Natural remedies for headaches

The most common reasons people take over the counter medications are for headache or migraine relief.  Although pills offer quick relief often these medications only relieve the symptom and not the the actual cause of the headache, sometimes  masking the symptoms of larger problems.

Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) can increase the risk of heart and circulation problems—including heart attack and stroke—and is also tough on the digestive tract. Too much acetaminophen (Tylenol) has been linked to nausea, diarrhea, and kidney and liver problems.

Tension headaches seem to be the most common. Muscles tighten in your head and neck and then press on the blood vessels in your scalp. Stress is the largest culprit of these types of pains. 

Cluster headaches are isolated to one part of the head. These headaches are extremely painful and are one step away from migraine status.  These types of headaches generally stem from sinus congestion, caffeine withdrawal, constipation, food allergies, spinal misalignment or lack of sleep.

Migraines are considered the granddaddy of all headaches by most. Sometimes lasting for hours and hours, migraines can be caused by a number of external as well as internal triggers. Food reactions, stress, allergies and even changes in barometric pressure can trigger a painful migraine headache.  Some researchers think migraines are neurological in nature, where the brain fails to constrict the nerve pathways that open the arteries to the brain, resulting in a pounding headache as blood flows in unchecked. 

Natural remedies used in conjunction with medical care and of course with doctor approval, may relieve symptoms and help prevent headaches.

Below are several natural alternative treatments to try before popping a pill:

• Headaches are often a sign of dehydration. Be sure to drink plenty of fluids at the onset of any headache.
• Have a cup of tea or coffee. According to Fred Sheftel, M.D., co-founder and co-director of the New England Center for Headache in Stamford, Connecticut caffeine constricts the blood vessels and is an ingredient in many over the counter and prescription pain relievers. The caffeine in a cup of coffee or tea can boost the pain-relieving powers of aspirin and other such medications by as much as 33%.
• Headaches caused by stress and tension headaches would benefit from a more soothing remedy. A tea made of one part wintergreen, one part willowbark and one part meadowsweet will ease the tension away, taking the pain with it.
• Icing your neck for 10-15 minutes can help reduce inflammation-causing pressure. Reducing swelling (inflammation) allows the blood to flow more easily and cease the pounding feeling in your head. The best way to do this is lie down facing up and place a frozen gel neck roll under your neck.

• Soaking the feet in hot water can divert blood from your head to your feet, easing any kind of headache pain in the process.
• See your chiropractor. Most headaches actually are caused by joint dysfunction in the cervicals (neck) which can be relieved by a simple adjustment.
• Stretch out the neck muscles, breathe deep from the diaphragm and practice stress-relieving practices like the yoga neck roll.
• According to Elliot Greene, past president of the American Massage Therapy Association, suggests a fingertip massage to help ease pain of tension headaches.
• Aromatherapy suggests the cool scent of peppermint to take the edge of a headache. Add one drop of peppermint essential oil to any unscented facial lotion and apply under the nose and behind the ears.
• A nice hot shower or bath will help to ease the stress of tension headaches. Adding a handful of fresh lavender will relax and ease away tension. Adding a handful of peppermint leaves will invigorate and energize.
• Victoria Abreo, alternative medicine editor for the website BellaOnline, says that anyone suffering from a tension headache can employ a simple acupressure technique to help relieve the pain: “With one hand, press the shallow indention in the back of the head at the base of the skull. Simultaneously, with the thumb and forefinger of the other hand, press firmly into the upper hollows of the eye sockets, right where they straddle the bridge of the nose and meet the ‘t’ of the eyebrow bridge.” She says to press softy at first, and then more firmly, holding for three to five minutes.
• According to Dr. Linda White, who writes about natural health for Mother Earth News, some recent clinical trials have shown three nutritional supplements—magnesium, riboflavin and coenzyme Q10—to be particularly effective at reducing the frequency and severity of migraines.

When to see a doctor:

• Headaches get stronger and more frequent.
• If you begin to experience numbness, blurred vision, memory loss or dizziness.
• The headache comes after a severe head injury.
• Headache induced by exercise.
• Headaches start disrupting your life, example – missing work or family events because of recurring headaches

 

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Sources:

• New Choices in Natural Healing, (various contributors); Pennsylvania, Rodale Press, Inc. (1995)
• Mark Evans B. Phil, FNIMH, Natural Healing Remedies & Therapies; NY, Hermes House (2002)
• Victoria Abreo of Bella Online; http://www.scientificamerican.com/topic.cfm?id=alternative-medicine