There is natural relief for headaches
Headaches are one of the most common ailments people seek treatment for and come in different forms such as tension, sinus, and migraine headaches. They can be caused by stress, lack of sleep, not enough fluids, eye strain, diet, allergies, and many other factors such as precursors to illnesses and diseases. There are many ways to treat them by going a more natural route.
Trying to figure out the source of your headache is very helpful in treating it. If you suspect a dietary issue, keeping a food journal may help determine what you need to avoid in order to prevent them in the first place. Some people get headaches triggered by dairy products, wheat, chocolate, or other foods they are sensitive or allergic to. Sometimes doing a body cleanse will help by getting rid of toxins causing headaches. If you are dealing with a migraine, lying down in a dark quiet room may be helpful. For stress, relaxing the mind and creating inner calm may do wonders for headache relief. Take time to unwind, do some yoga, meditate, take up a relaxing hobby, or go for a walk.
There are also many natural remedies helpful in preventing and treating headaches. Below are some of the more common ones:
Basil acts as a mild sedative and can be useful for headaches caused by stress.
Black birch leaves have anti-inflammatory and analgesic qualities and are helpful for relieving headaches.
Black cohosh has sedative, nervine, and anti-inflammatory properties. It is great for relieving tension headaches.
Chamomile
Chamomile is a calmative, nervine, and sedative. Having anti-inflammatory properties, chamomile helps relieve headaches along with nervous tension, making it great for headaches induced by stress. It is a great addition to herbal teas, and is also useful for helping to calm the body for sleep.
Feverfew has been widely studied as a migraine headache preventative. It has analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties and must be taken for a few months to show its effectiveness, so don’t consider this herb a quick fix. Chew one or two leaves a day. Do not use if pregnant. Feverfew also causes allergies for a lot of people.
Lemon balm leaves have mild sedative properties and are especially helpful in treating tension headaches.
Peppermint is good for headaches caused by stress as it helps to relax. Add this to herbal tea mixtures.
Rosemary is a nervine and anti-inflammatory herb. Add this to herbal teas to relieve headaches.
Sage has sedative properties and may help relieve tension headaches.
Skullcap has sedative and nervine properties. This is another great herb for tension headaches.
Valerian root is one of my favorite herbs for really bad headaches which are hard to get rid of. It has sedative, nervine, and calmative qualities and acts as an herbal Valium with side effects or chance of addiction. It is very effective against tension and migraine headaches. Valerian should only be used once a day and for no longer than a couple of weeks at a time. Valerian can be added to herbal teas, although it has a really strong smell a lot of people can’t take, so it is best taken in capsule form.
The bark of white willow is well known for containing salicin, the source for aspirin. It is one of the most helpful herbs for pain relief and reducing inflammation. White willow bark is great for headaches.
