Psychosomatic headache & homoeopathic management

Dr. Priyanka Rathore

Abstract
Psychosomatic headache is defined as physical pain in head due to any psychic causes. Headache is a chronic disease that occurs varying frequency and intensity. headache is the one of the most common causes (it’s rank 9^th) of visit to physician’s clinic there are many causes of headache pathological, physiological and psychological.

The most of headaches not associated with significant organic changes.

Headache is a headache for the physician also because it’s difficult task to find out the cause of headache in psychosomatic headache but some more or less psychological and emotional factors is associated with it.

Homoeopathy plays very important role in psychosomatic disorders including psychosomatic headache also.  Homoeopathy deals with holistic approach which includes mind and body. This article focused on the management of psychosomatic headache with the help of homoeopathy.

Introduction-
According to WHO, Globally, it has been estimated that prevalence among adults of current headache disorder (symptomatic at least once within the last year) is about 50%. Half to three quarters of adults aged 18–65 years in the world have had headache in the last year and, among those individuals, 30% or more have reported migraine. Headache on 15 or more days every month affects 1.7–4% of the world’s adult population. Despite regional variations, headache disorders are a worldwide problem, affecting people of all ages, races, income levels and geographical areas.

Causes –

1. Stress factor- Anxiety, depression, grief, constant fear, shock etc.
2. Neurotransmitter response- Such as increase in Catecholamines and Serotonin.
3. Endocrine response -Corticotropin-releasing factor, cortisol, thyroid hormones increase during stress states.
4. Immune response.

Types of psychosomatic headache –

1] TTH (tension type headache).

2] Migraine (vascular) headache.

3] Psychogenic headache.

4] Cluster headache.

CASE SUMMARY–

A 39yrs old lady come to OPD with followings complaints-

Headache (on and off) in the past 8-9 years she has bursting type of pain in forehead and orbital area and heaviness in eyes also, during headache she feels nausea and dizziness. Her headache aggravates from sun, in morning, in forenoon and ameliorates by pressure, vomiting after.

She got married to in 2013 and she lived in joint family, work in IT company she has one male child 9 years old she was dissatisfied with job and family. She has no smile on face, her eyes full of tears but she did not cry during case taking. After further questioning … she is not happy with lots of things but what can I do? she never cried in front of anyone. Consolation aggravates.   She likes solitude. Sleep disturbed because she has lots of thinking during sleep. patient’s thermal is hot, she has desire for salty things, she regularly salts her food before eating.

History of hypertension during pregnancy. During pregnancy she has anxiety about delivery.

On examination-

• Built- normal, gait- normal, tongue-moist, clean.
• Respiratory system – no abnormality detected [R/R-20/min.].
• CVS- no abnormality detected. [P/R-76/ bpm, BP-110/80mmHg].
• Digestive system- no abnormality detected.
• Nervous system-no abnormality detected.
• Skin -dark circles around eyes, Anaemia- 9.6gm%.

Diagnosis-diagnosed case of migraine.

D/D– tension headache, cluster headache.

Reportorial totality–

• Headache < sun, morning, hunger. >pressure, vomiting.
• Silent grief.
• Buried in thought.
• Salt desires
• Company averse to.
• <consolation.
• Concomitant -nausea and vomiting.
• Hunger intolerance.

Reportorial result

• Nat-m.  -22/9
• Ign-14/8
• Puls. -15/7
• Bell. -13/7, Lach. -13/7

Prescription-

Rx-   1. Natrum Muraticum 200 [SD]

Early in the morning with empty stomach.

Follow ups dates	Change in symptoms	Further advise-
1/12/2022	Sleep improved, anger or irritation less, headache constant. no nausea and vomiting	Sac.lac.30 x BD x 7 days
14/12/2022	Intensity of pain reduced 2 times in a week only.	Sac.lac.30 x BD x 7 days
4/01/2023	Once in a week only without associated symptoms but intensity increased. H/O- exertion, exposure to sun also.	Repeat Natrum mur.200 (Single dose)
2/02/2023	Sound sleep, no episodes of pain, no nausea and vomiting, mild heaviness in head.	Sac.lac.30 x BD x 7 days
2/03/2023	No new complaint. Heaviness relieved. Headache relieved.	Sac.lac.30 x BD x 7days.

Discussion-
Sign and symptoms are the reflection of inner derangement of vital energy. Patient was very worried about family problems and job. After marriage pt. compromises many things but can’t say anything to the family member except husband. She suppressed her anger and grief very long; her mental emotions affect her corporeal health. The patient is now happy with this treatment and finds it to be very helpful.

References-

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2408884/.
2. https://www.homeobook.com/psychosomatic-headache-and-homoeopathic-management/.
3. https://www.homeobook.com/psychosomatic-headache-and-homoeopathic-management/.
4. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/headache-disorders.
5. Sadock B, Sadock V., Ruiz P., Kaplan & Sadock SYNOPSIS OF PSYCHIATRY behavioural science/clinical psychiatry. South Indian edition, eleventh edition 2015 by Wolters Kluwer.
6. Hahnemann Samuel Organon of Medicine, fifth & sixth edition combined.

Dr. Priyanka Rathore
MD Scholar, Department of Homoeopathic Repertory & Case Taking
Govt. Homoeopathic medical College & Hospital, Bhopal (M.P.)