Effective Natural Remedies for a Headache
A headache is more common than any medical condition. And it’s completely normal to have it. Almost everyone can’t have immunity from this condition because it’s uncontrollable.
It can affect almost anyone regardless of their age, gender, and race. You might experience it once in your life, maybe during the time you stayed up late to finish your paperwork, or the time you had to solve problems.
A headache is defined as pain affecting the head. If you do have a headache, you might either experience a sharp, throbbing, constant, mild, or even intense pain in the head. A headache can be a sign of stress or a disorder.
The pain can affect your day-to-day routine and may lead to more problems such as not being able to get your homework done, or waking up early and going to work. Unfortunately, headaches occur more in adults because they have more responsibilities and problems to face.
Almost half of all adults anywhere around the world can experience a headache many times in a year, as reported by The World Health Organization (WHO). But a headache isn’t just a headache, there are several types of headache and their causes and symptoms vary.
There are actually several types of headache, but we will only tackle the essential ones. Here are the different types of headache:
PRIMARY HEADACHE
1. TENSION HEADACHE
Tension is the most common type of primary headache. it causes a tightness or pressure on the forehead or back area of your head. It feels as if something is squeezing your skull. And this type commonly happens in adults and women. Tension headache may either be Episodic Tension — it happens less in a month or; Chronic Tension — it happens more frequently in a month.
2. MIGRAINE
This come in second of the most common primary headaches This type is commonly complained about because this headache can greatly affect your day-to-day activities and commonly happens with women than men. It causes a pulsating and throbbing pain accompanied by blurred vision, light-headedness, and nausea. A migraine can last from a few hours to 3 days. Having those symptoms can make life difficult for some people.
3. CLUSTER HEADACHE
This is the less common type for primary headaches and commonly happens in men. It type creates a series of short but extremely painful headaches that can happen almost everyday. And it might hit you at the same time each year. It usually only lasts about 30 to 90 minutes. They can be as short as 15 minutes or as long as 3 hours, but then they disappear. You'll probably get one to three of these headaches a day. People describe the pain as an intense burning behind or around the eye.
4. THUNDERCLAP HEADACHE
This has been said to be one of the worst headaches ever. It can cause intense pain along with nausea and vomiting. It comes suddenly and can sometimes last for a day. This is commonly caused by bleeding from an artery into the space surrounding your brain. But there are several causes for this headache and all are serious. This type of headache shall be informed by your doctor to prevent the symptoms from getting worse.
SECONDARY HEADACHES
1. REBOUND HEADACHE
This type only happens to people who have experienced having migraine, tension, or cluster headaches. It stems from an excessive use of medication for headache. This rebound headache causes not just a headache but also neck pain, nasal congestion, and restlessness.
2. SINUSES HEADACHE
From what the name suggests, this type is simply caused by sinusitis — inflammation of sinuses. This creates a dull and throbbing ache around the eyes and forehead. In some cases, it includes clogged nose, nausea, fever, and sensitivity to light. If you have this type of headache, you must seek your doctor.
These are all affecting us may it be mild or severe. But don’t you worry, here are natural remedies for headache to alleviate the pain you're going through.
1. SLEEP
Getting 9 hours of sleep is one of the best remedies for your headache. Having a healthy mind and body prevents you from having headaches and diseases. Generally, lack of sleep can cause a headache and other conditions.
2. GINGER TEA
Ginger is one of the most used ingredients for its numerous health benefits. Its powerful anti-inflammatory properties help reduce inflammation that can also cause headaches. This is most especially effective for treating migraine. Based on a study in 2014, they found that consuming ginger powder was more effective for alleviating headaches rather than the consumption of sumatriptan — commonly used migraine medication.
Create this concoction by mixing equal parts of ginger juice and lemon juice and drink up. To get the most out of ginger, drink it 2-3 times a day.
3. PEPPERMINT
This ingredient helps open up clogged blood vessels that can cause headaches. The menthol qualities of the peppermint helps regulate blood flow. This remedy can be made as a topical substance, tea, and essential oil.
If you want to use it as an essential oil, breathe in the aroma in a cool, dark room. As a topical substance, 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. On the other hand, you can make herbal tea by adding 1 teaspoon of dried peppermint to a cup of boiling water. Continue by covering and letting it steep for 10 minutes. Just strain and add some honey to sweeten it.
4. CLOVES
This spice has been used for centuries as a painkiller. This is likely due to its antinociceptive properties — reduces the perception of pain. Due to its properties, this can be used to alleviate your headache by applying it directly on the affected area.
To do this topical pain killer, pour 2 drops of clove oil with a tablespoon of coconut oil and a pinch of sea salt. Then gently massage your forehead and temples.
5. CINNAMON
This spice is found to be an effective remedy for getting rid of headaches. But how do you use it? a tea? food?
Here’s how: Grind some cinnamon into a powder, and add some water to make a thick paste. Apply it on your forehead and temples and lie down for 30 minutes. Then wash it off with lukewarm water.
6. CHAMOMILE TEA
This has compounds which are known to give relaxation and also alleviate headaches. So if ever you have a headache of any kind, just do this simple remedy.
Making this concoction will need only a chamomile tea bag and water. Add the tea bag on a cup of hot water and add drops of honey.
7. STRETCHING
Doing simple stretching or exercise can greatly benefit in avoiding a headache. This gives you a very healthy lifestyle without having to deal with headaches. Simply start by moving your chin upwards and downwards, left and right, and bend your neck sideways towards each shoulder.
8. COLD COMPRESS
It is known that ice can soothe a lump and even an intense headache. Applying an ice pack or compress on the back of your neck can help alleviate your headache symptoms. This will give a numbing effect on the affected area because of the cooling properties of ice.
9. BASIL
This ingredient can usually be found in Italian cuisines but now, you can also use it as a headache remedy. It is a strong scented herb with analgesic properties. Basil when made into an oil can be muscle relaxant just by putting 3 or 4 fresh basil leaves in boiling water. Just let it simmer then add some honey.
10. APPLE CIDER
This strong ingredient surprisingly helps fight off a headache. And how is that? This is due to its medicinal properties. It may be topical or as a tea. By mixing 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and 1 tablespoon of honey into a glass of water. You already have a headache remedy. To see maximum effectiveness drink it daily.
You May Also Like: Home Remedies For Cold
Comments