Headaches by Ernest F. Robinson, M. D.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 7, 1915

Headaches

By Ernest F. Robinson, M. D.

FIRST, it should be thoroughly understood that headache is a symptom, never a disease. It may be necessary to treat the headache itself, but it is always far more necessary to treat some other part of the system. Also bear in mind that headache is perhaps the most universal symptom we have to deal with; that is, some form of it is to be found with virtually all acute diseases and a great many of the chronic ones.

The most common cause of headache is eyestrain. Medicinal treatment may relieve such a headache, but nothing will cure it except intelligent attention to the eyes, which usually means properly fitted glasses.

Autotoxemia is the next most common cause. This may mean indiscretions in diet, too much food, or the wrong kinds of food; intestinal indigestion or fermentation, or both; or insufficient action of the liver or kidneys. “Sick headaches,” so-called, always belong in this class. These are often called bilious attacks. A better term is acidosis, since the system is filled with toxic acids, which cause the headache as well as many other symptoms. Cases in this class will usually be cured for the time being by a fast of from twenty-four to thirty-six hours, during which a thorough clearing of the bowels should take place. After that, it is exceedingly probable that the liver and the digestion, also the diet, will need attention.

Anemic headaches are caused by poor blood; blood which contains too little nutrition, too little iron, or the like. These are more pressure symptoms than real headaches. Arteriosclerosis, hardening of the arteries, is a common cause of headaches. One form of headache comes when the circulation is too weak, and still another form when it is too strong.

Stomach headaches are reflex headaches, caused by the irritation in the stomach. Here the best treatment would be an emetic, followed by an antacid and perhaps by a laxative.

Catarrh in the nose is often a cause of headache, especially of headache over the eyes. Heavy hats or a heavy head of hair may tend to cause headache.

It will be seen from this brief sketch that each headache is apt to be a different problem to deal with. Above all, let me warn readers, as I have so often before, not to use headache powders and pills except on the direct advice of a physician. They have their place in treatment, but they are distinctly dangerous remedies, more dangerous in some ways than the narcotics we make so many laws against. Virtually all such remedies contain either acetanilide or one of the preparations of salicylic acid; and while both of these drugs are very useful, they are both dangerous unless one knows thoroughly what to expect and how and when to give them. Besides this, the use of such remedies is very apt to lead to the neglect of the real causes of the headache.—Ernest F. Robinson, M. D.