you can get a sugar pill placebo from a pharmacist. Perhaps if your Doctor brother were to convince her that it was something special that he recommended?

Just a thought!

She came down a few mins ago looking a lot better than she did yesterday and no mention of headache so maybe the refusal to give her more paracetamol did help. Or else she has overcome some minor infection. She says she had to get up for the loo about six times last night.

Will get some harmless pills today as back up.

You could try non-medical remedies like washing her hair to relax her scalp, eating an apple (even holding one under the nose to breathe in the smell), drinking water with lemon juice in it, giving her a different vitamin tablet each time she asks for a pill (small dose ones for children?) moisturising cream to relax taut forehead skin, salt water eye drops to counter eye strain, playing soothing music (might soothe you too)

If all else fails, alcohol? For you, not her.

Hugs bags. Didn't realise how bad it is. Your plan of a placebo is a good one, but I wonder whether she'll agree to taking it.

Good job DS is coming today.

Might try that today, thanks, mumsy. I did try a towel-wrapped hot water bottle as a neck cushion yesterday evening. I think she is just desperate for a pill fix. ?

My bro told me that too re paracetamol, anya. I told mum but she clearly thinks I'm making it up. I've asked my doc bro to come over (he's about sixty miles away and retired) and talk to her today.

A hot wet flannel on the face helps with a headache.

Crossed posts there bags - I hadn't realised it had got that bad. OTC painkillers can actually make things worse as far as headaches go.

Don't underestimate the placebo effect!

I'm very willing to be confounded in the circumstances, gk ?

The situation got really bad yesterday. My mum hates going out in any wind because she says it badly affects her breathing (she is asthmatic) but while I had a nap y'day afternoon she went out in very strong winds and I think she bought a packet of paracetamol. She had been saying she'd do that when I said I couldn't give her more yet. She was asking for more every hour or so. When she returned, after I'd woken, I heard her riffling through what sounded like such a packet and so I checked her bag when she was out of the room. Since she had already had 3g paracetamol at suitable intervals from me, and since there were pills missing from the packet, I feared she had taken or might take an overdose. I consulted my doctor brother about removing the tablets from her bag. He said I should, if only to prevent self-harm.

I did so. I explained it all to her and she seemed to accept it but a little later kept asking me why I thought I knew better than doctors. Her short term memory is shot to hell, plus I'm the family scapegoat for her (have been for years; during her teens it was my sister). I explained what DS (DoctorSon) had said several times. She kept asking the same questions and clearly thinks I have done wrong.

She wouldn't let me settle down at bedtime, came in demanding pills about seven times. The last thing I said to her last night was: "Go away. Phone DS. Speak to DS."

Yes, it's that bad and that hard.

But at least the brother who usually cares for her has been able to have a holiday. Hey ho.