Top 10 Natural Ways to Reduce Your Headache Pain
There are many natural ways to reduce headaches. Some people find that drinking lots of water helps reduce headaches. Others find that taking ibuprofen or other painkillers reduces their headaches. Some people find that using a humidifier helps reduce headaches. Other people find that eating a balanced diet and getting enough sleep help reduce headaches.
Unfortunately, many people’s lives often include headaches. From mild irritation to full-blown migraines, which can be incapacitating and require time off work, they can range in severity. Headaches are more common in those who work a lot or are under a lot of stress, which adds extra stress and suffering to an already precarious condition of health.
While it is tempting to reach for over-the-counter medicines when a headache begins, there are many other, more natural ways that can heal a headache.
The following list includes ten of the most well-liked and frequently utilized remedies, so the next time you have a headache, give one of these a try rather than reaching for the pill bottle.
1. Peppermint
Peppermint comes in many forms, including oils and tea, so everyone can find it useful in some way. Peppermint oil has anti-inflammatory and anesthetic properties that can help with a lot of things, like headaches. Peppermint oil is highly concentrated but can still be used in small doses; one possible use is to mix it with water, apply it to a washcloth, and place it directly on the forehead.
2. Lavender Oil
Lavender has been shown to help with a range of health issues, including sleep and headaches. Like with peppermint, the oil is highly concentrated but can still be used regularly. Possible uses for lavender oil in treating headaches include putting several drops into a hot bath or steamer, placing a few drops on a pillow at night, and using lavender shampoo.
3. Changes to diet
Modern-day diets are full of ingredients that our ancestors would never have imagined. It may not come as a surprise that our diet and certain foods we eat can cause some headaches. By changing our diet to include healthier foods, we can reduce the incidence of headaches. While this may not bring immediate relief when a headache strikes, there will be longer-term benefits.
4. Flaxseed
Flaxseed has many health benefits, and relieving headaches is just one of them. Flaxseed contains key ingredients such as Omega 3, which is beneficial in many ways. Flaxseed is easy to add to anyone’s diet because it can be used in cereals, salads, and desserts.
5. Almonds
Almonds contain the painkiller salicin, which has been proven to help with headaches, particularly the tension type ones. These can easily be eaten on their own as a snack, so they are a practical remedy that can be used at any time of day or place.
6. Cayenne
Cayenne pepper is good for you in many ways, especially when it comes to headaches and migraines. It contains an active ingredient, capsaicin, which is a natural pain reliever. In this case, hotter really is better.
7. Yoga
Some yoga positions relieve headaches better than others. Yoga forces you to slow down and relax, and the stretches and breathing techniques have several health benefits. Lying against a wall with your legs raised might stretch neck muscles that create tension headaches.
8. Avoid caffeine and chocolate
Coffee, chocolate, and alcohol are known headache triggers. Caffeine improves alertness and motor coordination. Energy drinks and other foods have significant caffeine content. Some people relieve headaches and migraines with caffeine. So, be careful when looking at caffeine’s effects and stay away from it if you think it’s giving you headaches.
9. Drink more water
Many headaches are caused by dehydration, and drinking water can relieve this dehydration and, consequently, reduce the headache. Some drinks are not refreshing and do not help with rehydrating the body, so pick the drink carefully. Water is guaranteed to rehydrate the body and will heal any headache that is caused by dehydration.
10. Apples & Apple Cider Vinegar
Traditional medicine and healing techniques have long used apples and apple cider vinegar. Apples and cider vinegar, in particular, are known to help keep the acid-alkaline balance in the body in check. There are other ways to take it, but a tablespoon of water is all that is needed.
Ten natural ways to reduce your headache are listed above, so the next time you have a headache, try one of these instead of reaching for the packet of pills.
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