We sure know how hard dealing with headaches can be, especially when you are trying to be a mom at the same time. The pain can leave you feeling tired, stressed and unproductive, but not everyone likes to pop open the medicine cabinet and take a pain reliever. In this article we are going to give you some tips on how to alleviate headaches with a more natural approach. Read on, to find out how.
First, lets take a look at exactly what a headache is, and then lets find out some of the reasons why you may be experiencing headaches or migraines.
What is a headache?
A headache, medically knows as cephalalgia, is pain around the neck or head. The brain itself does not have any pain receptors so a headache is not actually felt in the brain. Instead, the pain is felt when there is a disturbance to the pain sesitive structure around the brain.
A headache can be a symptom of a number of different conditions of the head and neck. There are nine regions of the head and neck that have pain-sensitive structures. They are the following: cranium, nerves, muscles, veins and arteries, subcutaneous tissues, ears, eyes, sinuses and mucous membranes. This means that any one of those areas may be affected when you have a headache. The most common treatment for headaches, is painkillers.
There are many reasons why one might experience headaches, so lets take a look at some of them.
Possible causes of a headahe:
- Your diet
- Dehydration
- Stress
- Lack of sleep
- Muscular tension
- Jaw or dental problems
- Poor posture
- Noise
- Medications
- Eye problems
- Infection
These are just some of the reasons you may be dealing with harsh head pain, but it is very important to pinpoint what exactly may be causing them. By doing this, you may be able to eliminate headaches in the future.
If you are like us at Daily Mom we like to deal with things as naturally as possible. Most people hit the medicine cabinet at the first sign of pain. We have dug deep to uncover some natural remedies to help with your headaches.
Give these a try:
- Oils: These can be your best friend. If you are having a tension headache try applying some peppermint oil along your hairline. This will create a cooling, tingling sensation that will help the muscles in your head and back relax. You may also want to try applying a drop or two of lavender oil just below your nose. When inhaled it acts as a natural pain reliever. You can buy them both here.
- Acupressure: This is an alternative to medicine and is used by applying pressure on pressure points to clear any blockage and increase your blood flow. See this awesome diagram to find out where they are.
- Nuts: There is something in almonds called salicin which is found in some of the most popular over the counter pain relievers. This is a much healthier and natural remedy for tension type headaches. Try a handful or two.
- Water: The average American does not consume near enough water. It is recommended you drink 8 glasses of water a day. If you feel a headache coming on, try drinking 2-3 glasses of water as soon as you feel the symptoms. This usually does the trick and can ward off any pain.
- Cool compress: Try placing a cool damp cloth over both your forehead and eyes. This method works especially well if the pain is in your temples or sinuses. It works by tightening the blood vessels which will helps to relieve the pain.
- Massage: Go on and give yourself (or better yet, have someone else do it) a head, neck and shoulder massage. This will release tension and improve your circulation. Place your index and middle fingers on both temples, and gently press in a circular motion. For a scalp massage, put a little coconut or olive oil on your fingers and massage into your scalp. Grab a sock and place two balls (tennis or racket) inside. Lay on the floor or any flat surface and put the balls at the base of your skull. Relax and keep for 5-10 minutes. This is especially good for sinus headaches. Have someone else rub your neck and back (if possible).
- Herbs Fever Few is a herb that comes from Britain and belongs to the chrysanthemum family. The severity of headaches have been said to be significantly reduced when this herb is taken. You can purchase this in pill form, chewables or you can take it as a liquid. You can buy the capsules here.
- Food: Try making yourself a light meal or snack. Sometimes a headache may come on suddenly if your blood sugar drops, and eating will help bring it back up.
- Meditation: Meditating will help quiet your mind, focus your attention away from your headache, and may reduce how often you experience one.
- Yoga: Yoga can do wonderful things for ones mind, body and soul. This doesn’t exclude dealing with headaches. Doing a little yoga will help with your posture, breathing and will boost relaxation within. All of these things could significantly reduce and discomfort you may be experiencing.
It is always best to figure out what may be triggering your headaches and try to avoid that specific thing. Next time you feel the onset of a headache, try one of these tips to help reduce it, or better yet stop it.
This post is meant for educational purposes only. It is not intended to replace medical advice from your physician, doctor or health care professional. Please read our terms of use for more information.
Source: Herbal Shop
Photo credits: 1,4: laurenhardyblog.com 2: Ramblings & Photos 3:The Art of Making a Baby
