A headache is a common disorder that a lot of people encounter on their daily basis. Headache pain can range from downright unbearable to discomfort, and it can disrupt every aspect of life. There are several types of headaches, but a tension headache is the most prevalent case. Migraines are less painful while cluster headaches are excruciating, but most of these cases happen in clusters or groups. Though most of the headache medications are designed to relieve pain, a few natural headache remedies exist. The following are natural ways to get rid of a headache at home.
Get Adequate Sleep
Lack of enough sleep can be detrimental to human health, and can even cause a severe headache. For example, a recent study was investigating the severity and frequency of a migraine among people that slept for a few hours and those that slept longer. It found that sleep deprivation resulted in a more severe and frequent headache. However, too much sleep can trigger pain, so enough rest is essential for people that would want to get rid of a headache naturally.
Limit Alcohol Consumption
Though alcohol consumption doesn’t cause a headache in everyone, studies have shown that excessive use of alcohol can trigger frequent headaches and migraines. Alcoholic drinks have also proved to cause cluster headaches and tension in millions of people. Alcohol is a vasodilator, meaning it allows free flow of blood and can widen blood vessels. Alcohol also tends to be diuretic, and this means it can cause excessive loss of electrolyte and body fluid through frequent urination. The decline of fluid level can result in dehydration, which can worsen or cause a severe headache.
Use a Cold Compress
One way to reduce the symptoms of headaches is to use a cold compress. You can also decrease inflammation by placing a frozen or cold compress to the head or neck. That will constrict blood vessels and slow down nerve conduction, which will ultimately make the pain less severe. Research has also revealed that regular application of a cold gel to the neck or head can reduce migraine pain significantly.
Drink Caffeinated Coffee or Tea
Caffeinated beverages such as coffee and tea are a natural remedy for severe headache pain. You can also use caffeinated drinks to constrict blood vessels, increase alertness, and improve mood, all of which can reduce the effects of the symptoms of a headache. Caffeine also helps increase the effectiveness of other headache medications such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen. However, withdrawal of caffeine has also shown to cause migraines if someone has been consuming a lot of caffeine and then quits suddenly.
Relax
Yoga is an excellent way to improve overall health, decrease pain, increase flexibility, and relieve stress. Practicing yoga can even help reduce headaches frequency and intensity. A recent study has shown that the severity and frequency of a headache tend to decrease more among people that receive both conventional care and yoga therapy compared to those that get traditional care alone. The study also found that people who practiced yoga experienced less severe and frequent headache pain compared to those that rarely practiced yoga.
Another way to relieve yourself of headaches naturally is to relax your mind. Stress is a common symptom of migraines among a large number of individuals. Start slow and alleviate anything from your life that might be causing you huge amounts of stress. Sometimes it is something as simple as having an untidy home. Decluttering your home is a great way to start the process. An easy way to get rid of bulky, seasonal, or unnecessary items is to rent out storage. There are a lot of options for student storage available for rent just about everywhere. Once you have tidied your home, you can move on to some of the bigger, more high stress issues.
Use Essential Oils
These oils can be any highly concentrated liquid that comprises aromatic compounds from various therapeutic plants. Essential oils are beneficial in many ways, and users can either consume them topically or through ingestion. Some of the essential oils that work well for headache pain relief are lavender and peppermint. For example, the application of essential oils such as peppermint has shown to reduce tension and symptoms of a headache. Meanwhile, scientists have discovered how effective lavender oil is in reducing headache-associated symptoms and migraine pain when inhaled or applied to the upper lip. A frequent headache has caused a negative impact on many people, prompting them to look for natural ways to treat themselves. Dietary modifications, exercises, and essential oils are all natural ways to reduce the adverse effects of a headache.
