5 Natural Remedies For Headaches and what to Avoid!
5 Natural Remedies For Headaches
We all know that headaches can be extremely painful. Many times they can leave you down for the count. If you are one of the millions of people who suffer from headaches on a regular basis, this article is for you. Before you decide to reach for the medicine cabinet and grab that bottle of pain reliever, try these all natural remedies the next time you have a headache. Here are the best non-drug remedies for the three most common types of headaches.
Tension Headaches
The first of the three main types of headaches is tension headaches, which are the most common. the muscles contract with this type of headache and it feels like something is literally squeezing your head. The pain can run from one ear to the other and back around. Tension headaches are commonly caused by stress or a lack of sleep.
Natural Remedies For Tension Headaches:
Peppermint Oil
Don't use any cheap essential oils. Take peppermint essential oil and apply it to your hairline. The cooling sensation created by the oil will help relax the muscles in your head and neck. This is usually my first Go-to. I use very high quality essential oils so there is absolutely no harmful chemicals getting absorbed into my bloodstream. I usually get a little olive oil and mix a couple drops of peppermint essential oil and rub it into my temples and sides of my forehead when a headache begins. Sometimes that is enough to get rid of it before it really gets going because the peppermint relaxes the muscles. (if you get any essential oils in your eyes, DO NOT wash out with water, it will only disperse the oil. Get a little olive oil or other similar oil and rub it around your closed eye. It will ease the burning pretty quickly.
Ginger Tea
Fresh ginger can easily be found at your local grocery store. Crush up no more than an inch of ginger and put it in a pot of boiling water. This homemade remedy will help reduce inflammation and ease your headache. It works just as good, if not better than an aspirin and is a completely natural plant based remedy.
Cluster Headaches
Those who suffer from cluster headaches often describe it as an ice pack in their head. This is because the pain is very concentrated and it feels like someone is stabbing them in the head. Cluster headaches usually occur in a cluster of days, hence the name cluster headaches. They are most common in the wintertime .
Natural Remedies For Cluster Headaches:
Capsaicin Cream
Cayenne pepper is the main ingredient in Capsaicin cream. Put a dab on your finger and apply it to the inside of your nostril. Be sure to place it on the side where you are experiencing the pain. Once applied the cream will go to work. It works by blocking pain signals. You can find Capsaicin cream at your local health food store for around $11.
Chlorophyll Supplements
Chlorophyll is used by plants for photosynthesis in the process of turning carbon dioxide and water into carbohydrates and oxygen. Chlorophyll supplements promote the flow of oxygen to cells, while also protecting the cells from oxidation damage and can naturally help with cluster headaches. Placing ten drops of liquid chlorophyll concentrate on the tongue several times throughout the day and then drinking some water will help with these types of headaches and can also provide natural energy to get you through the day.
Migraine Headaches
Last but not least, we will cover migraine headaches. Migraine headaches are very debilitating and can have you in bed, unable to move for extended periods of time. Migraines cause a throbbing pain to occur on one side of your head. As a result of this pain, individuals are usually sensitive to light and sound. It some cases it can even cause nausea.
Migraines can be genetic as they are found to run in certain families. The bad news however is women are three time more likely to have them than their male counterparts. Many experts believe migraines are a result of nerve signals being misinterpreted by the brain. Instead of interpreting them for what they really are, they interpret them as pain.
Natural Remedies For Migraine Headaches:
Acupressure Massage
Acupressure massage has been around for hundreds of years. It is an ancient Chinese healing method that centers around pressure being applied to certain points on the body. The pressure is applied to help relieve pain. Doing this type of massage on yourself is very easy.
First, take your finger and place it in the groove between your first and your second toe. Press firmly and apply pressure for at least three minutes. If you can, hold it for a total of 5 minutes before letting go. If you would prefer not to do this yourself, you can always go see a massage therapist.
Feverfew
Feverfew is an herbal supplement that comes from the sunflower family. It has been tested in clinical trials with great results. During these trials, Feverfew was shown to be a very effective treatment for migraines. It works by decreasing the amount of inflammation in the area where there is pain. When inflammation is reduced, it eliminates pressure on the nerves. As a result, the migraine starts to subside. You can find feverfew in capsule form for around $12.
Making Changes To Your Diet
As you can see, there are many different natural remedies for the various types of headaches. However, one of the most basic remedies we discussed can be applied to all headaches no matter which type. That remedy is simply to change your diet, because there are certain foods that can trigger a headache.
Start paying very close attention to the foods you consume on a daily basis. Keep a journal and start to jot down everything you eat for at least 7 days. This is helpful so you can track any specific foods that may cause you to have an adverse reaction. Once you identify a pattern, than you will know which foods should probably be removed from your diet.
Some foods that have been known to trigger headaches include:
- Wine
- Caffeine or the lack of it once one drinks it regularly.
- Cheese
- Cold Cuts
- Alcohol
skipping meals can also cause headaches to begin . Anytime you skip meals your blood sugar levels drop down lower. The best way to prevent this is to make it a point to always eat your meals on time and never let hunger lead to a headache.
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