Headache is a very common complaint that can arise due to different reasons. Among them, eye strain may be one of them. How does eye strain result in a headache? This happens when the muscles of the eyes and around the eyes get tired of working hard to focus on an object. It may be a result of exposing oneself to prolonged screen time on computers and mobile; tired eyes from overuse or working in very dim or very bright light.

Top Homeopathic Medicines For Eye Strain Headache

The top homeopathic medicines to manage eyestrain headache are Ruta, Natrum Mur, Belladonna, Phosphorus, Onosmodium, Silicea, Jaborandi and Phosphoric Acid.

1. Ruta – Top-Grade Medicine

This medicine is prepared from plant Ruta Graveolens commonly known as ‘Garden Rue’. It is a leading medicine in homeopathy for managing eyestrain headache. Persons needing it have headaches especially in the forehead. It is mostly pulsating type (frequent recurrence within small intervals of time). Along with this, there is reduced eyesight due to strain in the eyes. There is also aching in and over the eyes with blurred vision. Burning sensation and redness in the eyes may also occur along with these symptoms.

2. Natrum Mur – For Headache And Itching, Burning In Eyes

This medicine works well in cases of eye strain headache and itching/ burning in eyes. The pain in the head is mostly confined over the eyes and top of the head in cases needing it. Pain worsens on moving the eyeballs. Sleep may help to relieve the pain in the head.  Smarting or shooting sensation may also be felt in eyes. Frequent watering from eyes can attend. Pressure in eyes is felt when looking at anything. Next, vision is cloudy when reading or writing. Sometimes double vision may accompany. Another attending complaint is sensitivity to bright light. Natrum Mur is also indicated for cases of blurred vision.

3. Belladonna – For Pulsating, Throbbing Pain In Head

This medicine is prepared from plant ‘deadly nightshade’. For using it, pain is pulsating/ throbbing type, most marked in the temporal region (means sides of the head). Heat is also felt in the head. Heaviness is felt on the sides of head and front of head. There is a feeling that the head would burst. The pain may get better by pressing the head in most cases requiring Belladona. Along with headache, redness and dryness is felt in the eyes. Burning/ shooting pain in eyes is also felt.

4. Phosphorus – For Pain On The Sides Of Head

This medicine is effective when pain occurs on the sides of the head. The pain can travel from one side of the head to the other. For using it, the pain can be pressing/ burning/ pulsating or boring (from outside to inside) in nature. The eyes feel strained, itching may also be felt in the eyes. Other attending symptoms are sensitivity to light, blurred vision, double vision, and burning sensation in the eyes.

5. Onosmodium – For Pain In Back Of Head From Eye Strain

It is prepared from a plant Onosmodium Virginianum having common name ‘False Gromwell’. It is suitable for cases having pain in the back of head (occiput) associated with eye strain. Heaviness and dull pain is felt in occiput. Soreness (pain on touching) and stiffness may also occur. It may extend down the spine. Along with this, there is feeling of tension in the eyes. Strained feeling in the eyes also attends the above symptoms.

6. Silicea – For Pain In Back Of Head That Extends Upward And Forward

It is a very beneficial medicine for cases in which pain begins from the back of head and then extends upward and forward over both sides. Other than this, it is also indicated when there is intense headache above eyes with inability to open the eyes. A pressure on the eyes is felt as if some heavy weight has been placed on the forehead. Other symptoms that can attend are pain, dryness and tension in eyes; pressure and soreness in eyes.

7. Jaborandi – For Headache And Burning Sensation In Eyes

It is a natural medicine prepared from plant ‘Pilocarpus pinnatifolius’. Use of this medicine is considered when there is easy tiring of eyes along with headache and burning sensation in eyes. There occurs pain in the front part of head and top of the head. Sometimes there is pain on the sides of head which is pulsating type. Sharp stinging sensation is also felt in the eyes in addition to the above symptoms.

8. Phosphoric Acid – For Dull Headache From Eye Strain

It is an important medicine for managing dull type of headache that occur from eye strain. In cases needing it, the headache mostly extends forward from behind, along with heaviness in the head. There is relief on lying down. Pressing pain is felt in the eyes and the eyeballs appear to be too large. Other than this, watering from eyes and sensitivity to light is felt.

 9. Hamamelis – For Headache And Sore Pain In Eyes

This natural medicine is prepared from fresh bark of twigs and root of plant Hamamelis virginica (or Hamamelis dioica) commonly called ‘witch-hazel’. It is a helpful medicine to manage headache from eye strain and sore pain in eyes. Eyes are painful on the slightest pressure. There is sharp pain in the temples. In some cases, dull throbbing pain is felt in the back and top of head. Heaviness is felt in the head as if the head would burst any time .

What Are The Reasons Behind It?

1. First reason behind it is exposing oneself to screen time on computers and mobiles for long hours without taking any break. Blinking occur less frequently while viewing a screen that irritates the eyes and causes dryness and strain on eyes. The symptoms worsen in this case if the digital screen is at an incorrect distance, there is excessive glare on screen, or poor posture is maintained while working on digital screen.

2. The second reason is doing work that requires constant focus of eyes for long time period, like reading, sewing, driving for long distance without taking any break, etc.

3. Vision problems and uncorrected refractive error can also lead to it. In such case, the eye has to strain excessively to clearly see an image that makes them tired. It includes farsightedness (the person can see the distant objects clearly but has difficulty in focusing on objects that are close to them). Next is nearsightedness (the person can see near objects clearly but has difficulty seeing far away objects clearly). Another reason is astigmatism (in this condition, the shape of the cornea becomes irregular that results in difficulty in focusing on objects at certain angles). Dry eyes and inflamed eyes can also cause headache.

4. Last reason is working in either excessive bright or dim light. 

What other symptoms can attend eyestrain headache?

It may be accompanied by other symptoms of eye strain. These include dryness of eyes or watering from eyes, blurred vision, itchy eyes, burning sensation in eyes, double vision, soreness of eyes, sensitivity to light, problem in concentration and pain in neck, shoulder and back.

Severe headache that is one sided and typically present around one eye (periorbital headache) and appears in clusters (in a group) lasting for weeks or months is referred to as cluster headache. A person experiences frequent headache, which is followed by a period of rest when there is no headache. The headache during the cluster period is mostly noticed at precisely the same hour each day for several weeks or even months. The duration of each episode of headache lasts from 15 minutes to about 3 hours .There are cases in which episodes of cluster headache show a seasonal occurrence in which the cluster appears in a specific season. Cluster headache, thus, has two phases. The first phase refers to the period during which bouts of headache appear frequently, and then there is the second phase of pain-free period during which there is no headache.

Homeopathic remedies are very beneficial for cluster headaches that provide natural, outstanding treatment for this complaint. They provide complete relief from cluster headaches. Homeopathic remedies for cluster headache provide relief from acute pain and work to remove the disorder from its root so there is no recurrence. Conventional mode offers help in cases of cluster headache with medicines like steroids, some nasal sprays, and certain medicines given as injection. To prevent effects of these anti allergic medicines, anti-seizure medicines, medicines used for high blood pressure treatment and antidepressants are recommended. They extend temporary relief and have many side effects when used for extended time periods. However, homeopathic medicines are made of completely safe natural substances with zero side effects.

Biphasic treatment for complete recovery

The homeopathic treatment for cluster headache is done in two phases. In the first phase, medicines are prescribed to provide relief from acute pain. Homeopathy has very effective medicines for relieving bouts of cluster headache. Once acute pain resolves, the second phase of treatment is started. In the second phase, treatment is aimed at treating chronic tendency to remove the condition from its root with the most beneficial natural homeopathic remedies. With the use of Homeopathic medicines, the intensity and frequency of cluster headache gradually reduces and with the long-term use of appropriate homeopathic remedies, cluster headache is extricated from its roots.

Individual prescription as per case details

In every case of cluster headache, a precise note is made of all the symptom details. This is followed by proper case evaluation to choose the best medicine. When selecting the remedies for cluster headache, the side of pain, location of pain, type of pain, time of the recurrence of pain (any particular time of day — it may be every day, every alternate day, every week, or every month) to note periodicity and the modalities of increase or decrease of pain are all taken note of to select the most suitable homeopathic remedy as per the case. Individualised medication is the key to get the best results.

Safe, herbal medicines

Homeopathy uses natural medicines to treat cluster headache. These medicines contain no chemicals or toxins in it so they never cause any harmful effects. These work gently, in a harmless way thus are 100% safe to use. Another advantage of using these medicines is that these medicines do not create any dependency on them and can be easily stopped once there is good recovery.

Top 5 Homeopathic Remedies for Cluster Headache

The top recommended homeopathic medicines for cluster headache are Spigelia, Sanguinaria Can, Belladonna, Cedron and Glonoine.

1. Spigelia – Top medicine for left-side Cluster Headache

Spigelia is a natural homeopathic medicine to treat left-side cluster headache. Its use is recommended when there is a severe violent pain around / above the eye or in the eye socket specifically on the left side. The eyeballs too appear large. Pain is felt at regular intervals. The pain can be of varying nature like digging, boring, shooting, violent, throbbing or stitching pain, with a feeling of needles pricking in the eye on the left side. The main worsening factor for pain in the eye is moving or turning the eye. A few persons may also describe noise or touching the eye as the most aggravating factors. Rest in most cases seems to relieve pain. Along with pain, redness of eyes with sensitivity to light and dropping of eyes are also seen.

When to use Spigelia?

Spigelia is very beneficial medicine to manage left sided cluster headache with pain above / around / in the eye worse from eye movement, touching eye or noise.

How to use Spigelia?

It is mostly recommended in 30C potency twice or thrice a day as per severity of the problem. Its higher potencies like 200C, 1M are also available but they should not be used without a doctor’s prescription.

2. Sanguinaria Can – For right-side Cluster Headache

For treating right-side cluster headache, Sanguinaria Can is an ideal remedy. Its use should be considered when the pain settles over or around the right eye. A bursting sensation with a feeling as if the eyes will be pressed out is very marked. Periodicity of pain is noted mostly with the beginning of pain in the morning continuing till the evening. Relief is noted from lying perfectly still. Along with pain over the right eye, there is profuse watering of eyes. The eyes are also very congested, and red with burning sensations. The face, especially cheeks, shows flushing. In a few persons, nasal congestion is a prominent feature.

When to use Sanguinaria Can?

This medicine is effective to manage right sided cluster headache with pain over / around right eye with redness and watering from the eye on the right side.

How to use Sanguinaria Can?

This medicine can be used in both low and high potencies. In the beginning of the treatment, its 30C potency is usually selected to start with the treatment that can be taken one to two times a day.

3. Belladonna – For Pain Around Eyes With Redness Of Eyes And Face                                                                                                        

Belladonna is wonderful medicine for cluster headache with pain located around the eye attended with redness of eyes and red, flushed face. Pain may also occur in the eyes, mostly throbbing or shooting in nature, with congestion and redness of eyes. Photophobia i.e. intolerance to light or worsening of pain from light may also be noted. In most cases, lying down worsens the pain. The sudden onset of a violent headache is also a marked feature. Belladonna is also best medicine for one sided pain in head worse from movement of head and eyes and exposure to noise. There is relief in this headache from pressure and tightly binding head.

When to use Belladonna?

Belladonna is of great use in cluster headache with pain around or in eyes with marked redness of eyes and face. It also offers help for one sided headache that increases from head / eye movement and from noise and gets better from pressure and tight binding of head.

How to use Belladonna?

This medicine is frequently prescribed in 30C potency that can be administered three to four times per day as per case requirement.

 4. Cedron – For Eye Pain With Eye Watering And Burning

Cedron is considered the top natural medicine that helps provide from cluster headaches with severe pain in eye that radiates around the eye. With this a prominent characteristic accompanying feature is watering from eyes with burning sensation. Periodicity in occurrence of periorbital pain is essentially marked and pain may occur at a particular hour every time. Although the pain may appear on any side, the pain over the left side of eye is felt more often for prescribing homeopathic remedy Cedron.

When to use Cedron?

Its use should be done in cases of cluster headache presented with pain in the eyes radiating all around the eye with watering from eyes and burning feeling.

How to use Cedron?

Cedron can be used once or twice a day in 30C potency.

5. Glonoine – For Pain In Side of Head and Above The Eyes Better By Pressure

Glonoine is an important medicine for managing pain on one side of head and above the eyes that gets relieved from pressure application over it. It also gets better from lying down or sitting still. The nature of pain is throbbing type. A very common attending complaint is heated sensation in the head.

When to use Glonoine?

This medicine is apt to manage one-sided throbbing pain in the head and above the eyes relieved by pressure on it.

How to use Glonoine?

One may take this medicine in 30C potency once or twice a day. For using its high potencies like 200C one needs to consult a homeopathic physician.

Symptoms of Cluster Headache

The typical and foremost symptom of cluster headache is one sided headache in which pain may be located around / above / behind the eye or temple region (side of head)

It can be attended with symptoms like eye discharge, swelling or redness of eyes, drooping of eyelids, nasal discharge or congestion, change in skin color of face on affected side and sweating of face. The accompanying symptoms are always present on the same side on which the headache appears. Restlessness is also experienced by patients.

Cause

The exact cause of cluster headache is not known yet. However as per certain researches it is estimated that this could be happening from improper functioning of the hypothalamus area of brain. There are certain well-known trigger factors linked with cluster headache. These includes smoking, excessive alcohol use, exposure to bright lights, and strong smells like perfume. Having a family history of cluster headache increases risk of it. Men are at more risk of cluster headache as compared to women.