We have all experienced a headache at least once in our lives. Headaches can be frustrating and painful. Knowing which natural methods can alleviate the pain may prove useful especially if you’re trying to avoid over the counter medicine. More and more people are coming to the realisation that the conventional pills come with unwanted side effects but most people feel that they don’t have any other options thus, they suffer daily.
There are numerous reasons why headaches occur;
- Lack of sleep
- Dehydration
- Stress
- Household air quality
- Low Iron
Whatever the reason, if you’re experiencing a headache, you want to get rid of it as quickly as possible. Here is a list of what can help. The only thing that I have used on the list is number 1 thus, I can’t vouch for the rest but research has shown that these natural ingredients can help. But before I delve into the list of natural ingredients and other solutions, let me explain the different types of headaches.
- A tension headache or stress headache is the most common type. It affects any part of the head but usually starts from the back of the head diverging to the neck, the eyes and other muscles and can be painful on both sides of the head.
- A migraine typically causes throbbing in one area of the head, some people also experience light and sound sensitivity and in some cases nausea. According to the American Migraine Foundation, migraines are more common in women than in men.
- Cluster headaches are severe but rare. This type of headache causes short one-sided pain in bouts which tend to recur over weeks or months.
- Rebound headache also known as medication overuse headache (MOH), is caused by the consistent use of medication treatment for migraines or headaches. Whether it’s over the counter medication or prescription, consuming too much of it can be problematic.
Remedies that can help relieve headaches
- Cloves are normally used to treat toothaches but they can be made into a cup of tea to relieve headaches. Cloves calm nerves thus, can be very beneficial in alleviating headaches. I have also read that using one or two tiny drops of clove oil can be mixed with coconut oil or almond oil to apply the forehead to relieve pain.
- Garlic can be used to relieve headaches regardless of which type you’re suffering from. The remedy is pretty easy: rinse the garlic, remove the outer layer, crush it, research suggests to boil the garlic but I would prefer to simmer it gently. This makes a garlic “tea”which can be sipped slowly to alleviate the pain.
- Ginger can be added to meals or made into a tea. It can also be used in powder form. A study in 2014 tested patients that suffered with migraines were separated into two groups; the 1st group took ginger powder the 2nd group took sumatriptan. The conclusion was that both groups had the same relief, however, it was noted that the patients who took ginger fared better, with less side effects. This is an interesting study to read because it clearly highlights the benefit of natural remedies in comparison to over the counter medicine. There is a link in the reference list below to the particular study if you would like to read further.
- Vitamin B2 or Riboflavin can be used for migraine prevention. According to The American Headache Society, it is possible that there is mitochondrial dysfunction in the brains of people who suffer from migraines frequently. B2 can regulate the imbalance. Magnesium and Coenzyme Q10 also known as CoQ10 can decrease the occurrence of migraines.
- If it’s low iron that’s causing your headaches, pure liquid iron can help. I have two examples to share.
Example 1
A much older friend of mine was prescribed strong iron supplements by her GP (Doctor). After she had taken the supplements for a while, the Doctor changed her prescription to a cheaper less stronger version which she didn’t want. I told her about the liquid iron supplements I take and why I stopped taking the prescribed iron. She decided to give it a try, it’s been over 5 years since she started taking the liquid iron. Needless to say she is more than happy with the pure liquid iron which she only needs to take once per day as opposed to taking the prescription supplements three times a day.
Example 2
I took my daughter to the paediatrician many years ago when she was about 6 years old. We were vegan at the time (not anymore). Her blood test results showed that her iron levels were low, I wasn’t surprised because I had low iron levels despite being on a carnivorous diet for a very long time. I informed the paediatrician that I didn’t want to give my daughter the prescribed iron supplements because they had unnecessary ingredients. I told her which liquid iron I was taking, she checked it online and was happy with it. She recommended the dosage to give using the liquid iron I was already using.
Dehydration, Lack of Sleep and Stress
Stay hydrated: Water consumption is ignored by a lot of us. Water is said to be the only liquid that cleans the blood. There is little to no evidence of juices and teas cleaning the blood. Kidneys use water to filter waste from the blood which is a very important function that removes toxins from the body through urine. A human body consists of 60 – 75% water depending on age and other factors such as body composition, thus, we should be drinking more of it.
Sleep deprivation: If it’s lack of sleep that’s causing your headaches, it’s a pretty straight forward solution. Most people don’t seem to prioritise sleep or if you’re like me, you try to prioritise sleep but there is always something else to do before bedtime which can lead to sleepless nights. Is it worth feeling tired the next morning?I suppose it depends on why you’re staying up late but the likely answer is No!
Most times when someone goes to bed late it affects their entire day and if it’s not fixed, it can become an unbreakable cycle which isn’t fun for you or your family. Sleep doesn’t sound like something we should think about setting a time for, we set a time for children but what about for us? It may sound silly but having a set time for bedtime really does help. Try and keep your phone away from your bedside table. Some people leave their phones downstairs while they sleep upstairs which is a very good idea but that might not be convenient for everyone. We’re so attached to our phones that the idea of leaving it downstairs could cause a restless night.
I hope you have found this blog post helpful. I think it’s the longest post I have written so far.
References
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7133498/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tension_headache
http://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/a32252572/how-to-get-rid-headache-naturally/
Wellbeing Corner 