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| Home Remedies for Headaches |
Your
search for the best headache cure ends here. Here are 9 natural home
remedies for headaches that really work.
There comes a point when the world of deadlines, irksome
bosses, late nights, skimpy sleep schedules, and traffic jams takes a toll on
us. It is then when our quintessential cup of coffee surrenders to splitting
headaches. So, what do you do when you're bad day culminates into a severe migraine?
The easy way out is of course to pop a painkiller. People often use over-the-counter
medicines or prescription pain killers to get relief from headaches. But there
are many natural remedies that can treat your headache quickly and easily.
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 nausea which occurs
during migraines.
Mix
equal parts of ginger juice and lemon juice. Consume it once or twice a day.
- Another option is to apply a paste of one teaspoon of dry ginger powder and two tablespoons of water on the forehead for a few minutes.
- You can
also, boil ginger powder or raw ginger in water, and inhale the vapor.
Chew one or two pieces of crystallized ginger candy.
A strong-scented herb that 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.
- Put
three or four fresh basil leaves in a cup of boiling water and let it simmer for a few minutes. Optionally, add a little honey and then sip the tea slowly.
- You
can also boil one tablespoon of basil leaves or a few drops of basil oil to a pot of boiling water and carefully lean over the pot to take in the steam.
Alternatively, chew some fresh basil leaves or
massage your forehead with basil oil mixed with base oil.
Cold
Applying an ice pack to the back of your neck can give relief from a migraine since the
cold from the ice helps reduce inflammation that contributes to headaches. Ice constricts
blood vessels, which may reduce pain and inflammation. Plus, it has a numbing effect on the pain.
- Applying an
ice pack to your forehead or the back of your neck can give you relief from a migraine headache.
- You can
also, place a washcloth dipped in ice-cold water over your head for five minutes. Repeat the process several times.
You can use a bag of frozen vegetables
as a cold compress. Within half an hour you will feel some relief.
Heat
Alternatively, if you can tell that your
muscles are very tense, try heat. Place a hot pack or heating pad on tight neck
muscles, or soak in a warm bath. I've tried both, depending on the type of
headache. And believe it or not, just soaking
your feet in hot water also helps get rid of a headache, since the hot water
draws blood to your feet. For a severe headache, add a bit of hot mustard
powder to the water.
4.
Hydrate
Simple dehydration is a common cause of
headaches. Make sure to drink plenty of non-caffeinated beverages over the
course of the day. Skip the soda, especially diet, as no-cal sweeteners are a
headache trigger for many. Excess sugar ties up magnesium in the body. Low
magnesium is another potential headache trigger, so soda or plain juice may
hurt more than they help. Plain water or coconut water and herbal tea are all great options.
5. Apple Cider Vinegar
Both
apples and apple cider vinegar can be used to fight off a headache.
They help restore the acid-alkaline balance in the body.
·
Mix a half cup of apple cider vinegar
with half a cup of water and boil the mixture in a covered saucepan. Remove from
heat, hold a towel over your head, and slowly inhale the steam. This will
provide instant relief from sinus headaches.
·
If you wake up with a headache, just
eat a piece of apple sprinkled with salt, and drink some warm water after.
·
Add 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar to a glass of water, with honey and a splash of lemon juice. Drink it 2
or 3 times a day.
Find a
cool, dark, quiet room and take a 10-15 minute nap. This tends to work better
for migraines and tension headaches, but can make cluster headaches (those with
stabbing pain around the eyes) worse.
Note: Too much sleep or a significant disruption in your
sleep schedule can trigger headaches.
7. Lavender
Oil
Not only does lavender have a beautiful
fragrance - but it's also a great remedy for alleviating headaches. Simply smelling
the soothing scent of lavender essential oil can be of great help in relieving
tension headaches. Research suggests that it can also help improve migraine
symptoms.
- Put a few
drops of lavender essential oil on a tissue and inhale it. You can also add two drops of lavender oil to two cups of boiling water and inhale the steam.
- Another option is to mix two or three drops of lavender essential oil in one tablespoon of carrier oil such as almond oil or olive oil and massage your forehead with it.
Note: Do
not take lavender oil orally.
8. Peppermint Oil
With its refreshing scent, peppermint helps open up clogged blood
vessels which cause headaches. It contains menthol which helps regulate blood
flow in the body. It also has calming and soothing effects.
·
Quietly
breathe in the aroma in a cool, darkroom.
·
You
can also mix 3 drops of peppermint oil in one tablespoon of almond oil, or
just add a little water and massage the temples or the back of your neck with
it.
·
Alternatively,
can apply crushed peppermint leaves on your forehead.
·
Make
an herbal tea by adding 1 teaspoon of dried peppermint to a cup of boiling
water. Cover and let it steep for 10 minutes. Strain and add some honey to
sweeten it. Sip the tea slowly.
9. Cloves
Cloves can be used to ease a throbbing
headache due to their 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.
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