Headache: Some Viable Home Treatments

Headaches are common.

When we stay up late, we are likely to get a headache next morning. When we sleep in too long, we are likely to have a headache. When we over-indulge in food or alcohol a headache often follows. When we are over-anxious or nervous about something, on comes a headache! If there is too much drumbeat, or heavy sound and noise, it will make our heads pound.

Too many chocolates or cheese can give us head pain. Eyestrain can bring on headaches. Insufficient fresh air or too long in air conditioning can bring on headaches. Hormonal imbalance and for women, 'time of the month' headaches are common. If we become constipated, a headache can develop. Accident or injury produces extreme headaches. Liver congestion is a common cause of headache and this always requires less rich diet.

Generally, along with these problems and many others that can cause headaches, the average sufferer will reach for the painkillers and it is ironical, that sometimes even these are sometimes known to have a side effect and to cause inflamed stomach lining or even headache!

If we can find simple, natural ways to alleviate headaches, whether they produce dullness, sharp pain or throbbing and there is no serious condition diagnosed, it is a much better and safer route to follow.

There are many interesting ideas recorded from past centuries. For instance, pioneers in the central west of U.S. used a type of sympathetic magic, claiming that the remedy for headaches lay in their hair. So after a haircut, they would not destroy the clippings but gathered them and buried them under a rock. It is not known if the hair was later exhumed or if the one deed was sufficient to ease all headaches in the future!

Cottage lore and naturopathic practices offer us a variety of techniques and remedies as well as the traditional Asian healing techniques such as acupuncture and acupressure. We can try home methods first and usually something will suit your particular condition. If not, then professional massage, aromatherapy, chiropractic, osteopathic, herbal or relaxation therapy is usually readily available.

We can also use our own mind in self-help. We can try the technique used by hypnotherapists and use repetitive autosuggestion to heal ourselves. The brain is becoming known for its incredible potential for self-healing but we are shy to explore the possibilities. The symptom of headache however, offers us a good opportunity to apply safe and drugless methods in seeking mind control over our body frailties.

Many cottage remedies known as 'Grandma's' common home care methods of the last century are now forgotten or have been rejected, but there are many that still remain as valid treatment for simple complaints. Some of them are included in the following --

Apply cold compress to the forehead. Sit with your feet in hot water for a few minutes whilst cold is applied to the head. Sit upright in a darkened room and meditate for some minutes. Sitting upright with eyes closed and spine erect fro a few minutes and imagining the cool green or blue colours sometimes works magic. Learn to establish a few minutes of regular rhythmic and deeper breathing. Inhale 10 deep breaths of essential peppermint oil, lemon oil, or lavender. Grandma's remedy was to inhale camphor for a few deep breaths. Try steam inhalation of eucalyptus oil. Massage your neck and shoulder muscles as best you can under a warm shower. Lay flat on the floor and practice relaxation. Massage the temples and press at the back of the neck towards the skull to find any sore spots. Try maintaining medium pressure for a few seconds at a time. Drinking a very hot cup of tea, either green tea or will often relieve a headache in a few minutes. Thyme tea is helpful, fresh from the garden, or dried. Ginger, peppermint, rosemary, feverfew or chamomile tea are also reliable. Other people sip hot coffee and find it better than painkillers. Using acupressure on the big toe - clamping the thumb and forefinger and holding for a few minutes is sometimes effective. Reflexology recommends pressure and massage of the thumb and its base. Indication of the 'right spot' to apply pressure is judged by its sensitivity or soreness. Iron and magnesium in the diet are essential to prevent headaches. Eating a light snack often helps. Including diluted lemon juice and grapefruit juice in the diet helps cleanse the liver. Walking or moderate exercise can be good but caution as you try it as it may be that it irritates your condition - so go carefully at first. Usually silence is best but some find soothing music helpful. Writing in your daily diary, if you have a headache at the end of the day, can provide relief from nervous tension and the stress from the day. Talking to a confidante can ease your mind and emotions.

The body chemistry can quickly adjust to correct the symptoms of common headache if you give a chance for relaxed and peaceful circumstances, which are far more a reliable aid than reaching for chemical drugs that always have some kind of side effect.

It is so much more challenging to be able to understand the cause of your headaches, to be able to discover a simple and natural way of self-help and be able to return to your normal cheerfulness and relaxed mood with psychological comfort and no negative physical reactions.

Self understanding means that perhaps a headache will not have to be endured again, once you know what caused it. Feeling confident that you can help yourself and avoid any problems in the future is a good feeling.

Once you keep an eye on the conditions of the nervous system or digestive system that can cause headaches, you can avoid disturbances and this will contribute in time to your overall well-being.

Simple cottage therapies are retained not only by tradition, but because they are safe and often effective - good luck!

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