 What are the symptoms?Cluster headaches involve pain in the eye or upper face, tearing, runny nose with nasal congestion, and facial sweating.1 Dietary changes that may be helpfulSome doctors report that food sensitivities may trigger cluster headaches in some people.2 3 While the connection between diet and migraine headache is well established, no controlled research has investigated the role of diet in cluster headache. Many people with cluster headaches are heavy consumers of alcohol, and alcohol consumption has been reported to bring on cluster headache attacks.4 5 However, no research has investigated the effects of avoiding alcohol on cluster headache recurrences. Lifestyle changes that may be helpfulMany people with cluster headaches are smokers.6 7 8 9 10 While this does not necessarily mean quitting smoking will reduce cluster headache attacks, smoking should be avoided for many reasons. Vitamins that may be helpfulPeople who suffer from cluster headaches often have low blood levels of magnesium, and preliminary trials11 12 show that intravenous magnesium injections may relieve a cluster headache episode. However, no trials have investigated the effects of oral magnesium supplementation on cluster headaches. Researchers have found low levels of the hormone melatonin in cluster headache patients.13 14 15 16 In a small double-blind trial, a group of cluster headache sufferers took a 10 mg evening dose of melatonin for 14 days. About half of the group saw a significant decrease in the frequency of their headaches within three to five days, after which no further headaches occurred until melatonin was discontinued.17 Melatonin appears to be effective against both types of cluster headache (e.g., episodic and chronic). 18 More research is needed to establish the long-term effects of melatonin supplementation on cluster headache. Herbs that may be helpfulSubstance P is a nerve chemical involved in pain transmission that may cause some of the symptoms of cluster headache.19 20 Capsaicin, a constituent of cayenne pepper can reduce the levels of substance P in nerves.21 Preliminary clinical trials investigating the use of intranasal capsaicin for the prevention and treatment of cluster headaches report significant decreases in the number of cluster episodes in some of the participants.22 The decreases usually lasted no more than 40 days after the end of treatment,23 although a few patients have experienced relief for up to two years.24 In a double-blind study, patients who received capsaicin intranasally twice daily for seven days during a cluster episode had a significant reduction in pain for the following 15 days.25 As capsaicin can cause burning and irritation, this treatment should be utilized only under the supervision of a qualified doctor. Holistic approaches that may be helpfulOxygen therapy has been found to be useful in treating cluster headaches. A double-blind trial compared breathing 100% oxygen with breathing air (nitrogen and oxygen) through a mask for 15 minutes or less during six headache episodes per person. The 100% oxygen significantly reduced the pain of acute cluster attacks in all subjects.26 A controlled trial found that during acute episodes of cluster headaches, breathing 100% oxygen through a mask for 15 minutes significantly decreased pain in most of the people with episodic cluster headache and in over half of those with chronic cluster headache.27 However, one-fourth of the study participants experienced cluster attacks soon after the treatment was stopped. While oxygen inhalation therapy is now considered a standard treatment,28 treatments may need to be repeated, and they have not been shown to help prevent recurrences. In controlled studies,29 30 a single treatment of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, in which the patient is placed in a chamber with highly concentrated oxygen, has been found to help decrease pain and prevent recurrence of cluster episodes in some patients for several days. Two studies have investigated the use of multiple treatments of hyperbaric oxygen in chronic cluster headache patients. In one small, preliminary trial,31 ten 70-minute treatments over two weeks brought relief in most of the participants; headaches did not recur for 1 to 31 days after the end of treatment in those who responded. In another preliminary trial, chronic cluster headache patients received 15 hyperbaric oxygen treatment sessions (every other day for 30 minutes each); results showed a gradual decrease in episodes in some patients, which lasted for up to two weeks after treatment ended.32 References (To view, roll mouse over the "References" heading; to hide, click on the heading) 
Copyright © 2009 Aisle7 All rights reserved. www.Aisle7.net Learn more about the authors of Aisle7 products. The information presented in Aisle7 is for informational purposes only. It is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in vitro), clinical experience, or traditional usage as cited in each article. The results reported may not necessarily occur in all individuals. For many of the conditions discussed, treatment with prescription or over the counter medication is also available. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements or before making any changes in prescribed medications. |
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