8 Home Remedies Tips for Headaches and Migraine
8 Home Remedies Tips for Headaches and Migraine
Headaches,
including migraines, are extremely common. Because headaches can stem from a
variety of causes, some headache sufferers seek treatment on a near-daily
basis. Fortunately, there are several home-remedy treatments that can help
alleviate migraine pain and other types of headaches. Read on to discover which
headache remedies you may already have at home.
Lavender Oil
Not
only does lavender smell great — it’s also a useful home remedy for headaches
and migraine pain. Lavender oil can be either inhaled or applied topically. Two
to four drops for every two to three cups of boiling water are recommended when
inhaling lavender-oil vapors as a headache treatment. Unlike many medicinal oils,
this home remedy can also be safely applied externally without the need to
dilute it. Lavender oil should not be taken orally.
Peppermint Oil
Peppermint
is a soothing home remedy that has been shown to benefit tension headaches.
This fresh-smelling oil has vaso- constricting and vaso-dilating properties,
which help control blood flow in the body. Headaches and migraine pain are
often due to poor blood flow, and peppermint oil helps to open and close the
vessels that promote flow. Peppermint home remedies also open up the sinuses so
that more oxygen can get into the bloodstream.
Basil Oil
Basil,
the strong-scented herb used as a topping for pizzas and pastas, certainly
tastes and smells good. And for people in need of a natural headache treatment,
the oil derived from basil plants can also be a useful home remedy. Basil works
as a muscle relaxant, so it is especially helpful for headaches caused by
tension and tight muscles.
Diet Fixes
One
of the most useful home remedies for reducing headaches and migraine pain
involves making changes to your diet. Certain foods have been shown to affect
the frequency and severity of headaches and migraine pain, including dairy;
chocolate; peanut butter; certain fruits, such as avocado, banana, and citrus;
onions; meats with nitrates, such as bacon and hot dogs; foods containing
monosodium glutamate (MSG); foods containing tyramine, an amino acid found in
red wine; and foods that are fermented or pickled. Keep track of these trigger
foods and your reaction to them with a food diary.
DIY Scalp Massage
Do-it-yourself
scalp massages can be an effective way to alleviate migraine pain, and they
feel great. Researchers in Brazil showed that massaging the greater occipital
nerve — the area in the back of the head, at the base of the skull — reduces
migraine pain. Massage in general has been identified as a useful home remedy
for headaches, especially reflexology (massaging reflex points on the hands and
feet).
Feverfew
Feverfew,
as its name suggests, is used to treat fever, but it’s most commonly known as
an herbal headache treatment. This home remedy became popular in the 1980s,
when a landmark study in Great Britain showed that 70 percent of participants
had less migraine pain after taking feverfew daily. Since then, more studies
have demonstrated feverfew’s benefit in preventing and treating migraine pain.
One study showed improvement in migraine pain among people who took daily
feverfew in combination with white willow, another herbal home remedy, which contains
properties similar to aspirin.
Flaxseed
Some
headaches are caused by inflammation, which can be reduced by consuming omega-3
fatty acids. Flaxseed can help provide headache relief because it’s rich in
omega-3s. Flaxseed can be used as a home remedy in several forms, including as
an oil and ground or whole seeds.
Buckwheat
Buckwheat’s
usefulness as a home remedy for headaches and migraine pain comes from a
flavonoid known as routine. Flavonoids are phytochemicals, which are found in
plants, and have been shown to contain antioxidant properties, which counteract
damage to cells. In addition, researchers in Taiwan have demonstrated the
effects of flavonoids on inflammation, a common cause of headaches.
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