Exploding Head Syndrome: Understanding Heat-Pattern Headaches

Exploding Head Syndrome: Understanding Heat-Pattern Headaches

Author: Sajah & Whitney Popham, founders of The School of Evolutionary Herbalism August 5, 2026 Duration: 48:09

Headaches can be absolutely devastating — in terms of the physical pain and psychological and emotional wear and tear. If you've ever tried to use herbs to treat a headache, you may have had mixed results because headaches are tricky to treat with herbs. But why are headaches so difficult to treat with herbs? You must make critical distinctions both in the assessment of the headache and in the remedies you use to treat it.

​

In this post, I'm sharing some ways to address a heat-pattern headache — how to differentiate it in your assessment, and five of my favorite remedies to treat it.

​

Here's what you'll learn:

  • How to distinguish heat-pattern headaches from cold or deficient patterns

  • Key signs, pain qualities, locations, and triggers to assess

  • Why heat, dehydration, stress, and tension can contribute to headaches

  • Five herbal remedies traditionally used for hot, tense headache patterns

  • Simple supportive strategies and the importance of addressing root causes

————————————

CONNECT WITH SAJAH AND WHITNEY

————————————

To get free in depth mini-courses and videos, visit our blog at: 

http://www.evolutionaryherbalism.com

 

Get daily inspiration and plant wisdom on our Facebook and Instagram channels:

http://www.facebook.com/EvolutionaryHerbalism

https://www.instagram.com/evolutionary_herbalism/

 

Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyP63opAmcpIAQg1M9ShNSQ

 

Get a free 5-week course when you buy a copy of the book, Evolutionary Herbalism:
https://www.evolutionaryherbalism.com/evolutionary-herbalism-book/

 

Shop our herbal products: 

https://naturasophiaspagyrics.com/

 

————————————

ABOUT THE PLANT PATH

————————————

The Plant Path is a window into the world of herbal medicine. With perspectives gleaned from traditional Western herbalism, Ayurveda, Chinese Medicine, Alchemy, Medical Astrology, and traditional cultures from around the world, The Plant Path provides unique insights, skills and strategies for the practice of true holistic herbalism. From clinical to spiritual perspectives, we don't just focus on what herbs are "good for," but rather who they are as intelligent beings, and how we can work with them to heal us physically and consciously evolve.

 

————————————

ABOUT SAJAH

————————————

Sajah Popham is the author of Evolutionary Herbalism and the founder of the School of Evolutionary Herbalism, where he trains herbalists in a holistic system of plant medicine that encompasses clinical Western herbalism, medical astrology, Ayurveda, and spagyric alchemy.

His mission is to develop a comprehensive approach that balances the science and spirituality of plant medicine, focusing on using plants to heal and rejuvenate the body, clarify the mind, open the heart, and support the development of the soul. This is only achieved through understanding and working with the chemical, energetic, and spiritual properties of the plants. His teachings embody a heartfelt respect, honor and reverence for the vast intelligence of plants in a way that empowers us to look deeper into the nature of our medicines and ourselves.

He lives on a homestead in the foothills of Mt. Baker Washington with his wife Whitney where he teaches, consults clients, and prepares spagyric herbal medicines. 

 

————————————

WANT TO FEATURE US ON YOUR PODCAST?

————————————

If you'd like to interview Sajah or Whitney to be on your podcast, click here to fill out an interview request form.


Tune into The Plant Path: Herbalism, Medical Astrology & Spagyric Alchemy for a deep and nuanced exploration of plant medicine that goes far beyond the basics. Hosts Sajah and Whitney Popham, who founded The School of Evolutionary Herbalism, guide you through a rich landscape where clinical herbal knowledge meets spiritual and cosmological understanding. This isn't about simple symptom lists; it's about developing a relationship with the plant world. Each episode delves into the practical skills and philosophical foundations of holistic traditions, weaving together topics like medical astrology and the transformative art of spagyric alchemy to offer a complete picture of healing. You'll hear detailed discussions on formulating remedies, interpreting the energetic signatures of herbs, and applying ancient wisdom to modern life. The conversations in this podcast are designed for both practitioners and deeply curious seekers who feel that true wellness involves the mind, body, and spirit in concert with nature's intelligence. By grounding their teaching in time-honored practices, Sajah and Whitney provide a rare and valuable resource for anyone wanting to work with plants in a conscious, intentional, and evolutionary way. Listening feels like an apprenticeship, offering tools not just for health, but for a more profound connection to the living world.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

The Plant Path: Clinical Herbalism, Medical Astrology & Spagyric Alchemy
Podcast Episodes
Echinacea: Not Just an Immune Stimulant [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:17
When you hear Echinacea, chances are you think of its immune-boosting properties. But did you know that this popular use is relatively new? Traditionally, Echinacea was used for entirely different reasons. By rediscoveri…
Is All Herbal Research Trustworthy? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:50
Is all herbal research trustworthy? If you've ever Googled an herb to learn more and saw lots of research papers about it, can you trust them? Herbal research is tricky since there are a lot of things that can go wrong a…
Elecampane: The Deep Breather [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:04
Elecampane has become one of my personal favorite respiratory remedies over the years, not just for its medicinal benefits for many of the common respiratory woes people face today, but as a choice restorative agent. Whe…
Hyssop: A Biblical Remedy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:18
Hyssop is an ancient herb with biblical references and spiritual indications. This herb is also an important part of the Western Materia Medica. This combination of information from ancient sources and the modern scienti…
Burdock: The All-Purpose Alterative [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:55
Sweet and grounding, Burdock is an Earthy plant with its wide leaves, deep taproots, and ability to both nourish weakness and cleanse excesses from the body. Just as it loves to grow near waste grounds, Burdock clears me…
Agrimony: The Tense but Relaxed Remedy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:51
Agrimony is the herb of paradox. On the one hand, it's described as a relaxant,and on the other hand, as an astringent. How does it contract and relax a tissue at the same time?! What do you do when you find conflicting…
A Nutritive Mineral Tonic Formula [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:35
Learn more and enroll in The Vitalist Herbalist Practitioner Program: https://www.evolutionaryherbalism.com/vitalist-herbalism-mini-course/program-details/?gw=live Enrollment closes tomorrow, October 3rd at 12am PT. Nutr…
5 Ways Vitalism Transformed My Life [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:51
Diving into the world of herbal medicine and the traditions that have carried it for a long time oftentimes introduces us to new concepts, principles, practices, and ways of seeing the world around us that aren't often t…