Natural Remedies for Headaches
Hydrate
The brain is composed of 73% water, and not drinking enough water can actually make your brain shrink—literally—from fluid loss. The strain from the brain's contraction due to a loss of volume can actually result in a headache. This is often why people come down with a headache after a night of drinking alcohol, which is highly dehydrating. So drink up that H2O, and you should find that a headache due to dehydration will improve in thirty minutes to a few hours.
Sleep More
Are you getting enough sleep? Studies show most people are not. The National Sleep Foundation recommends that adults over the age of 18 get seven or more hours of sleep per night. In fact, a 2011 study suggested that sleep deprivation raises the production of proteins in the body that cause pain and can trigger migraines. And another 2018 study closely linked a lack of sleep to tension headaches as well. So don't miss out on your Zs.
Take Supplements of Magnesium or CoQ10
Magnesium is an essential mineral necessary for a variety of bodily functions, while CoQ10 is a substance produced naturally by the body as a means to convert food into energy.
Magnesium is a popular natural remedy for headache-sufferers, and in fact research shows that magnesium deficiency is more common in people who get frequent migraines, compared to those who don’t. And another study demonstrated that 100 mg of Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) supplements per day reduced the duration, intensity and frequency of migraines.
Try a cold compress
It's no secret that using a cold compress can reduce inflammation, which is why we reach for the ice when we stub a toe or hit our funny bone. Cold temperatures also constrict the blood vessels, leading to a decrease in pain. For headaches, you can apply an ice pack to the head, the temples, or the back of the neck for cool relief.
Do more yoga
Exercise is a great way to lower the intensity and number of your headaches. In fact a large study of over 92,000 participants demonstrated that a lack of physical activity was directly correlated to a greater risk of headaches.
Yoga is a fantastic way to get your fitness in, and as a bonus it also relieves stress, improves mood, and improves flexibility, which can result in less pain and inflammation. One study researched how yoga affected 60 people with chronic migraines. Both the frequency and severity of their chronic headaches were lowered more among the participants who practiced yoga therapy and received conventional care compared to those who received conventional care only.
Use herbs and essential oils
A wide variety of herbs have proven effective remedies against headaches, both ingestible and topical.
Peppermint essential oil can relieve symptoms of tension headaches, especially when applied topically to the temples and/or forehead. Peppermint oil also naturally contains menthol, which has been shown to be effective against migraines as well.
Lavender essential oil is also highly effective when it comes to treating migraine symptoms -- particularly when applied to the upper lip and inhaled.
A 2008 study also suggested that rosemary oil has anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties. And another study found that eucalyptus oil was effective for relieving pain and lowering blood pressure when it was inhaled.
Lastly Helichrysum essential oil has been used for thousands of years to treat a range of medical conditions. It contains potent anti-inflammatory compounds that make it an effective remedy for many conditions.
Elanveda De-Strain blends lavender, peppermint, eucalyptus, helichrysum, ginger, and more as an effective remedy against tension and head strain. Learn more here.
Note : all information provided on this page is for educational purposes. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Leave a comment
Please note, comments must be approved before they are published