If you are used to drinking caffeinated beverages and decide to stop, you may experience caffeine withdrawals and the various symptoms that accompany them like irritability, moodiness, lethargy and headaches. Many headaches caused by caffeine withdrawal are vascular, where there is alternating expansion and constriction of the arteries in the head, causing pressure and pain on the arterial nerves, according to the University of Florida. Certain techniques and natural remedies may help you withdraw gently and relatively pain-free. Consult a health practitioner if your headache pain persists.
Stop Slowly
It may not seem obvious, but slowly reducing your caffeine intake over time to acclimate your body to the lower quantities, is the first thing to do if you want to eventually stop consuming caffeinated drinks altogether. Depending on how much caffeine you consume, make a plan to reduce your intake over a period of a week or two rather than overnight. This should help avoid the intensity of a full-blown withdrawal.
Hydration
Drink water and other non-caffeinated beverages like fruit juices to maintain your body's hydration. Not only will you feel better, but the extra fluids you consume will help to flush toxins from your blood and liver, speeding the detox period and relieving some of the headache pain, according to "Endocrinology and Metabolism." Many caffeine headaches are actually caused by the body's reaction to the caffeine that is stored in the tissues and liver. These toxins are released into the blood stream when you stop drinking caffeinated drinks as a way for the body to try to maintain its familiar equilibrium when it receives a caffeine hit.
Alkalize
Drinking caffeinated beverages contributes to the acidic state of most people's bodies, causing internal chemical reactions, which contribute to headaches and other symptoms of discord. Alkalizing your blood helps to overcome acidosis and creates an internal environment where health and well-being are more easily maintained, according to "The pH Balance." To create an alkaline state, you have to change your body's pH. The easiest way of doing this is by drinking or eating highly alkaline foods, like fruits and vegetables. Drinking freshly made juices is refreshing, helps raise your energy levels and helps to alkalize the blood.
Alternatively, you can drink an 8-oz. glass of water with 1/2 tsp. cream of tartar added to get rid of a headache almost instantly, recommends Dr. Theodore Baroody in "Alkalize or Die." The cream of tartar is a mild acid that creates an alkaline-forming state in the blood. Baroody recommends this treatment for emergencies like intense headaches, severe nausea or situations of extreme physical or emotional stress. There are no recorded side effects from drinking water mixed with cream of tartar. Consult your health practitioner before using this treatment.
Homeopathic Bryonia Alba
Bryonia alba, or bryonia, is indicated for the treatment of severe headaches and migraines whose onset may be preceded by caffeine withdrawal, according to homeopath, Dr. William Boericke in the "Materia Medica with Repertory." The most striking symptom that characterize bryonia headaches is that the headache is severely aggravated by motion. Even the tiniest movement of the eyes causes excruciating pain in the head. The pain is often experienced through out the head, and is especially intense in the occiput and neck. The person needing bryonia is usually extremely grumpy and prefers being alone. He may be very thirsty for large quantities of water during the headache. It is important to watch for these symptoms, as they are clear indicators pointing to the need for bryonia to relieve a caffeine withdrawal headache. If your headache pain persists or worsens, consult a qualified homeopath for additional recommendations. Bryonia is available over-the-counter from health food stores.
References
- "Materia Medica and Repertory"; William Boericke, MD; 1998
- "The pH Miracle"; Dr. Robert O. Young and Shelley Redford Young; 2003
- Endocrinology and Metabolism"; Philip Felig and Lawrence A. Frohman; 2001
- "Alkalize or Die"; Dr. Theodore A. Baroody; 1991
- University of Southern Florida: Headaches
- Go Ask Alice: Caffein's Effects on Health
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