10 Natural Home Remedies for Headaches That Actually Work
Life can get pretty busy and stressful, and the “common” headache is sometimes overlooked or masked with a painkiller (which, especially when overused, can sometimes cause more serious health issues). A headache is a good indicator that your body is missing something – maybe you need to take a breather, drink some water or change the way you eat. You may have a vitamin or nutrient deficiency or a food sensitivity that is causing this built-up tension.
Headaches can be triggered by stress, fatigue, allergies eyestrain, poor posture, alcohol or drugs, low blood sugar, hormones, constipation, and nutritional deficiencies. Your body is telling you that something needs to change, so begin to heed those signals and use these 10 headache remedies to overcome headaches in a natural and healthy way.
1) GINGER
Touted as an elixir for headaches, ginger is a home remedy for instant relief. It helps reduce inflammation of the blood vessels in the head, hence easing the pain. And since it stimulates digestion, it also helps quell the nausea which occurs during migraines.
Wondering how to use this miracle ingredient? Steep ginger root for tea, or mix equal parts of ginger juice and lemon juice and drink up. You can consume this once or twice a day. You can also apply a paste of ginger powder and 2 tablespoons water on your forehead for a few minutes to provide quicker relief.
2) CLOVES
Cloves can be used to ease a throbbing headache due to its
cooling and pain-relieving properties. Crush a few cloves gently and put them
in a sachet or a clean handkerchief. Inhale the smell of the crushed cloves
whenever you have a headache until you get some relief from the pain. You can
also put 2 drops of clove oil in a tablespoon of coconut oil plus sea salt and gently
massage your forehead and temples with it.
3) BASIL
A strong-scented herb which is used for natural headache
treatment, it has many analgesic benefits. The oil works as a muscle relaxant
and helps get rid of headaches caused by tension and tight muscles. You can put
3 or 4 fresh basil leaves in a cup of boiling water and let it simmer. Add a
little honey and sip the tea slowly. You can also chew some fresh basil leaves,
or inhale the steam after boiling basil in a pot of water
4) APPLY PEPPERMINT OIL
Peppermint oil has a wonderfully soothing effect when you’re suffering from a headache, easing the discomfort and clearing your mind. It can be applied to various places, and people who use it find that it works quickly to relieve pain. If you have sensitive skin and find that it irritates it, try diluting it with a bit of olive oil or water.
You will need…
-Peppermint oil and sip some cool water.
Massage the peppermint oil onto your temples, the back of your jaw, and forehead. You will feel a cooling sensation upon applying it. Breathe deeply, and if possible, find a quiet place to relax
5) LEMON
Fresh lemon juice with tea is one of the best cures
for headaches. The lemon peel is also very useful. Pound the lemon peel into a
fine paste and apply it as a plaster on the forehead.
6) NUTS
Instead of popping a pill when you get a headache, toss back some almonds. For everyday tension-type headaches, almonds can be a natural remedy and a healthier alternative to other medicine. It acts as a pain reliever because it contains something called salicin, which is also an agent in popular over the counter killers. Try eating a handful or two of these wholesome nuts when you feel the ache start to set in.
Note: People who suffer from migraines may find that almonds are a trigger food
7) CINNAMON
Cinnamon is a miracle spice that can effectively treat
headaches. Wondering how to use it? Here's help: Grind some cinnamon sticks
into a powder, and add some water to make a thick paste. Apply it on your
forehead and temples and lie down for 30 minutes. Then wash it off with
lukewarm water.
8) HYDROTHERAPY
Stand in water as hot as you can stand for two minutes (this increases blood flow to the skin), then as cold as you can stand for two minutes (this sends blood to the core of the body). Alternate back and forth for 20 minutes to increase blood flow and circulation, bringing nutrients to organs and carrying away toxins.
9) COLD OR HOT COMPRESS
Apply icepack to your head, but make sure not to put the ice directly on your head. You can wrap ice or a bag of frozen vegetables in a towel.
Apply heat to the back of the neck with a hot shower, bath, or heating pad. Heat can loosen up the muscles that tighten with tension headaches.
10) EXERCISE
Exercise increases blood circulation and the fresh air will
also help to relieve headache. Also, it allows the whole body to relax. Most
tension headache sufferers find immense relief with the addition of exercise.
- Count to 10. This makes you stop and relax before you react to a stressful situation.
- Take deep breaths. This makes you breathe slower and helps your muscles relax.
- Think positive. Remember the things that are good in your life.
- S T R E T C H. Stretching makes muscles relax and helps you feel less tense.
- Take hot baths or showers to help you relax.
- Massage tense muscles. The muscles in the back of your neck and upper back usually get tense when you are stressed.
- Listen to relaxing music.
THANKS
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