{"id":3501,"date":"2019-02-01T07:03:36","date_gmt":"2019-02-01T07:03:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/?p=3501"},"modified":"2021-05-25T14:47:53","modified_gmt":"2021-05-25T14:47:53","slug":"20-home-remedies-for-headaches-without-going-to-the-pharmacy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/20-home-remedies-for-headaches-without-going-to-the-pharmacy\/","title":{"rendered":"20 Home Remedies for Headaches without going to the Pharmacy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Headaches are a common nuisance that most of us have just learned to accept. These annoyances can come in all intensities from minor discomfort to head-splitting torture. Some can become so bad that they disrupt your daily routine and affect your performance at work. There are various types of headaches. The most common type of headaches is tension headaches. On the other hand, cluster headaches come in painful groups, or clusters, as their name suggests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Migraines describe a more severe form of a headache. While there are various medications that claim to relieve these ubiquitous disturbances, there are also many natural treatments available that can be just as effective without bringing all the side effects that conventional treatments would. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Often times it\u2019s best to explore the natural options available to you before you resort to taking pills. The same rule holds true for headaches. Today we\u2019re going to go over eight of the most effective headache remedies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Drink water
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Dehydration <\/a>could lead to the development of headaches. There are many studies proving that chronic dehydration is the leading cause of migraines and tension headaches. Luckily, the same studies also show that you can relieve the symptoms of your headaches by drinking water. Drink small amounts of water frequently and you should see most or all of your symptoms subside anywhere from half an hour to three hours. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beyond headaches, dehydration can also make it harder for you to concentrate and even make you more irritable than normal. When all these symptoms combine, it makes for a cocktail of misery. If you want to avoid dehydration-induced headaches, be sure to get enough water and eat some moisture-rich foods. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you don\u2019t drink water very often, including cabbage in your diet could help you get the moisture that your body and mind needs to operate at optimal efficiency since cabbage is mostly water anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Take Some Magnesium
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Magnesium <\/a>is a mineral that is responsible for a large number of crucial bodily functions. These include nerve transmission and blood sugar control. Magnesium has also shown potential as a headache remedy \u2014 proving to be both effective in safe throughout the tests conducted on it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Studies have shown that many people who get migraines frequently have a magnesium deficiency. While correlation is not necessarily causation it\u2019s definitely enough to justify further study on the topic. Researchers have concluded that treatment consisting of 600 mg of magnesium citrate administered orally once a day was effective in reducing the severity as well as the frequency of these migraines. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All that being said, there are some potential side effects to taking magnesium supplements, specifically in the digestive side of things. That being the case, it\u2019s important that you start with a smaller dose to treat your headache and slowly up the dosage if necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Limit Alcohol
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Drinking alcohol <\/a>doesn\u2019t lead to a headache for many people, but researchers have found that a third of the people who experience frequent headaches could see them triggered by consuming alcohol. Cluster headaches and tension headaches have also been caused by alcohol-based on the studies conducted. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alcohol is a vasodilator which means it widens your blood vessels so that blood can flow more freely. Vasodilation could cause headaches, especially for those who already struggle with frequent migraines. This should come as no surprise considering the fact that blood pressure medications in which are also vasodilators can bring headaches as one of their side effects. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As if all that wasn\u2019t enough, alcohol is also a diuretic which will drain your body of the electrolytes and fluid it needs since you\u2019ll be urinating more frequently. All this drainage of fluids could dehydrate you which as mentioned above can cause and worsen headaches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Get Adequate Sleep
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Sleep deprivation is never a good idea. It brings a myriad of adverse effects and will significantly reduce your productivity. Pulling all-nighters, especially on a regular basis, can be very detrimental to your overall health. Not only that, studies have also suggested that sleep deprivation could be a cause for headaches <\/a>in some. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There was one particular study that compared the headache severity and frequency for those who got under six hours of sleep each night to those who slept longer than six hours each night. It concluded that the participants who got less sleep had more severe and frequent headaches than the participants who were getting enough sleep daily. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That said, it\u2019s important not to overdo it and go into hibernation just to avoid headaches. Research has shown that getting too much sleep can also cause headaches. If you want a natural remedy to your headaches that involves sleep, you should get just the right amount, no more, no less.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Avoid Foods High in Histamine
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Histamine <\/a>is a chemical that you can find in your body under normal circumstances. It plays an important part in your nervous, immune, and digestive systems. You\u2019ll also find it in various food items such as cured meats, smoked fish, wine, beer, fermented food, and aged cheese. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There has been evidence suggesting that the consumption of histamine could lead to migraines for people who are sensitive to it. There are some people who aren\u2019t able to properly excrete histamine from their body because the enzymes who are responsible for breaking it down are impaired and unable to function properly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are some things that you can do to alleviate the adverse effects of histamine though. If you get headaches frequently, you could reduce the amount of food you eat that has high histamine content, or even cut it out of your diet altogether. It all depends on how far you\u2019re willing to go to get rid of your headaches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Use Essential Oils
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You probably hear the term \u201cessential oil\u201d used loosely. To give you an accurate description, the term essential oil<\/a> is used to describe concentrated liquids containing aromatic compounds from various plants. There are many benefits that you can get by using essential oils. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most essential oils are used topically but there are a select few that can be ingested. Be cautious when using ingestible essential oils and be sure to read the list of side effects as well as proper dosage instructions to avoid any issues. When it comes to alleviating headaches, lavender and peppermint essential oils are gonna be your best bet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you apply peppermint essential oil to your temples, you\u2019ll see an immediate reduction in the severity of your tension headache symptoms. For more severe headaches such as migraines, lavender oil has been a proven remedy. Lavender is often inhaled or applied to the upper lip as opposed to being used topically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Try a B-Complex Vitamin
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The B-complex that you so often hear about is a group of micronutrients that have crucial roles in your body. For instance, they help you convert food into energy and contribute to neurotransmitter <\/a>synthesis. There has been evidence suggesting that some of the B vitamins could be effective as a preventative measure to headaches. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Various studies show that riboflavin, pyridoxine, and folate \u2014 all B vitamins \u2014 can reduce the symptoms of your headaches quite significantly. There are a total of eight B vitamins, and B-complex supplements contain all of them. Taking these supplements are a cheap and safe way to treat the symptoms or your headache while boosting your overall health in the process rather than compromising it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most doctors agree that it is safe to take B vitamins regularly. The reason behind this consensus is the fact that B vitamins can be flushed out through urination since they are water-soluble.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Soothe Pain with a Cold Compress
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Cold compresses are another easy way to alleviate the symptoms of your headache at home without resorting to popping some pills. Applying frozen or cold compresses to the head or neck area can decrease inflammation, constrict your blood vessels<\/a>, and slow down the nerve conduction. All of these reactions working in unison can mitigate the pain that you feel in your headaches. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There was one particular study that consisted of 28 participants, all women. They applied a cold gel pack to their head and reported that the level of pain they felt in their migraine was significantly reduced. If you want to try a cold compress, all you need to do is grab a waterproof bag, fill it up with ice, then wrap it in a clean towel. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can then apply it to your temples, head, or at the back of the neck. There\u2019s no sweet spot that works for everyone so do some experimenting to find which spot gives you the most relief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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9. Warm Compress<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve discussed already how a cold compress can help to improve headaches by numbing the discomfort. But did you know that a warm compress can also have the same effect? The reason for this is that a warm compress will be able to relax the muscles around the temples and scalp, which are often responsible for a particular type of headache called a \u2018tension headache\u2019. At the same time, a warm compress will help to stimulate blood flow<\/a> to the area, which is often one of the main things that cause the headache in the first place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, warmth is generally relaxing and numbing in a similar manner to cold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make sure not to use too much heat, which can actually exacerbate a headache or even cause more damage. Consider using a hot water bottle topped off with some cold water and pressed against a cloth, or consider creating a rice sock by filling a sock with rice and then microwaving it just for a short time to help it absorb some of the heat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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10. Massage Your Temples<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another similar method is just to apply a gentle massage <\/a>to the sides of the head at the temples. This has a number of great benefits. For one, the touch can simply be distracting and help to get you to concentrate on something other than the pain \u2013 remember that pain is actually largely psychological.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the same time, the message will once again help to relax the muscles that might be overly tense around your face and which could thereby be causing pain by squeezing your head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the same time, this will again help to encourage blood flow to the brain and thereby ensure that a lack of energy and oxygen is not what is causing the pain in the first place. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Massaging around the rest of the head can also be similarly effective. Massage the back of the head at the base of the neck and the top of the head. Even just stroking the hair can help to relax the scalp. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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11. Massage Your Body<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While massaging the temples and heads are very effective ways to combat a headache, in fact, you can ease a headache by relaxing any part of the body. This is particularly true of the neck area, due to something called muscle irradiation. That phrase refers to the fact that when you tense one area of your body, the surrounding areas will often contract also. If you relax the neck and shoulders therefore, you can often effectively release tension <\/a>in the scalp as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Massaging anywhere else will similarly help to combat stress and encourage general relaxation and calm. Better yet, get someone else to conduct the massage using their bare fingers against your back. Being touched by another person \u2013 even just for a hug \u2013 can help to stimulate the release of endorphins (feel-good hormones) which act as natural pain killers in order to suppress discomfort such as headache.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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12. Use Meditation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another great way to combat headache is through the use of meditation<\/a>. Meditation is very effective at reducing stress, as it gives you the ability to focus on something other than the thing you are worrying about. Seeing as stress is a common cause of headache in the first place, then being able to escape to a different \u2018place\u2019 can be a fantastic way to find a calm and a stillness in yourself that can help to eradicate the pain and discomfort of a bad headache.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This can also help to reduce headaches in the long term by fighting chronic stress. In other words, by using meditation, you can learn to get less stressed out regularly in the first place, and this, in turn, can help you to avoid frequent headaches by preventing tension, overthinking, and the production of stimulatory neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine and cortisol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Headaches are not \u2018all in your head\u2019 as it were, but they are often an example of a psychosomatic illness \u2013 meaning that your state of mind can greatly increase or diminish their severity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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13. Breathe<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A lack of oxygen is one of the most common causes for the headache of all. If you have common head pain, then this is often due to a lack of energy reaching the brain. If you hold your breathe for a long time, or run up the stairs, then you will often find that it makes you feel dizzy <\/a>and lightheaded. Over time, poor breathing can cause this to happen on a more regular basis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, many of us do not breathe correctly. It\u2019s common for us to breathe through our chests rather than our stomachs for instance \u2013 which means we inhale from the top of the lungs rather than the bottom and therefore take in less oxygen. On the other hand, if you are stressed then you might find yourself breathing rapidly. Contrary to popular belief, this actually provides the oxygen with less <\/em>useable oxygen, not more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have a headache, or if you feel confused or light-headed, then taking a moment out to just breathe deeply \u2013 letting the oxygen fully inflate your lungs and relaxing your abdomen as you do \u2013 can be a highly effective way to combat that discomfort. Make this a habit, and you might find you get fewer headaches in the first place altogether.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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14. Drink Coconut Water<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Coconut water<\/a> is highly effective at combating headaches because it is extremely hydrating. Dehydration is one of the most common causes of headache as we have already seen. When you become dehydrated, the brain actually shrinks <\/em>and pulls away from the interior of the skull. Not only that, but a number of important processes in the brain rely on water to occur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But water alone is not enough to provide a healthy, balanced brain function. What is also important is that you have the correct balance of electrolytes. These are salt, potassium, and other important elements that help with the transmission of electrical signals in the body through water as the medium. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is one of the reasons we feel so rough after an intense workout: you\u2019ve not only used up all your hydration, but you\u2019ve also sweated out a lot of salt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coconut water is supremely hydrating then because it is naturally isotonic. That means that it combines the correct balance of electrolytes as they are found naturally in the body. This is highly refreshing and can often improve a headache.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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15. Rest Your Eyes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the common reasons that we experience headaches is from eyestrain<\/a>. Contrary to popular belief, sitting close to a television or using a computer will not <\/em>cause this problem. Rather, eyestrain comes from repeatedly switching focus and suing the muscles around the eyes to do so. This happens for example if you are looking at a reflective screen \u2013 in which case you might find your gaze switching from what\u2019s on the screen, to the reflection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can solve this problem by spending some time in a dark room. Ideally, look for somewhere that is very quiet as well, and the combination of these factors will also help by reducing the amount of activity in the brain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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16. Distract Yourself<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another way to combat a headache is just to distract yourself. We\u2019ve already discussed how a temple massage can help to accomplish this, but just as effective can be spending a day with friends, or going for a nice walk outdoors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are great options because both of them will serve as distractions from your headache but without requiring further eyestrain or concentration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking with friends also has the added bonus of helping to produce those all-important endorphins <\/a>again \u2013 flooding the brain with feel-good hormones that have the side effect of being natural pain killers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t go about your usual business right now if you can help it \u2013 take a break from the computer or work and go for a walk with a loved one. You might find that this is exactly what the doctor ordered and that your headache is gone by the time you remember having one!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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17. Cool Off<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another common reason that we get headaches is that we have overheated. This will not only cause you to feel stuffy and uncomfortable but will also mean that your brain will get hot and trigger potentially painful electrical and chemical changes that irritate nerves <\/a>in the brain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, \u2018muggy weather\u2019 refers to warm weather that is famous for giving headaches. The exact cause for this is not fully known, but it may increase tension through various means and potentially make you feel nauseous. It\u2019s also possible that the heat may change your neurotransmitter balance \u2013 triggering mood changes that might make you irritable and\/or sleepy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The solution to this problem is to cool off. One of the very best ways to do this is to splash some cool water on your face, which will help to produce adrenaline to wake you up, to constrict blood vessels to support healthy blood flow, and more. This splash of cold can also help to provide a distraction from the headache and in general it\u2019s one of the very best tonics for a migraine there is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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18. Use Analgesics<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Analgesics <\/a>are painkillers. We\u2019re looking at methods you can use to improve your health here that don\u2019t involve a trip to the pharmacy \u2013 but there\u2019s no need to visit a pharmacist if you\u2019re just looking for a good old aspirin or paracetamol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Either of these things can help to ease pain and discomfort by blocking receptors in the brain that respond to pain. At the same time, something like an aspirin will work to thin the blood thereby lowering blood pressure and preventing the effects of tension headaches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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19. Eat!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Many of the different causes of head pain that we\u2019ve already discussed are due to low levels of energy <\/a>that trigger changes in the chemistry of the brain. Another way this can occur is if you have very low blood sugar, which can cause the brain to stop functioning as it should.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this situation, consuming more sugar, in particular, can help to provide the pick me up that you need and to ease your headache. This can also help if you are feeling very stressed, or if you are very tired. Both of these things are exacerbated by the changes in the brain that respond to low levels of sugar and serotonin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And remember: eating increases serotonin, and serotonin in the brain\u2019s natural painkiller! Something that will offer a short, sharp dose of sugar is likely to be the most effective in this endeavor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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20. Caffeine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re just going with \u2018caffeine<\/a>\u2019 here rather than any particular instruction, seeing as caffeine can be both a positive thing and a negative thing when it comes to headaches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you feel very tired and sluggish with your headache, then consuming caffeine can help by reducing the abundance of adenosine in the brain and by stimulating the production of stimulatory neurotransmitters that cause an increase in neural activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the other hand though, because caffeine is a vasoconstrictor \u2013 narrowing the blood vessels \u2013 it can also actually exacerbate some causes of headaches. Likewise, it raises stress and blood pressure which won\u2019t help with a tension headache or similar.
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