Now this is strange. At 3:00 PM today, I was smacked with the most intensely painful headache I've ever encountered. True, I'm a major wuss when it comes to pain and I rarely get headaches except for the self-induced over-indulgent nature. Today's was a doozy. I had to suffer through an hour long telephone conversation, all the while rubbing my temples, pulling at my scalp and thinking of how much it hurt.

Recognizing when I'm beat, I left the office to try and take care of the problem at home. I downed at least 90 mils of a custom compound called "Artemisia's Pain Forumla". I discovered this formula in Wolf Creek this winter when my wife twisted her knee in a skiing accident. It's formulated by herbalist Jennie Blechman of Artemesia Botanicals in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. It helped my wife then as well as when she had reconstructive surgery on her ACL a few months ago (yep, same knee, this time a hockey accident.)

After a half an hour, the Pain Formula wasn't cutting it. Still a throbbing, motion sensitive pain behind my left eye. Right after I took the tincture, I also applied some Lavender essential oil to my forehead, temple and upper cheek area. I've found Lavender very helpful when I do get mild headaches, like the one I had over the weekend. (That was flu recovery, and not the brown-bottle variety.) Not today.

And in case you're wondering, Tylenol or aspirin were simply out of the question. I've been free of that stuff for a little over two years now, and I'm not heading back if I don't have to. The trouble is, I was out of any other pain killer in my personal apothecary. Noting much to do than try and sleep it off.

I had a bit of fresh Eschscholzia tincture that I made earlier in the year. Not a very powerful sedative, but as much pain as I was in, I didn't think it would take much coaxing for my body to head to nighty-night land. I also wanted to make sure that flu virus wasn't lingering around from a couple of days ago, so I added a dash of Larrea to the mix. (Did you read about my Larrea experiments? Fascinating.)

Within 15 minutes, the throbbing was gone. It was still around, but only noticeable when I sat up too quickly or moved my head suddenly. That was 10 minutes ago. Now I have the "memory" of the pain, but a quick shake of the head shows it gone baby, solid gone!

It's been said before that each headache is as unique as the person suffering it is. I'm a believer now! And it looks like a little Eschscholzia and Larrea combo is a lethal combo to mine!