Cluster headaches natural, alternative treatments
Cluster headaches is a type of rare headache disorder that causes reoccurring, excruciating and intense headaches - typically affecting one side of the head. Anecdotal, real-life evidence suggests that plant-based treatments may be able to reduce the severity of pain felt during a headache, and for this reason it has been endorsed by a high percentage of those who have tried these options for migraine or headache relief.
Am I eligible?65,000
People in the UK suffer from [cluster headaches], affecting 1 in 1,000.
3 times
Men are [3 times more likely] to experience cluster headaches than women.
76%
Of sufferers support the use of plant-based [migraine treatments].
47%
Reduction in headache severity reported after natural treatment in a [patient survey].
Symptoms
A blocked or runny nose
Feeling sick
Pain that makes you feel restless
Red, dropping, swelling or watering eye
Sharp, burning or piercing pain
Small pupil on the same side as pain
If you are suffering from any of these symptoms. Please speak with your GP to find out more.
Treatment options:
Acute cluster headache treatments try to help during an attack, while preventative treatments can be used to try to stop headaches occurring, or reduce their frequency. In the UK, triptans may be prescribed to reduce pain during a headache, while deep brain stimulation and occipital nerve stimulation may be recommended as a preventative treatment.
Corticosteroids
Deep brain stimulation
Lithium
Occipital nerve stimulation
Oxygen mask treatments
Triptans
Verapamil
Find out if you may be eligible for alternative, natural cluster headache treatments here
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A word from our specialist
“Many conditions that lead to chronic pain often respond poorly to conventional pharmaceutical medications. More and more is being understood about how the endocannabinoid system interacts with the more well-known pain pathways to work synergistically with these conventional medications. Chronic pain comes with a variety of associated symptoms such as poor sleep, fatigue, brain fog and reduced appetite – all of which treatment with medical cannabis can improve.“
Dr David Tang
Clinic Director
Find out if you may be eligible for alternative, natural cluster headache treatments here
Am I eligible?Do cluster headaches respond to natural, plant-based treatments?
Most people with this diagnosis have ‘episodic’ cluster headaches, which is characterised by clusters of recurring headaches that last from 4 to 12 weeks, then several months headache free before another cluster occurs.
The headaches themselves can last between 15 minutes to a number of hours. They can severely impact daily activities and a person’s ability to work during attacks, which can poorly impact a person's quality of life, and contribute to the development of mental health conditions like depression or anxiety.
Since 2018, plant-based treatments have been available as a new, alternative cluster headache treatment option for patients that have not been responding to conventional treatments.
This is because evidence suggests that certain natural compounds can influence pain signals in the brain, and reduce the perception, or severity, of pain. Often, patients using these alternative treatments also note an improvement in their quality of life when using plant-based products.
Natural, alternative cluster headache treatments are not suitable for everyone, but they may be able to offer relief to patients who have yet to find this response with conventional, licensed options.