Having been a chronic headache sufferer most of my life, and finding out this is National Headache Awareness Week, I decided to share some of the knowledge I have accumulated in my quest to conquer headaches. I hope you find something that will prove valuable to you in this article or the links for further knowledge I have included.
Acupressure
Simply apply pressure to your head, anywhere that you feel pain, press and hold, gradually applying more and more pressure until it feels slightly uncomfortable. Now continue to hold it a slow count of ten. Release. You will feel the blood rushing and this often provides relief.
You can also massage various places on your hands and feet that may be related to your headache. You can view an acupressure chart of hands and feet here:
http://www.geocities.com/bsrawat/accu.htm
Aromat herapy
Add a few drops of any one or combination of two or three of the following essential oils to a cup of hot water and inhale:
Eucalyptus: Great for sinus headaches and stimulates the respiratory system.
Geranium: Best for hormone related headaches, depression and tension. Bonus: It's also an aphrodisiac!
Lavender: Relaxing lavender is good for stress/tension and helps you sleep. In addition to inhaling it, you can use dried lavender to make an eye pillow. Seal it in a Ziploc and refrigerate. Place it over your eyes when you have eye strain, headache, or just want to relax and feel calmer.
Peppermint: Best for migraines.
Sweet Marjoram: Great for stress and tension headaches.
I have been fortunate enough to find incense and candles for headaches at various booths during local festivals and events. I am not sure what scent the incense were, however, the candle was lemongrass.
Cold Pack on Neck and Shoulders
If it's a tension headache and you feel it in your neck and shoulders, a cold pack will help reduce inflammation and relax you, especially on a hot day. Sometimes it helps to put the cold pack over your eyes or on your head, if that is where the pain is. This is especially effective if the headache is caused by eye strain
Cooling Foods
Cool foods and juices will often alleviate the symptoms of a migraine headache, avoid anything fermented, it will only make it worse.
Deep Breathing
Slow, deep breaths not only relax away tension, which likely caused the headache, but the oxygen you are taking in will help alleviate it as well.
Feverfew
The Reliv alone has gotten rid of my headaches; however, before I discovered Reliv, I was taking feverfew. It was difficult to remember to take it several times a day, but the pills were small and easy to swallow so I carried it with me and took a couple every 4 hours or so, all day long, everyday. It significantly reduced the number of headaches I got.
Fish Oil
Fish oil helps inflammation, which often causes the headache in the first place.
Innergize
Innergize is a sports isotonic drink; however, it is NOT your standard garden variety. This one is in powdered form so it lasts longer and can be mixed up when needed. I believe Innergize opens the blood vessels in your head, allowing the blood to flow. Innergize can be taken hot or cold, but for headaches, it works best to mix it with hot water. You can get Innergize from a Reliv distributor. (See the Supplements section of this article for more information.)
Magnesium
A deficiency in magnesium can cause chronic headaches. You can get magnesium from pumpkins seeds, black beans, dark chocolate, and many other foods; however, the no calorie way is to take a good magnesium supplement. If you want to know if you have a magnesium deficiency, check out this web site:
http://www.ctds.info/5_13_magnesium.html
Meditat ion
Meditation often helps you relax which is sometimes all it takes to get rid of a headache. It also makes you a happier person who learns to listen to your body more, which can help you to make better food choices, avoiding the foods that trigger headaches in you. You can combine this with aromatherapy to further enhance the effects.
Microwave and Vicks
Sinus Headaches are rare and people often think they have one when they don't because headaches cause sinus pressure. If you have a sinus headache, the best cure I know is to get two washcloths, wet and wring out. Heat one in the microwave long enough to make it hot like a steamed towel at the spa, while you are applying some Vicks to your temples, between your eyes and around your nose. Take the hot wash cloth out of the microwave and put the next one in to warm. Now making sure the hot washcloth is not too hot, lay it over your face and inhale deeply until it cools. Keep alternating hot washcloths.
Sexual Release
It is my profound belief that sexual release relaxes away tension headaches and the feel-good endorphins released help you feel better. This is intended for married people or people who are already in a sexual relationship. Sex for one works just as well.
Supplements
Getting the right nutrition in your body will help prevent the headache in the first place. Chronic headache sufferers have decreased their headaches drastically with regular usage. I have seen and tried many nutritional products but the only one that has helped my chronic headaches is Reliv.
However, Reliv is not like aspirins, it will take regular usage and not just when you have a headache, to be effective.
You cannot purchase Reliv in stores; you can find a Reliv Distributor in your local yellow pages. If you cannot locate a Reliv distributor in your area you can contact mine and they will arrange to ship the Reliv to you. The number is 1-800-803-4340.
Water
According to the book "Your Body's Many Cries For Water" by Dr. Batmanghelidj, most any ailment is a direct result of not drinking enough water. I know this to be true of headaches. Dr. Batmanghelidj stresses, "By the time you feel thirsty, damage has already occurred at a cellular level." To read excerpts from the book or purchase a copy go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Your-Bodys-Many-Cries-Water /dp/0962994235
Willow Bark
Taking aspirins for headaches causes headaches! Try to get rid of the headache naturally if possible. If you still feel you need something for the pain, try willow bark. It is more effective than aspirins and doesn't cause the rebound headaches!
Simply boil one or two teaspoons of willow bark in 8 oz of water and let steep 10 minutes. Do not use willow bark if you are under 16, pregnant or nursing. For more information about Willow Bark go to:
http://www.medicinenet.com/willow_bark_salix_alba _and_other_salix_sp-o/article.htm
Yoga
Yoga helps prevent headaches as well as relaxing one away once it's struck.
To Take a Quiz to Find out Which Type of Headaches you get, go to this link:
http://www.lifescript.com/quiz/quiz.asp?bid=558 44
To learn more about headaches in general, check out this article, entitled, "Headaches 101:"
http://www.lifescript.com/channels/healthy_livi ng/Health_Conditions/headaches_101.asp?page=1
For more holistic headache remedies, check out this web site which tells you how you can use common things like lemon, apple, cinnamon, water, and more to help headaches.
http://www.home-remedies-for-you.com/remed y/Headaches.html
American Headache Society Website:
http://www.achenet.org/