Top 5 Headache Home Remedies
NOTE: Author has NO medical education / training / certification. All content is purely anecdotal.
Below are five of my tried and true home remedies for curing a headache. Headaches have many causes: sinus pressure, stress, illness,etc. If you have frequent or severe headaches then go to your doctor! The list below is for the 'casual' headache sufferer only. These methods work for me, and they might work for you.
- Water. Many of my headaches are caused be dehydration. When I feel a 'dull aching' headache coming on, I simply dring a tall glass of cool (not ice cold!) water then rest for 10 minutes with my eyes closed. With this method, my headache will ease away nine out of 10 times.
- Food. Headaches can be brought on by hunger. Usually, in these situations, I don't feel very hungry, maybe a bit peckish (I could nosh), but not starving. To remedy the pain, I will make myself a PB&J. The jelly gives me quick sugar energy, the whole grain bread yields some complex carbs, and the peanut butter provides oils and protein. I find this recipie, combined with 10 minutes of rest will do the trick more often than not.
- Chill Out! It may just be a stress headache. Find a comfortable chair. Close your eyes and breath deep: slow inhale through the nose (count 1,2,3,4,5) and exhale through the mouth (again count 1,2,3,4,5). While you relax take an inventory of your body from head to toe. Make note of all you muscle groups, one by one, and activly relax each group. After five minutes you should feel better.
- Massage. For severe headaches, I will lay down in a dark and quiet room and rest. During these episodes, I feel pain behind my eyes and in my temples. Sometimes, I can alleviate the pain by probing my forehead, temples, and cheek bones (above my sinuses) for 'pain points'. When I find an area that causes my head pain to worsen, I will apply ligh pressure on that area or just adjacent. While breathing deeply and steadily, I press on the area for a moment or two and the pain is replaced by relief in that area. I continue to search for areas where the pain is more accute and continue the process until the pain is gone comletely or I fall asleep, whichever comes first.
- Combo. You have to get to know your body and listen to what it is trying to tell you. You need to learn the warning signs of an impending headache. Try to associate the type of heaache with the enviromental factors. At this point, I can pretty easily tell if my head hurts due to sinus pressure from an allergy, stress, or other factor. If you know the cause, it will be easier to apply the corret rememdy. When in doubt, try them in combination. Eat the PB&J with a cool glass of water then rest. When all else fails, take Extra Strengh Excedrin in combination with the above techniques. I hate to sound like a commercial, but nothing works better for eliminating a headache.
Of course, all of these rememdies work for ME! You need to find out what works for you. And remember, you shouldn't get too many headaches. If you are suffering from migranes and frequent severe headaches, there is a chance that there's someting more serious going on in your body. Make that appoinment with your doc. Just be sure to have some Excedrin on hand. Going to the doctor always GIVES me a headache: long waits in the waiting room, that freezing cold exam room, and paying the bill (breath deep 1,2,3,4,5).
