Break the Ache

Occasional headaches can be a nuisance and really puts a damper on your day. In addition to disrupting your daily routine, a lingering headache can also be mentally and physically exhausting. Headaches can come on for a number of reasons. In order to get rid of headaches, most people resort to taking medication, especially aspirin, because it’s the easiest and fastest form of pain relief. However, you don’t need to run to the drugstore to treat headaches. There are several home remedies that you can try first.

First, you have to figure the cause of the headache.

  • Fatigue
  • Dehydration
  • Stress/tension
  • Temperature changes
  • Chemical smells
  • Allergies
  • Tight neck muscles
  • Exertion
  • Foods

    Once you have pinpointed what is causing your headache, try and eliminate the reason. You can also try some of these recommendations:

    1. Keep a headache diary. It is important in identifying, and avoiding, important triggers such as those things listed above that can bring on your headache. Document what you were doing, eating, drinking, exposed to, etc just before your headache began and try to avoid it.
    2. Massage/Physical Therapy. When a headache occurs get a neck/shoulder massage from a massage therapist. Neck and back of the head muscles get very tight when a headache occurs. Releasing this tension can almost always release the headache as well.
    3. Decompress. Getting some exercise will also relieve stress included muscle tension and a tension-based headache. Swimming leisurely in a cooler pool will unkink your tense muscles and almost always relieve a tension headache quickly. Walking or swinging your arms, loosens stiff neck muscles and helps stop a headache.
    4. Eat. Low blood sugar headaches and brain fog can occur from not eating regularly throughout the day. Eat carbohydrates and a protein, like milk and bread, or nuts and fruit, to raise your blood sugar back up, keep it stable, and get rid of that headache.
    5. Natural Pain Relievers. Try some natural relievers such as white willow back.
    6. Ice/cold, or heat compresses. Apply a compress to the back of the neck/head muscles can help unkink tense muscles that are causing the headache.
    7. Soak your feet. A warm water foot bath will move blood from your head to your feet and helps relieve the vascular congestion in your head that may be causing the headache.
    8. Magnesium. Frequent migraine headaches caused by muscle tension may indicate a magnesium deficiency. Try taking 400 mg of magnesium with a glass of milk and lie down.
    9. Valerian. This is a natural relaxant. A few drops of it in warm water can help you relax and de-tense you, helping end your headache quicker.
    10. Potassium. Potassium can help knock out a migraine, especially if you are deficient in it. It is often the ingredient in some prescription migraine drugs. Potassium is also found in foods such as potatoes, bananas, milk, cantaloupe, citrus fruits, and nuts.
    11. Relaxation/Meditation. Learning how to breath deep, relax and meditate to relieve a migraine.

    Headaches can be a real pain in the neck. Don’t let a headache put you out of your daily routine. Get right back to life with some of these recommendations.

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