Traditional medicine says that when you have a headache to take two aspirin or aspirin substitute to relieve the pain. Even with migraine pain, treatment is generally focused on relieving the pain and not concerning itself with the cause.
Alternative medicine and natural healing focus on not only how the pain should be dealt with, but also with discovering the cause. By doing that, reoccurrence of the headache can be avoided.
Stress and tension are the number one causes of headaches. By learning to let go of the small things that irritate you, you take your first steps to preventing headaches. The old saying of, choose your battles, is very appropriate for keeping stress at bay. If you have little or no control over a given stressful situation, teach yourself to roll with the punches. Understand that nothing you can do will change the outcome, so learn to make the best of this type of situation.
Another way to get your headaches under control is by controlling your diet. Many foods will aggravate or ignite a headache. These foods can include, chocolate, caffeine, heavy red meat, cheese, eggs, fatty foods, alcohol and additives and preservatives in packaged or fast foods.
To help relieve the pain of an existing headache, try eating small portions of salad, greens and tomatoes. You can also try drinking warm apple juice or cider or hot water with lemon added.
There are numerous herbal remedies available to stop headache pain. Try a half teaspoon of any of the following tinctures, no more than four times daily. These tinctures are available at most health food stores or you can learn to make your own with the appropriate plants.
Dandelion
Feverfew - especially good for migraines
Milk Thistle
White Willow bark - contains the same salicin as aspirin
For tension headaches, several herbs can be taken in either tincture or tea form. All will help with relaxation and relief the stress that can lead to headaches. Most of these are also available in capsule form. Follow the directions on the labels for dosage.
Valerian
Skullcap
Chamomile
Passionflower
Rosemary
Spearmint
Nutritional therapy can go a long way in both preventing headaches and helping to stop one after it has started. If you are not already taking a good multivitamin daily, now is the time to begin. For headaches alone, the following vitamins are recommended by nutritionists.
Vitamin B complex - a good stress formula works well
Calcium - approximately 500 - 1000 mg per day
Magnesium - 400 mg per day
Vitamin C - 500 mg per day
Aromatherapy suggests compresses or massages using any one of the following essential oils. These essential oils can also be used in an oil diffuser to create a relaxed atmosphere.
Peppermint
Lavender
Chamomile
At many health food stores there are small bands that are worn on the hand that mimic the Chinese medical acupressure points. These work well to relieve both regular and migraine headaches. Acupuncture has been used very successfully to relieve chronic headaches and migraines.
Other things you can do for headache pain is mild exercise and meditation. Gentle stretches or a yoga routine will help loosen cramped and stressed muscles and relieve the pain in the process. Guided meditation will take you through the relaxation of almost every muscle of your body. As your body relaxes, you headache should fade.
Headaches caused by medical conditions, falls, head injuries, ear infections or other illness should be treated by a licensed medical practitioner. Often headaches are a precursor or a warning of another, more severe, illness. If headaches persist more than a day or two, see your doctor immediately.
