Getting Rid of the Headache Using Natural Methods!

Getting Rid of the HEADACHE Using Natural Methods!

     There’s one thing about a headache---it can put you out of commission in an instant.  You have too much to do to let a headache waylay you.  Most all of us have experienced a headache at one time or another in our lives, some more than others.  Research has uncovered that one in every four U.S. households has a migraine sufferer.  This is 13 percent of the American population. A migraine headache is merely one type of headache; there are several different types and causes behind them.  If you find yourself sidelined with a headache, it will help if you know a quick natural remedy you can use to ease the pain quickly.  Each type has its own type of remedy.

There are simple headaches, with a hammering or pulsing in the head.  These headaches are related to stress, sensitivity to weather or high blood pressure.  Then there are tension headaches (a dull, oppressive pain at the temples or at the back of the head and neck) caused by muscular tension or bad posture.  Another type of headache is the cluster (a piercing, burning pain occurring on one side of the head and always in the same place and the cause is unknown.  Last, there are migraines, as mentioned before, and these often appear on one side of the head, often accompanied by vomiting, nausea or vision problems.  Possible cause of these types of headaches can be heredity, or circulation problems in the brain.

For simple and tension headaches, you can banish them quickly with lavender.  Simply place a few drops on a cotton ball to sniff until symptoms ease.  Or use a lavender eye-pillow to place over the eyes while you relax for a bit. 

Some herbalists recommend using a footbath to divert blood flow.  For Footbaths:  Place feet in a basin with warm water.  Add several drops of lavender, rosemary and chamomile.  Soak 5 minutes, then add ice water.  Soak five minutes more, then dry feet and put on socks.  Lie down somewhere quiet for 20 minutes.  Or soak in a bathtub with 6 drops of lavender, 3 drops of rose.  Heaven!

     For cluster headaches, try using a cold compress, with 2 drops of peppermint or marjoram.  Apply this to the area for 15 minutes and see if the pain doesn’t ease up.    Try acupressure by using the thumb and index finger to press the bridge of your nose at the corner of the eye, pressing and releasing.

     For migraines, try the compress, but speak with an herbal nutritionist about taking herbal supplements to prevent these painful attacks.  Kava-Kava has been found to relieve headache pain, and feverfew and ginkgo biloba are often recommended for migraine prevention.