CAUSES OF HEADACHES: TOBACCO
Tobacco can cause headaches in two ways. Firstly, carbon monoxide is produced when tobacco is burned. Usually this doesn’t cause a problem by itself, however, long-term exposure to carbon monoxide furs up the arteries of the heart, a condition known as arteriosclerosis.
Some people are allergic to tobacco smoke, and can get severe headaches when in smoky atmospheres. This effect seems to be allergic rather than pharmacological, so even a small amount of tobacco smoke will be enough to trigger a headache. The only true remedy here is to avoid smoky conditions.
Detailed methods to help you give up smoking are beyond the scope of this book, but the essence of them all is will-power. All the aids to stopping smoking will be completely useless if you don’t try – hard! (And it is hard, too.)
Complementary treatment
Tobacco smoke is toxic because of the tars (cancer-causing substances), nicotine (artificial stimulation) and carbon monoxide. Smoking also increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, bladder disease and cancers of the stomach and the neck of the womb.
Acupuncture can help to relieve the pain of tobacco-induced headaches, and, if you are a smoker, help you to give up. Oats, skullcap and valerian will help deal with the headaches caused by exposure to tobacco smoke. A combination of colt’s foot and plantain can be given to clear out the respiratory system after stopping.
Bach flower remedies can help deal with negative emotions while trying to give up smoking; for example, there is impatiens for impatience and irritability; gentian for despondency, and cherry plum for uncontrolled, irrational thoughts. Controlling your emotions will prevent them building up to become another cause of headaches. For irritability, B-complex vitamins. Niacin can be used under a doctor’s supervision to detoxify the body.
There are numerous homoeopathic remedies available to help with headaches caused by tobacco withdrawal, passive smoking, and oversmoking.
An aromatherapist might suggest massage with anti-depressant oils like bergamot, camomile, clary sage, jasmine and rose. Detoxifying oils, used in the hath or the vapouriser, include fennel and juniper. All are useful for headaches caused by smoking, even passive smoking.
Reflexology offers a programme to help you give up smoking.
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