Headache Relief

When you have a pounding headache, the only thing you can think about is getting it to stop. You want, no, you need headache relief. Luckily there are many methods to rid yourself of a terrible headache, and not all of them include taking medication.

A headache, while most people think of pain behind the eyes or at the temples, can occur anywhere in the head, face, neck, or even the mouth. It is one of the most common health complaints that men, women, and children have all over the United States and the world.

Many people are happy to rely on traditional medicines to find headache relief. Others prefer to try non-traditional, natural, or herbal remedies instead of man-made or synthetic medicines. So what are your options for natural headache relief?

There are a number of options to help reduce the pain of a headache. You may want to try one of these, although the degree of relief you get may not be what you need:

• Apply ice to the location of your headache but don’t put the ice directly onto the head. Instead, wrap a towel around the ice before putting it there.
• Apply heat to the back of the neck to help relax the muscles that cause tension headaches. You can use a heating pad, take a shower, or take a hot bath.
• Lie down in a dark, quiet room to reduce pain caused by sensitivity to light or sound. You don’t have to go to sleep, but if you can and you do, it may actually help.

You can also try one of two herbs to help with headache relief – peppermint or feverfew. One herb you can use is peppermint, but not the way you might think. In fact, you may think that drinking peppermint tea might help. Actually, peppermint essential oil can be applied directly to the forehead and temples to relieve tension headaches.

The other herb that has been used for years to help relieve headaches, particularly migraines, is feverfew. This herb has been used for hundreds of years to help relieve headaches but it has also been used for fevers, stomachaches, toothaches, and insect bites. Although some reports state feverfew is effective for headache relief, there are some studies that disprove the benefits.

It’s also possible that your lifestyle may be partially to blame for your headaches. While making lifestyle changes won’t totally get rid of them, it can affect the frequency or severity of your headache. Start exercising and eating better. You can also take up yoga or meditation to help you relax. If you smoke or drink alcohol, they could also be part of the cause of your headaches, so stopping those activities may help.

What options do you have if these natural don’t work for you? You can always turn to traditional over-the-counter medicines such as acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen. Prescription medicines may also be in order if you can’t get headache relief another way.