Think about the last time that you had a headache. The pain was likely quite annoying, and in the worst cases, it was likely almost unbearable for you to deal with.
That being said, you have probably been trying to find the best way for you to deal with those headaches quickly so that you can go back to whatever it is that you’re trying to do on a regular basis.
In this article, we’re going to explore what headaches are, explain why natural remedies are best for them, and then give you some of the best ways for you to deal with them naturally.
What are Headaches?
Headaches are pains in your head. They can go from a dull ache to a horrible pain that feels like someone is banging a railroad tie into your ears.
These pains can be debilitating at times, and if you don’t get them taken care of, they can end up resulting in even bigger problems for you and your family.
The most common type of headache that you may have to deal with is the tension headache.
Tension headaches are all about the pressure – you feel that pressure on and around your skull, and you feel the pain all over your head, usually from temple to temple.
These headaches are usually related to stress, because those muscles have tightened up and are, essentially, cramped.
If you don’t sleep enough, you may also end up dealing with these sorts of headaches.
You may also experience what are known as cluster headaches, which are headaches that happen over time – usually related to cold weather.
Why Natural Remedies for Headaches?
One question that we often get is “why should you use natural remedies for headaches?” Natural remedies are often a lot better than other types of remedies that are out there.
You aren’t putting foreign chemicals into your body and you aren’t going to have an issue with possibly getting addicted to said chemicals.
On top of that, you can also feel incredibly confident that the things that you’re doing in order to feel healthier are safe, above everything else – and that is something that we all deserve to have, no matter what we’re using in order to feel better.
What Natural Remedies Are There For Headaches?
This, of course, leads to the biggest question that you are probably considering when it comes to natural remedies for your headaches – what ones are out there for you to choose from and to try for yourself?
In this article, we’re going to point you toward some of the best natural remedies that are out there for headaches and why they will end up making a huge difference for you when you start using them for your headaches when they come along.
Using Essential Oils
Some people think that essential oils are just a trend, but they are actually quite a significant tool that plays a huge role in helping people to feel better in a lot of ways.
These essential oils are, in short, the oils that are extracted from different plants and other materials so that they can be used in particular ways.
Headaches are some of the most common uses for essential oils, and there are a few that you can try out in order to relieve the stress and aches that you get in and around your head.
Let’s take a look at some of the most common forms of treatment when it comes to using essential oils.
Peppermint oil
Peppermint oil is inexpensive and it ends up helping you to relax. Not only does the scent of oil help your body to relax more, but the oil itself seeps into the skin and loosens up the muscles and tendons as well.
Many people recommend that you put this right around your hairline. It’s incredibly inexpensive, so it’s a good thing for you to try before you go ahead and try anything else.
Peppermint oil also smells good, so you get to enjoy the scent while your body is taking in all of the healing properties.
Ginger root
Ginger root and/or ginger tea is known for having a lot of healing properties. Because of that, many people have started to use it in various home remedies that are out there for their headaches.
You can drink it in a tea form, or you can make a solution that you can put on the area that hurts in order to help reduce the amount of inflammation that you have going on in a certain area of your head or neck.
Ginger can also be ingested safely (it’s often used in recipes), but there isn’t enough evidence available related to whether or not ingesting ginger can help reduce the headache(s) that you’re fighting off.
Cayenne pepper extract
Cayenne pepper extract is another tool that you can add to your arsenal. Some people recommend getting it in a cream form, which you put inside of your nostril on the side of your head that is hurting (or, in both if it’s your entire head).
The capsaicin inside of the cream actually helps your brain to turn off any of the pain receptors that may be causing the pain to be that much worse.
Hot foods will often have the same effect, so you may want to try eating something spicy to see if that helps to reduce your headache as well.
Lavender oil
Lavender oil is the last oil that we’re going to look at here. Lavender has a ton of healing properties, and we’ve even talked about it when we were talking about anxiety and other issues that were going on.
That being said, lavender oil can help in one of two ways. You can breathe it in (include it as part of a warm bath for the best effect), or you can apply it topically.
Don’t ever ingest it (it is toxic when ingested), but these other methods will help your body to relax and your muscles will let go of the vice grip that they have on your head.
Oils are not the only natural treatments out there, however. Let’s take a quick look at some other favorites that are out there when it comes to all natural ways for you to deal with the pain that comes with tension headaches and migraines.
Try Ice or Heat
The reason that you end up getting headaches is because of the muscles around your skull and the fact that they are contracted and tense. So, the best way to treat those muscles is in the same way that you would treat a sprained ankle or a twisted wrist – put ice or heat on it.
Go by the 10 minutes on, 30 minutes off rule. Which one works for you will depend on the pain that you’re in and where that pain is located, so you may have to try both before you start to see some relief.
Many people find that ice works better for them than heat. This is because many headaches are due to inflammation, which ice will help to reduce.
The less inflammation that you’re dealing with, the better your headache will get and the more comfortable that you will end up being in the long run.
Try out ice first, especially because it’s a lot easier (and it takes a lot less work) to throw together an ice pack than to find whatever it is that you may want to use for a heating pad or other heating source for your headache.
If you want to do heat, or you find that it works better, then try to take a warm shower or bath in order to sooth those muscles.
Some headaches are caused by back pain, so taking a warm bath can help to loosen and adjust those muscles, thus reducing the pain that you’re feeling in and around your head.
As we suggested above, a warm bath with lavender oil is probably the best of both worlds – you get the oil, which soothes, and you get the heat, which also soothes, in order to get the best two for one deal that you can.
If you have chronic headaches, then you may want to think about including this sort of bath as a part of your regular routine in order to prevent these headaches from being a constant problem for you.
Get Some More Sleep
Think about the last time that you got a full night of sleep. If you’re like some people, then you are probably dealing with a lot of problems related to it.
A lack of sleep leads to a lot of tension in your body as well, so if you aren’t doing anything to help increase the amount of sleep that you’re getting every night, then you’re going to start to notice that you are in a lot of pain when you’re trying to get through your day.
You’re also a lot more stressed out if you don’t get sleep, and as we explained above, stress is a big part of whether or not you’re going to end up getting headaches.
How can you make sure that you get more sleep? There are a few different things that you can do in order to get a better rest at night.
For example, you may want to make sure that you turn all of your screens off way before bedtime. The blue light from those screens makes it more difficult for you to get a restful sleep.
Also, if you’re using TV’s, phones, tablets, and other items before bed, it can actually make it a lot more likely for you to end up with a headache – your eyes may be straining, which makes it easier for a headache to come along.
Sleep is a huge thing that you want to do in order to make sure that your chances of having a headache are much less than they would have been otherwise.
Stretch out, take natural sleeping remedies, and do any other number of things in order to make it easier for you to get a full night’s sleep and you will likely start to notice that your headaches are a lot less frequent.
Consider Getting a Back Treatment or Massage
As you likely know, your whole body is connected, and your head, neck, and spine often affect each other when it comes to pain and strain.
If your back isn’t in the best condition that it can be in, then it’s going to be a lot more likely for you to have headaches because of the pressure that you feel in your neck and back.
So, if that’s the problem that you may be dealing with, then it may be time for you to see a natural care professional in order to deal with your back.
Chiropractic treatments are all natural and, because of that, we think it’s a good idea for you to consult with one if you have chronic headaches for any reason.
They know all sorts of natural treatments that can help you to regain flexibility and reduce the amount of pain that you’re feeling.
They rarely, if ever, prescribe medication unless it is absolutely necessary for you to be on it.
A chiropractor can help you to adjust your back so that it’s in the right position and that your spine is aligned as it should be – and that alone can make a huge difference when it comes to pain.
Another consideration that you can make is that you may want to think about getting a massage.
Many chiropractors have a massage therapist that works for them, and that means that you can kill two birds with one stone while you visit there.
These therapists can help to rub the “kinks” out of your back and ensure that there isn’t any pressure that will make the pain that you’re experiencing that much worse for you to deal with.
So, you may want to think about working with one of these professionals to get the best experience that you can.
Do Yoga or Physical Therapy
Relaxation is key when it comes to dealing with tension headaches, and yoga can play a huge role in helping your entire body to loosen up and relax, no matter how tense you may be.
Yoga is a great way to start your day and, if you work on using it as a regular part of your schedule, you will start to find that your back is much looser and your headaches are much less frequent.
Even if you aren’t as flexible as you used to be, you will be able to find a level of yoga that makes it easier for you to move and bend, with as little impact on the rest of your body as possible.
Since there are emotional benefits to doing yoga as well, you’re basically knocking a lot of problems out at the same time.
Consider joining a class or find one of the many videos or technique training sessions that are out there in order to start incorporating yoga into your regular daily routine. Even if you don’t have time for a full session daily, at least try to do a couple of stretches.
Another consideration that is all natural is the use of physical therapy. Physical therapy will help you to find the cause of the pain that you’re dealing with and then, with that information, your physical therapist will be able to help you find the best ways for your body to deal with whatever it is that is causing you headaches on a regular basis.
You have to have a referral in order to go physical therapy, so you will want to talk to your doctor and make sure that they think that it is a good choice for you and your particular needs.
Conclusion
There are so many different headaches that we deal with on a regular basis that it can be difficult for us to find the right thing to do for a particular situation.
That’s why we have given you so many ideas related to natural remedies for headaches – you can explore them all for yourself and see which ones give you the relief and relaxation that you need and deserve after having dealt with a headache for any period of time.
Test these out and try them for yourself – you may find a remedy that works perfectly for you and your needs.
If you have found that you are dealing with constant chronic headaches on a regular basis, then you may want to consider talking to your doctor about the problem.
It could be a sign of a much larger issue that needs to be addressed and taken care of as soon as possible.
Always talk to your doctor about treatment plans that you have as well – they can help to point you in the right direction and make you feel comfortable with whatever you decide to do for your headaches.
References:
http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20538298,00.html
http://www.webmd.com/migraines-headaches/guide/treating-headaches-yourself