Headache Treatments

People have heard the joke for years when they have a headache, “take two aspirin, and call me in the morning.” Well, headaches aren’t a joking matter and aspirin isn’t the only choice when considering headache treatments today. In fact, depending upon the type of headache you have, aspirin may be the last thing you’d want to take.

It’s amazing the number of people that miss work due to migraines and other types of headaches. Most people will try to alleviate the pain by taking an over-the-counter pain reliever, but there are many other treatment options available when trying to get rid of a headache. These are other headache treatments you may want to consider the next time you have a headache.

Biofeedback is one non-traditional technique that headache and migraine sufferers may try. The goal is to learn to control stress by reducing muscle tension, skin temperature, and brain waves. This method of headache treatment can be used with both children and adults, and appears to be as effective as traditional medicine once the skill is learned.

Massage is another way to treat headaches, however there hasn’t been much clinical proof that it is effective. Of course, if your headache is stress or tension related, massage might be just what the doctor ordered to help alleviate the pain.

Acupuncture is another non-traditional form of headache treatment. This ancient Chinese treatment uses very fine needles that are placed in specific receptors on the body. It is believed that there is electrical energy in the body and the acupuncture needles help to restore the energy balances, thus reducing the pain associated with headaches.

Herbs have been used in China for thousands of years for many health-related issues. Feverfew is one herb that has been tested clinically and has been proven to be effective in fighting headache pain, although further testing may be needed. If you have a qualified herbalist near you, you may want to seek their advice about an herbal remedy if you dislike taking medicine.

Foods and beverages may trigger headaches, so changing what you eat and drink may have a positive effect on the number and severity of your headaches. Some foods, such as chocolate, red wine, and aged cheese may cause headaches. If you stay away from these foods or any others that you recognize as triggers, you may not have as many headaches. To determine which foods and beverages trigger your headaches, you’ll want to keep a diary about your headaches and what you’re eating. Before long you’ll see patterns emerge and will be better able to avoid those foods.

Finally, if none of these methods help to reduce your headache pain, you can always fall back on the tried-and-true method of taking an over-the-counter pain reliever. If your doctor prescribes something else, be sure that you take it as prescribed. Using any of these methods may help your headaches become a thing of your past.