Headaches are very common health ailments. They can occur without a fixed frequency at any time in the day. It affects most people at one time or another. We use our heads for almost everything and a persistent throbbing or ache can hinder our daily functions. However, many home remedies for headaches exist. These are easily available, inexpensive and have minimal side effects.
Causes for Headaches:
A headache is your body’s way of saying something is wrong. Dehydration is the most common factor for a headache. Headaches can also be caused by lack of sleep, physical strain on the eyes (staring at a computer screen for too long) or neck strain. Other causes are stress, the constriction of blood vessels, excessive smoking habits, excessive alcohol intake, abnormal neuronal activity or genetic causes.
Symptoms of a Headache:
- Pain in the upper head area, i.e. the forehead, around the temples and around the eyes.
- Severe pain at the base of the neck, and on the top of the shoulders.
- Pain behind the jaw.
Home Remedies for Headaches:
Depending on the severity and frequency of a headache, they can negatively impact our daily lives. Consequently, this can lead to a fast degradation of our personalities as most people suffering this ailment become irritable and short-tempered. For fast relief from headaches we usually turn to pharmaceutical medications. Yet we fail to realize that these only serve to aggravate conditions in the future. There are, in fact, many home remedies for headaches that are easily available. Some of these remedies have been listed below:
1. Hydrate For Fast Treatment of Headaches
The number one reason for headaches is dehydration. Studies have shown that an average person does not get their recommended daily intake of water. Drinking things that contain caffeine, sugars, and alcohol does not hydrate you. Rather, they serve to lend towards dehydration. Make sure to stay hydrated throughout the day. If you feel a headache coming on, then get yourself a glass of water and sip away at it.
2. Cold Compress Treatment for Headaches
Some type of headaches is caused when expanding blood vessels press down against nerves. One way to cure this type of a headache is to apply a cold compress pack in the specific points. This may help to relieve some of the throbbing pressure of headache. For this treatment, you will need a cold compress such as an icepack, or a bag of frozen peas. Then follow these steps to alleviate the ache:
- Lie down, or lean back and sit in a relaxed position. Make sure the lights are dim, or even turn them off.
- Place the cold compress pack on your forehead for a few minutes and relax as the cold works its magic.
- If it gets too cold in one place, switch up the positions. Do this by placing the pack in other points where you feel the pain. This can be on the back of the neck, or near your temples.
- In case the pain is concentrated around your eyes try the following. Dip a towel in an ice-bath and gently squeeze out the excess water. Place this on your eyes and relax till the towel warms up on its own.
3. Use Heat to Cure Headaches Fast
Another similar method to treat headaches is the use of heat. As with the cold compress method, some types of a headache can be cured by using a hot compress treatment. These headaches are usually caused by anxiety and tension. Using a cold compress on these types of headaches only serve to tense the muscles. Which in turn pinches the nerves and inflames the blood vessels. For this treatment method, you will need a hot compress such as a hot-water bottle, or a towel dipped in hot water. Similar to the cold compression method, follow these steps to alleviate the ache:
- Lie down, or lean back and sit in a relaxed position. Make sure the lights are dim, or even turn them off.
- Place the hot compress on your forehead for a few minutes and relax.
- Make sure to shift it around and place the pack in other points where you feel the pain. This is usually on the back of the neck, the base of your neck, the top of your shoulders, and the top portion of your back.
- In case you are using a hot towel rather than a hot water bottle you should leave the towel on these areas till it cools down. Then dip it back into the hot water, squeeze off any excess, and repeat.
Note: You can try the cold and hot compress treatments simultaneously to shock the headache away.
4. Cloves as Remedies for Headaches
Studies have shown that different smells affect our bodies in various ways. Aromatherapy is an excellent alternative to alleviate many stress-induced ailments in our bodies. Fortunately, you do not need to visit a fancy, and expensive, spa to take advantage of this treatment method. A wonderful spice, cloves have natural cooling and pain relieving properties that aid in curing headaches.
- Crush some cloves well and wrap in a handkerchief, or place them in a sachet. Smell this anytime you feel a headache, till it goes away.
- Alternatively, place a few drops of clove oil in a tablespoon of coconut oil. Mix this with some sea salt and gently massage into your forehead and temples. Wipe it off with a damp cloth after 20 minutes.
5. Peppermint to Treat Headaches Naturally
Peppermint oil is another item that can be used to cure headaches. This often provides fast-acting relief from headaches. This essential oil is a natural painkiller and muscle relaxant. Inhaling the diffused peppermint oil can also lead to headache relief and relief from sinus. This makes it one of the best home remedies for headaches.
- Add a few drops of peppermint essential oil into a tablespoon of virgin olive oil or water. Massage this into your forehead, temples and the back of your jaw.
- If your skin is not as sensitive, try directly applying some of this essential oil to the pressure points.
6. Ginger for Curing Headaches Fast
Ginger is one of the classic home remedies for headaches. It has been shown to provide instant relief. Ginger works by inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis. This is a process that makes lipid (fat) cells in the body. These fatty substances are the biological enforcers for processes like inflammation, as well as notifying the pain receptors (neurons) of pain. Normally you can take an aspirin to inhibit this chemical process. But this tends to further aggravate headache conditions in the future. Ginger is a natural alternative that is just as effective, but without the side effects. This super root also serves to alleviate nausea.
- Ginger root tea is an excellent way to imbibe this natural goodness as well as hydrate yourself. For this method, slice up some raw ginger root and add to a saucepan with 2 cups of water. Cover and gently simmer this on a low heat for 30 minutes. Enjoy a cup of this tea alone, or sweeten with a dash of honey.
- If you are more prone to headaches, try this: Mix equal parts of ginger juice and lemon juice. Dilute with some water and enjoy a glass of this in the morning every day. Avoid sugar, but if you need to sweeten it try honey. Alternatively, try this drink with a dash of salt.
- For another method, take 2 teaspoons of dry ginger powder and 4 tablespoons of water. Combine this into a paste and apply it to your forehead. Leave it on for 10-15 minutes and wash away with lukewarm water.
7. Cinnamon For Headache Treatment
Cinnamon has been held up high as a “miracle spice” for a number of ailments. With its high level of antioxidant content, and the presence of a particular compound called cinnamaldehyde, cinnamon is shown to have a positive effect on our bodies. Studies have shown that it is a good natural remedy for pain relief, for even up to arthritis pain! One of the main properties of cinnamon is its ability to target systemic as well as specific inflammation. This makes it a classic amongst home remedies for headaches.
- Grind some cinnamon sticks into a fine powder. Add some water to make this powder into a thick paste. Apply this paste to your forehead. Leave this paste on for 30 minutes. Make sure to relax in the meantime. At the end of 30 minutes, wash it off with lukewarm water.
- Another way to take advantage of the goodness of cinnamon is to drink cinnamon tea. Place one stick of cinnamon in a saucepan with 2 cups of water. Gently simmer for 10 minutes. You can add your regular black tea leaves and leave them to steep at the appropriate stage. Strain and enjoy this by slowly sipping at it. Optionally, you can sweeten this with a dash of honey and lime.
8. Apples as Remedies for Headaches
Apples and their byproducts have a long history of being used as natural home remedies for a number of ailments. The fruit, as well as apple cider vinegar, can be used as remedies for headaches. Apples contain compounds that aid in restoring the natural acid-alkali balance in our bodies.
- One way to use apple cider vinegar is to use it for steam inhalation. Prepare the solution by mixing half a cup of organic apple cider vinegar with half a cup of water. Bring this to a boil in a covered saucepan. Remove it from the heat immediately. Use a towel to cover your head and slowly inhale the steam from the saucepan. This is shown to provide instant relief from a headache and sinus too.
- If you are prone to frequent headaches, then add 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar to a glass of water. And to this solution add some honey and a splash of lemon juice. Drink 2-3 glasses throughout the day.
- Alternatively, try sprinkling some salt over an apple slice and eat that in the morning.
9. Cure a Headache with Cayenne
Cayenne pepper may sound scary when you look at the spice level. But it is proven amongst home remedies for headaches. This hot pepper contains a compound called capsaicin, which inhibits specific pain receptors in our body. As a result, it provides instant relief from pain and headaches. It also contains anti-inflammatory properties.
- To 4 ounces of warm water, add a fourth of a teaspoon (1/4) of cayenne pepper powder.
- Mix this well and soak a cotton swab in this solution.
- Gently apply this to the sides of each of your nostrils till you feel the heat of it.
- Although unpleasant at first, once the burning sensation subsides, your headache should be cured as well.
10. Fish Oil as a Headache Cure
Fish oil is another one of the home remedies for headaches. There is a compound present in fish called Omega-3. These omega-3 fatty acids not only promote health but also have been shown to cure headaches. Fish oil contains certain ingredients that may help reduce inflammation, blood clotting, steady the heart rhythm, and lower blood pressure. This particularly helps get rid of headaches as it may reduce inflammation of blood cells that swell and pinch down on the nerves. Try following this method to introduce fish oil into your diet and reduce headaches:
- Take one tablespoon of fish oil and mix into one glass of cold orange juice. Drink this mixture in the mornings.
- If the thought of drinking fish oil makes you squeamish, then you may replace it with fish oil capsules to get similar results. Fish oil capsules are available at any health store.
