The current invention discloses novel approaches to help individuals defend against headaches and body pains with orally-delivered cyanocobalamin, methylcobalamin, adenosylcobalamin, and combinations thereof. Original clinical research conducted by the inventor on almost 2,000 humans yielded surprising and unexpected results showing differences in the frequency and severity of pains in the head and the body favoring cyanocobalamin patients over placebo. In one FDA-approved Phase III study on 1,551 patients, 4.4 percent of headaches and body pains were rated as “Severe” in the cyanocobalamin, group versus 11.5 percent in the placebo group. Once inside the body, cyanocobalamin is converted to methylcobalamin and adenosylcobalamin, but not to hydroxocobalamin. The current invention provides the patient's mitochondria with sufficient concentrations of essential micronutrients to survive, increase in number and manufacture the chemical energy (ATP) that is required to prevent the brief vasoconstriction followed by vasodilation associated with headache and body pain.