#4 – Headaches – Dehydration

posted on : January 28, 2019 posted by : lareesbutterfly@gmail.com 0 Comment

#4 – Headaches – Dehydration

Why Does Dehydration Cause Headache Pain?

The body requires proper fluid and electrolyte levels in and around every cell. Cells simply cannot function properly without adequate fluid levels. Improper fluid levels impede, for example, the body’s ability to move nutrients to the cells. In addition, dehydrated cells cannot perform cellular housekeeping tasks such as metabolic waste disposal. The nervous system simply cannot function without proper hydration. Dehydration causes literal “shorts” and “sparks” in the signaling system of the nervous system. This is what triggers a headache. Just as importantly, the creation and movement of cerebrospinal fluid depend upon good hydration. Once the body has been dehydrated for a while and cerebrospinal fluid levels and fluid levels in between cells is lower than normal, it may take days or weeks of sustained effort to return the body to a normal state of hydration.

Cerebrospinal fluid

Cerebrospinal fluid flows around the spinal cord and bathes the brain – going in and out among the folded layers of brain matter. Insufficient fluid results in neurological issues. The nerve signals simply do not function properly. The result, inevitably, is decreased mental capacity and confusion. The brain may contract and even shrink from lack of fluid. The inside of the skull is lined with connective tissues and membranes. These membranes are home to a great many nerves. Contraction or shrinkage of brain tissues causes the brain to pull away from the skull. The result is damage to these tissues and the nerves they contain. In the spine, cerebrospinal fluid facilitates nerve signals to every organ and system of the body. Also if nerve communication fails to any organ or system, problems arise. These problems then become contributors to various forms of headache pain.

How the Body Loses Water

Most of the time – normal times – we naturally balance the amount of fluid intake with fluid loss. We drink throughout the day. Fluid-rich foods are part of our daily diet. We suffer no major or unusual fluid losses. However, there are times when fluid loss exceeds fluid intake. Dehydration, with its uncomfortable list of side-effects, commences.

Excessive sweating. This occurs with illness or serious exercise or being outside for lengthy periods on hot days.
Excessive urination. Kidney issues or the side-effects of medication, among other causes, bring this to pass.
Diarrhea and vomiting. Children must be watched carefully for signs of dehydration when ill. Dry, hot fevers affect the brain, more often than we realize.
High fever or persistent mild fever.

Persons at Risk for Dehydration

Most likely, everyone will experience at least mild dehydration at some time in their lives. However, certain groups of people tend to be more at risk for complications of dehydration.

Those who live at higher altitudes.
Infants and young children.
The elderly.
People with chronic illnesses. Kidney disease, also is a risk factor. Diabetes is particularly hard on kidneys.
People who are taking medications that increase urine output.
Those who exercise regularly – and work up a good sweat every time.
People who live in excessively hot, dry climates.

A Few Interesting Dehydration Statistics

The average human body is approximately 56% water.
The body, on average, requires 64 to 80 ounces of fluids during a 24-hour period to replace what is lost by normal, everyday activities.
Because we also need electrolytes, water quantities tell only part of the story.
Losing as little as 2% of body weight in fluid results, in some people, in the early stages and symptoms of dehydration.
Losing as little as 5% almost surely impacts concentration, judgment, and reaction time.

Dehydration Headache Symptoms

A dull headache all over the head is one manifestation of a dehydration headache. This type is usually accompanied by foggy thinking and fatigue. (I usually get these types of headaches when shopping. My daughter simply hands me a couple of bottles of water. In a few minutes – a half hour, at the most – I am fine again. Life and shopping continue.)

These headaches result, as near as I can tell, from fairly mild levels of dehydration. The pain is a signal to pay attention to water intake and output. The situation progresses, inevitably, to chronic migraines if the signal is not understood and lifestyle changes are not adopted.

Intense, chronic migraines result if dehydration becomes chronic and more pronounced. The first signal of such a headache, in my experience, is the flashy light aura of an oncoming migraine. It is, usually, too late at this point to correct the problem by simply taking a big drink. The pain occurs anywhere and everywhere. It may be at the front, right over the eyes. Alternatively, it may be in the back, or along one side or both sides, or all over the head.

The flower essence combination, Rescue Remedy (also called Five Flower Formula) has saved my day many times. In addition, working the energetic signals to the head used in a Foot Zone treatment usually stops a migraine before the pain gets underway. Working these signals on the hand instead of on the feet, on the spot and at the moment, has been very effective for me. Oddly, the 24-hour fatigue that follows a migraine episode still occurs, generally, even if no actual headache pain was experienced.

Dehydration as a Migraine Trigger

Some people experience headaches only when severely dehydrated. Others of us are not so fortunate. Perhaps, if you consider the headaches to be signals to enable you to improve your habits, they are blessings in disguise – a rather painful blessing.

Symptoms of Dehydration

Since “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” a list of dehydration symptoms follows:

Extreme thirst. In some of us, this thirst mechanism seems to be “broken.” That is how we got into this state in the first place.
Reduced urination. However, if you have been border-line dehydrated most of your life, you might not recognize your urine output as abnormally sparse.
Dark-colored urine. This is, pretty much, a dead give-away.
Confusion. As explained above, the brain and the nervous system cannot function properly when dehydrated.
Dizziness, often demonstrated by slightly bumping walls and people with your shoulder as you pass by.
Fatigue. Feeling as though you just want to go home and lie down and sleep forever.
Dry, sticky mouth.
Loss of skin elasticity. Pinch the skin on the top of your hand. Ideally, it should flatten out instantaneously. When it does not, you are dehydrated. Find something to drink immediately.
Increased heart rate.
Low blood pressure. Although the heart rate increases, the blood pressure – overall – is lower than it should be.

More serious symptoms of dehydration include:

Lack of sweating.
Sunken eyes.
Feverish feeling.
Shriveled skin. Things are getting really serious at this point.
Delirium. Things are very serious now. Probably requires medical attention and intravenous rehydration. Please, don’t hesitate at this point to seek medical assistance.
Unconsciousness.

Treating Dehydration Headaches

Treating dehydration headaches, nasty as they can be, is relatively simple compared to other types of headaches. At least, this is true when treating by alternative methods.

Rescue Remedy should be administered immediately. During my “aura” days recently, I carried one with me.
Drink immediately – but don’t overdo it or drink too much too quickly. For me, about 4 – 6 ounces, immediately but not gulped was optimum. Another couple of ounces every 15 minutes or so until my brain felt normal and my mouth was no longer dry was optimum.
Work the blood supplies and nerve signals, footzone-style to the head immediately and thoroughly. (A full footzone, also would be much better, if one could be arranged.) Knowing how to foot zone has saved my day more times than I can count, in more ways than I like to count. (I would love to teach you this valuable skill at Butterfly’s footzone classes.)
Replace lost electrolytes. I know that the advice, both medically and popularly, is to replace electrolytes with a sports drink. This is NOT the best way, usually. Many sports drinks contain dyes and chemicals that have their very own list of contraindications. There are good electrolyte supplements available. My favorite one is the Elete Electrolyte.
Temporarily decrease physical activity and exercise routines until fluid levels are balanced. This broke my heart. I love the endorphin benefits and the feeling of doing something nice for myself that exercise gives me. I tend, however, to be a bit obsessional so overdoing even good things is something I must watch out for!

Below is a 20-second video demonstrating how to work blood supplies on your hand.

Prevention Really is the Best Medicine

Please, pay attention to your body’s many needs for water every day.

Drink plenty of fluids. Spread fluid intake throughout the day. Sipping continually is far better than gulping only occasionally.
Eat fluid-rich foods. Cucumbers and many other vegetables are fluid-rich. Fruits, generally, have a high water content.
Pay special attention to fluid intake during exercise or when outdoors in hot weather.
Don’t ignore dehydration signals when sick, especially with children. It is nearly impossible to reduce a fever when the patient is dehydrated. Calcium, burned off during fever, needs to be replenished. A liquid mineral supplement is a good way to both reduce fever and lessen the body aches that accompany fever-induced calcium deficiencies.
Avoid caffeinated beverages and alcohol. Both increase urine output and lead, very quietly and in a deadly fashion, to dehydration.

Mineral and Electrolyte Deficiencies

Electrolytes are minerals that carry an electrical charge. Electrolytes are carried throughout the body by fluids. Chronic dehydration, undoubtedly, results in electrolyte deficiencies and imbalances. The result? Experiencing a range of symptoms – all nasty. Symptoms of electrolyte deficiency range from headaches and nausea to fatigue, confusion and dementia-like symptoms. Important electrolytes include:

Calcium
Magnesium
Potassium
Sodiums
Phosphate
Sulfates

Electrolyte Deficiency and Headaches

Sodium

Sodium is an electrolyte mineral. It aids in the regulation of fluids surrounding the cells of the body. Sodium is essential to blood volume (which needs to double during pregnancy). This mineral, sodium is also essential to muscle and nerve function and is necessary to joint health, as well. Sodium is required by your stomach lining. Both sodium and chloride are required by the body. For many years, doctors convinced pregnant women – and, eventually, the population in general – that sodium (salt) was not good. This was very unfortunate. The result was an increase of toxemia in pregnant women. In a very real way, the medical world had a point. Sodium chloride – common table salt – can be processed until it is no longer a nutrient! A recent government study revealed that people with chronic headaches should limit their intake of salty foods. My questions… Was it the salt or the lousy diet that the phrase salty foods referred to? Were they, by any chance, talking about good quality, well-manufactured sea salt? What were those salty foods that were raising blood pressure and creating statistical headache increases? Too often, these phrases refer to nitrate-laced salty foods. Nitrates are, also a sure recipe for disaster. In my experience, a woman in the early stages of toxemia benefits greatly and immediately by increasing her intake of sodium, magnesium, and potassium. My favorite salt is Himalayan Pink. There are other good salts – sea salts – available nowadays.

Magnesium

Magnesium is essential to more than 300 separate chemical reactions in the body. It plays an important role in the assimilation and distribution of calcium in the body. Thus, it helps prevent kidney stones and gallstones. Magnesium improves the cardiovascular system and helps regulate blood sugar. Magnesium activates over 100 enzymes. As a result, magnesium is important for both nerves and muscles. Unhealthy nerves and tight muscles are both, also associated with headaches and migraines. There is research to support the idea that magnesium is, in fact, essential to avoid headaches. Moreover, the research suggests that supplementing magnesium may be key in reducing migraine episodes. Magnesium appears to be more effective for those whose migraines include aura or other visual disturbances as a migraine begins.

Potassium

Potassium is essential in the maintenance of fluid levels in the body. It is also essential to muscle contractions and vein health. Science has speculated recently, that muscles and veins becoming flaccid creates migraines when too much blood flow reaches the brain. Potassium plays a vital role in the oxygenation of brain tissue. Potassium plays a key role in maintaining the membranes in the skull through which nerve conduction must occur. Among its many other functions (and there are many), potassium regulates the acid/alkaline balance in the body.

Copper

I include Copper here because it was essential in the treatment and disappearance of my own migraine auras. Why? I can only speculate. I do know, however, that Copper protects red blood cells. It also aids in the conversion of iron into hemoglobin. As a result, it is essential in the prevention of and recovery from anemia. Copper assures that red blood cells are able to carry oxygen and nutrients properly. It also improves the absorption of other vitamins and is essential to vein health. Copper is essential to nerves and is a potent antioxidant. Copper regulates how intensely our nervous system reacts to pain, acting to calm agitated pain receptors.

Minerals as Heavy Metals

The term trace mineral means exactly what it says. These minerals are absolutely essential to the body. They are, however, required in only trace amounts. Most minerals, electrolyte or otherwise, may act as toxic heavy metals in the body if they are present in quantities other the trace amounts. Early studies show that many times, migraine sufferers have abnormally high levels of some minerals in their bodies. Interesting – and a bit confusing. I love my liquid mineral supplements. BUT, I am glad that I know how to muscle test. I am constantly being taught new things as I research the why behind an answer obtained through muscle testing.

POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS

Essential Oils for Mineral and Electrolyte Deficiencies

There are no studies that I have ever seen that prove, unequivocally, that essential oils provide nutrition to the body. However, we know that essential oils absorb readily and quickly into the body. Once absorbed, they make amazing changes for good. We do know, also, that some essential oil blends stimulate the body to absorb nutrients because they balance various systems and functions within the body. The best oils for this are the Butterfly blends listed below. ^LeEndoRelief – because it strengthens the endocrine system, ^LeEternity – far and away my favorite for this purpose, ^LeIntention – also very nice, ^LeWarmDown – primarily calcium.

Herbal Solutions for Mineral and Electrolyte Deficiencies

In the interest of time and space, I will list herbal solutions for only the four minerals mentioned above. I am taking this information directly from my book, Butterfly Miracles with Herbal Remedies. The book contains similar lists for most of the trace minerals known to be required by the human body. Please see the book if you are interested in information about any of the other minerals required by the body.

Sodium – (from plants, of course)

Alfalfa, Cascara Sagrada, Ginger, Kelp/Dulse, Oatstraw, Peppermint, Rosehips, and Watercress.

Magnesium

Alfalfa, Catnip, Cascara Sagrada, Cayenne, Chamomile, Dandelion, Eyebright, Fennel, Fenugreek, Ginger, Hops, Horsetail, Kelp/Dulse, Lemongrass, Licorice, Mullein, Nettles, Oatstraw, Paprika, Parsley, Peppermint, Raspberry Leaf, Red Clover, Rosemary, Sage, Shepherd’s Purse, and Yarrow.

Potassium

Alfalfa, Blue Cohosh, White Birch, Cascara Sagrada, Chamomile, Coltsfoot, Comfrey, Dandelion, Dulse, Eyebright, Fennel, Ginger, Kelp/Dulse, Mistletoe, Mullein, Nettles, Papaya, Parsley, Peppermint, Plantain, Raspberry Leaf, Rosemary, Shepherd’s Purse, White Oak, and Yarrow.

Copper

Basil, Dandelion, Kelp/Dulse, Nettles, Parsley, Rosemary, Sheep Sorrel, Watercress, and Yarrow. KNA tincture – Perhaps, you noticed in the above lists, that the herbs Kelp/Dulse, Nettles, and Alfalfa are present in all four minerals. The Butterfly herbal tincture, KNA – Kelp/Dulse, Nettles, Alfalfa – is a very potent mineral supplement. A table in the book, Butterfly Miracles with Herbal Remedies, shows which herbs contain which vitamins and minerals. Please note that these three herbs occur in the list for nearly every vitamin and mineral. There is at least one of them on every list. Usually, all three of them are listed. This combination contains the minerals needed by our bodies. It also contains a great many other nutrients, including a protein or two and some essential amino acids. In addition, plant-based vitamins and minerals are easily absorbed by the body and create no problems, except occasional allergies in some people. (Someone, somewhere, is allergic to everything.) Other excellent Butterfly tincture combinations that are excellent mineral supplements are: AP – specific to arthritis sufferers, MH – specific to men, MIN – everybody but, especially children, and TY – thyroid.

Homeopathic/Blessed Waters for Mineral Deficiencies

Schussler’s Biomedic Cell Salts – in Homeopathic or Blessed Water form – would be excellent choices. Cell Salts aid the body in up-taking and utilizing minerals.