Home remedies are often a much better alternative to prescription medication. They are often far more effective than pharmaceutical drugs. Some patients may be uncomfortable with home remedies. Others appreciate the fact they are available without a prescription, have no nasty side effects and are far less of a hassle than obtaining prescription medications. There are natural remedies for all sorts of conditions including these natural cures for headaches.
Natural cures for headaches of different types
There are many causes of headaches. The cause of your headache will dictate which home remedy you need. Most of these tips are helpful for all headache relief.
Stay hydrated
One of the simplest home remedies for headaches is drinking water. Water flushes toxins out of your body. This alone can relieve the symptoms of some types of headaches. When you are dehydrated, you begin to lose essential minerals and vitamins. If you have become dehydrated through extreme exercise you may need an electrolyte drink rather than just plain water.
One of the things that can precipitate dehydration is a high sodium level. The high levels of potassium and calcium in milk can help counteract that.
Fruits, especially melons, are also high in water and potassium so are another good choice. Potatoes are also rich in potassium, as is chocolate!
Eat a healthy diet regularly
Low blood sugar is another cause of headaches. Eating regular small meals can help. Do not go for hours without eating.
Managing your blood sugar levels is helped by eating a healthy diet. You can do this by making sure you eat enough fibre found in vegetables and beans, healthy fats like olive oil and protein.
Magnesium is very important in avoiding headaches. Foods rich in magnesium include almonds, bananas, spinach, legumes and avocados.
Stress related headaches
Stress is a major cause of headaches. Lavender is known for it’s calming effect. You can add essential oil of lavender to a bath and relax in the comforting warmth. Also spraying it on your pillow can help you get to sleep. Obviously you also want to address the cause of your stress. Constant stress has a very negative effect on your overall health.
Herbal teas
There are numerous herbal teas available on the market today that can help to ease the pain associated with these types of symptoms. Two teas that can help ease a headache are peppermint and chamomile. These teas are natural diuretics. They help to flush waste products out of your body and this can stop a headache from occurring.
Feverfew for migraines
One of the worst forms of headache is a migraine. These can be really debilitating causing nausea alongside a headache that often results in flashing lights. Many people have to resort to laying down in a dark room. However there is a natural cure for headaches due to migraines. and that is feverfew.
You can grow feverfew in your garden or as a houseplant. It’s actually a pretty little plant with yellow and white flowers that look a lot like daisies. In some people it can cause sensitivity on the lips. To get round this you can wrap a few leaves in a small piece of bread.
The previous advice on eating a healthy diet is even more important if you are a migraine sufferer. There are some foods which trigger attacks in some people. Common foods that may be the cause include eggs, red wine, cheese, chocolate, onions and food additives in processed foods.
Coffee is interesting. In some people it can trigger a migraine but other people find it helps a headache because of its mild vasodilating effect. You should keep a journal of what you eat to see if you can find a pattern for foods that cause your migraines.
Keto diet headaches
The keto diet involves eating a very low carb diet and replacing the carbs with fat. This causes your body to enter ketosis when it starts metabolizing fats. In the initial stages of the diet your blood sugar will drop and keto headaches are common. The 3 main ways to help are to drink plenty of water, add salt to your food and eat plenty of healthy fats, avocado is a great choice.
Alternatives to medication
Perhaps you are not keen on taking medications and worry about the side effects that can occur. You should try these natural cures for headaches before you reach for the pharmaceuticals. If you are experiencing a headache, you might not want to go to the doctor or pharmacy. You may find that your headache can be treated through these natural methods.
Headaches are often part of our daily lives and most people suffer from them at some point. It could be owing to workplace stress, the pressures of juggling family issues or migraines. If you suffer from headaches you might find benefit from these natural cures. I would recommend giving them a try before you reach for the pharmaceutical medications.
