Cluster headache relief is something that becomes a desperate plea when a cluster headache sets in. Only sufferers can truly know the pain of this debilitating condition that affects less than 1% of the population. Far outweighing the pain of a regular headache and even most migraines, cluster headaches can have a drastic effect on the life of a chronic sufferer.

Unlike normal headaches, cluster headaches occur in groups (hence the name cluster). They will often return daily, weekly and monthly for long periods of time. One headache can last several hours, so if you are having more than one everyday the toll on your normal life is enormous.

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Cluster headache relief is generally administered by an intravenous injection, or by an oxygen mask. Both of these relief methods provide very fast results due to the method of administration. Breathing in pure oxygen stops the headache pain within 15 minutes.

If your have episodic cluster headaches then you may benefit from prophylactic treatment. The goal of this type of treatment is to prevent a cluster headache from coming on before it happens. There are several types of prophylactic medications available such as corticosteroids (prednisone, ergot compounds and muscle relaxants). Even mediations like anti-psychotics and anti-seizure medication have proven to stop cluster headaches in some people. The idea is that over time your dose is reduced so that you no longer need the medication.

There are also some natural options or cluster headache relief. These include kudzu (a Chinese and Japanese flower), feverjew (a herb), and a pepper extract from the Capsicum plant.

Yoga, homeopath, hypnosis, massage, aromatherapy, reflexology, herbal treatments and acupuncture have also proven successful for some people. Even if you are sceptical of such relief options, it is vital that you explore all possible avenues of treatment as cluster headaches are incredibly painful and it is difficult to predict exactly which method will work for you.

Whether you are looking for cluster headache relief or cluster headache prevention, there are many paths you can take so it is vital that you try all possible avenues of treatment – but only one at a time in order to distinguish which ones work the best for you.