Home Remedies for Headache

Home Remedies for Headache

Headaches are one of the most common health problems that affects most people at one time or another.

Headaches can be classified into three main categories: tension headaches, migraine headaches and cluster headaches.

Whether you suffer from sinus headaches or tension headaches, they’re unbearable to say the least.
If you find that headaches are taking over your life, you might be tempted to pop a painkiller.
While pain medication can offer quick relief, taking it too often can cause severe side effects.

Ginger

Well-known for being an “elixir for headaches”, consider ginger as one of the best natural headache remedies for instant pain relief.
The anti-inflammatory properties of ginger bring down inflammation of blood vessels in the head to help ease pain. As a digestive aid, it controls the nausea that comes bundled with migraine headaches.

Steep 5-10 slices of ginger root in warm water to make a tea. Mix equal parts of ginger and lemon juice in a tall glass of warm water with a teaspoon of honey as one of the natural remedies for headaches.

Instead of popping a pill for that pounding sinus headache, crush a fresh piece of ginger or add a tablespoon of ginger powder to a pot of boiling water.
Inhale the steam for a few minutes and you’ll be up and running in no time.

Lavender Oil: 

Not only does lavender have a beautiful fragrance - it's also a great remedy for alleviating headaches. 

Simply smelling the soothing scent of lavender essential oil helps, so you can just put a few drops on a tissue and inhale it.
You can also add 2 drops of lavender oil to two cups of boiling water and inhale the steam.
Another option is to mix two or three drops in one tablespoon of almond oil or olive oil and massage your forehead with it.
"You can even draw a foot bath of lavender oil and peppermint, since the hot water draws blood to your feet and the aroma relaxes you",
 suggests Dr. Manoj K. Ahuja, Healing Touch Hospital.

 Mint Juice

Menthol and menthone are the primary components of mint which are very effective in alleviating headaches.

Extract mint juice from a handful of mint leaves and apply it on forehead and temples to treat headache.

You can also place mint tea compresses on the forehead to relieve discomfort. Along with mint juice, corainder juice is also effective in treating headaches.

 Cloves 

 Cloves  can be used to ease a throbbing headache due to its cooling and pain-relieving properties. 

 Crush a few cloves gently and put them in a sachet or a clean handkerchief. Inhale the smell of the crushed cloves whenever you have a headache until you get some relief from the pain.
 You can also put 2 drops of clove oil in a tablespoon of coconut oil plus sea salt and gently massage your forehead and temples with it.

  Basic Stretches

A few simple exercises to stretch your head and neck can help reduce the intensity of the headache.
Move your chin upwards and downwards, left and right, and bend your neck sideways towards each shoulder.
You can also try to slowly rotate the neck in clockwise and anticlockwise directions to help the shoulder and neck muscles relax.

Ice Pack

The cold from ice helps reduce inflammation that contributes to headaches. Plus, it has a numbing effect on the pain.

Applying an ice pack to the back of your neck can give you relief from a migraine headache.
You can also place a washcloth dipped in ice-cold water over your head for five minutes. Repeat the process several times.
Alternatively, you can use a bag of frozen vegetables as a cold compress. Within half an hour you will feel some relief.
So when a headache looms, you know what to do