From taking a magnesium glycinate supplement to getting a Daith piercing, the natural options for treating and eliminating headaches and migraines are vast. With up to 75% of all U.S. adults suffering at least one headache during the year, but many reporting considerably more, finding effective treatments is now a must. Most people want to find natural, non-invasive solutions for their pain.
If you find yourself in this group, keep reading. Here you can learn about some of the top options for natural headache relief.
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio
Drink More Water
If you are dehydrated, it can cause headaches. Studies have shown that chronic dehydration is one of the top causes of migraines and tension headaches. However, by drinking water, you can relieve these symptoms within a period of 30 minutes to three hours. Also, if you are dehydrated, it can cause irritability and impair concentration, making headache symptoms even worse.
To help reduce cases of dehydration headaches, try to drink plenty of water during the day and eat foods that help to hydrate. (Watermelon and cucumber being my two go-to’s)
Take a Magnesium Supplement
Did you know that magnesium’s needed for an array of body functions? It helps with everything from nerve transmission to blood sugar control and more. Also, magnesium has been proven as a safe and effective remedy for many cases of headaches.
Some evidence has shown that magnesium deficiency is much more common in individuals who experience regular migraine headaches, compared to people who don’t. It is a good idea to take magnesium citrate each day. Doing so can help to reduce the severity and the frequency of migraine headaches.
Reduce or Eliminate Your Alcohol Consumption
Even though having an alcoholic drink may not cause headaches in some people, alcohol can trigger a migraine in other people. It’s a problem for about 30% of individuals who suffer headaches regularly.
It’s been proven that alcohol can cause cluster and tension headaches in some people. It’s considered a vasodilator, which means it will widen the blood vessels and allow the blood to flow much more freely. However, this is an issue that can cause headaches for some people. The fact is, headaches are considered a common side effect of some vasodilators, such as certain blood pressure medicines.
Also, alcohol is a diuretic. It can cause your body to lose fluid and electrolytes due to frequent urination. This high amount of fluid loss can result in dehydration, which (as mentioned above) can cause or make headaches worse.
Get Plenty of Sleep
Issues related to sleep deprivation can be extremely damaging to your health in several ways. It could even result in headaches for some people.
For example, according to one study that compared the severity and frequency of headaches to those who got under six hours of sleep a night and those who got more sleep, individuals who got less sleep suffered more severe and more frequent headaches.
However, if you get too much sleep, you may also suffer headaches. This is why getting the right amount of rest is so important. Sleep is one of the best methods for natural headache prevention and relief. According to some experts, the “sweet spot” of sleep is between seven and nine hours per night.
Avoid High Histamine Foods
Histamine is a type of chemical that naturally occurs in the body, which plays a massive role in your body’s nervous, digestive, and immune system. You can also find this in some foods, such as cured meats, aged cheeses, smoked fish, fermented food, wine, and beer.
Studies have shown that if you consume histamine, it can result in migraines – especially if you are already sensitive to it.
Some cannot excrete histamine because the enzymes that are responsible for breaking it down do not function properly. By reducing your intake of histamine-rich foods, you can avoid frequent headaches.
Use Different Essential Oils
Essential oil is a type of highly concentrated liquid that contains certain aromatic compounds from several plants. They offer several therapeutic benefits, and most of these are used topically, even though some can be consumed.
Lavender and peppermint essential oils can be especially helpful if you have a headache. By applying the peppermint oil to your temples, you can help relieve tension headaches and the pain that accompanies them.
Lavender oil is effective for helping to reduce migraine pain and related symptoms when it’s applied to your upper lip and then inhaled. Getting a great deal on high-quality oils will require you to find the right supplier. With some online research, choosing the right company to deal with will be a breeze.
Take a B-Complex Vitamin
B vitamins are water-soluble micronutrients that play a huge role in your body. They help with neurotransmitter synthesis and work to turn your food into energy. Some B vitamins can be protective against headaches.
A few studies have proven that B vitamin supplements like folate, pyridoxine, and riboflavin will help reduce your headache symptoms. B-complex vitamins include all eight of the B vitamins and are a cost-effective and safe way to treat headache symptoms.
You can take B vitamins daily. This is because they are water-soluble, and if there is excess in your body, you will flush it out when you urinate.
Use a Cold Compress to Soothe Pain
A cold compress may help to reduce your headache, pain, and symptoms. By applying frozen or cold compresses to your head and neck, you can reduce inflammation, which will slow down nerve conduction and help to constrict the blood vessels. This is going to help reduce your headache pain.
Dealing with Headaches
When it comes to headaches, there are several reasons that you may suffer. However, there are a few natural remedies that you can try, as well. Try some of the suggestions we’ve listed above to help ensure that you can overcome headache pain and minimise the long-term effect that they have. Stay informed is going to help ensure that you do not have to deal with this discomfort and other issues caused by headaches, and finding what works for you will hopefully keep the pain at bay, and the bad days away.