Find Migraine and Headache Relief with Home Remedies
It’s quite common for people to search for home remedies for migraines. This is perhaps because a lot of people have suffered from intense headaches, which could sometimes even be incapacitating and accompanied with other symptoms, like nausea and dizziness.
Causes of Headaches and Migraines
Not all headaches are equal. In fact, migraines aren’t completely resolved with just any analgesic, which is why it is important to know the causes and types of headaches in order to choose the best option for fighting them.
Experts agree that headaches are due to two main things. Firstly, it is a muscular contraction, and secondly, it is related to the contraction and dilation of blood vessels. The most common type of headache is due to the first mechanism, and is frequently due to poor posture, a poor diet, digestives problems or stress, and is known as a tension headache.
Headaches that are caused by the contraction and dilation of blood vessels is frequently more intense. It is generally concentrated around the eyes and could cause nasal congestion. This is known as a cluster headache.
Migraines have other characteristics and could be accompanied by nausea, sensitivity to light and noise, vomiting, and it generally begins on one side of the head and spreads out. Migraines often times appear after experiencing an aura, which warns that a migraine is coming. This generally consists of flashes of light, temporary blindness, among other things. Migraines could be the results of consuming certain types of foods, or drinking excessive amounts of caffeine, fasting, insufficient sleep, contraceptive pills, anger, and even exercising, among other things.
Natural Remedies to Alleviate Migraines
There is a lot of advice and natural remedies around that can help treat strong migraines, including very simple and practical remedies.
Chamomile: You might never have thought that migraine relief could come in the form of such a common plant, but studies have shown that the compounds contained therein could help prevent and alleviate headaches. The good news is that this is an easily procured plant and is also safe, having very few side effects.
Acupuncture: This could be a very beneficial therapy for individuals with recurring migraines. Acupuncture has less side effects than pharmaceutical migraine treatment, and it has proven to have favorable results for both prevention and treatment.
Relaxing massages: Relaxing massages of the back, shoulders and head could be a good alternative for individuals suffering from recurrent migraines. According to studies, this type of massage could improve sleep quality, fight tress, and thereby reduce migraines.
Hot and Cold: If your neck is stiff, or the muscles around your neck and shoulders are, this could be causing your tension headaches. In this case, apply heat could be useful, but if, on the other hand, your pain comes in pulsed waves, it’s better to apply a bit of cold to the area to calm the pain.
Ginger: Commonly used to fight dizziness and nausea, ginger can be excellent for preventing migraines. We recommend chewing or ingesting a piece small enough to be the size of a capsule, as soon as you notice the “aura”, in order to prevent the migraine from taking place.
Olive Oil: This is generally used as a remedy for headaches. It’s easy to use, just drink a teaspoon of this oil to alleviate the symptoms. It is believed that its antioxidant content can alleviate or calm the pain.
Sleeping: Headaches generally disappear after resting, although a nap usually doesn’t alleviate the symptoms. Going to bed early, however, can help relieve the pain, although you need to keep in mind that a lack of sleep could cause constant headaches, which is why it’s important not to sleep less than 5 hours a day. 8 hours a day is recommended.
Tie a handkerchief around your head: Whenever the pain comes in pulses, tying a kerchief around your head could alleviate the pain and sometimes stop it completely. However, this is a temporary relief which generally disappears as soon as you remove the kerchief.
Reduce Stress
Stress could be one of the most common causative factors of headaches. It has been shown that individuals that use relaxation techniques, or those that exercise, could be less prone to suffering from intense headaches.
There are lots of options for reducing stress, including yoga, which is an exercise that aids relaxation, promotes flexibility, and most of all, provides room to work on breathing. This is a great alternative against stress.
Meditation is also a good tool for controlling stress levels and reducing its effects on health