Do you feel a dull throbbing in your head? Do you sometimes feel pain in the back of your head? Yes? Then, here are some natural remedies for painful headaches.
Headaches can occur on both sides of the head, can be isolated to particular areas, or radiate from one part of the head. It develops slowly and might last for hours or days. There are two main categories of headaches:
Primary Headaches
Overactivity of the pain-sensitive areas of your brain can cause Primary headaches. These headaches don’t have any underlying medical conditions. Due to genes, some people are more likely to develop primary headaches. These headaches aren’t that painful but can cause disturbance in the daily routine. Here are the types of Primary Headaches:
- Tension headaches
- Migraine headaches
- Cluster headaches
- New daily persistent headaches (NDPH)
Some lifestyle choices that can trigger primary headaches are:
- Alcohol
- Processed meat
- Nicotine
- Lack of Sleep
- Posture
- Physical activities such as exercises
- Skipped meals
- Coughing, wheezing, laughing, and crying
Secondary Headaches
Some underlying conditions like acute sinusitis, arterial tears or blood clots can cause secondary headaches. Some types of secondary headaches include:
- Dehydration headache
- Sinus headache
- Ice cream headache
- Medication headache
- Spinal headache
- Thunderclap headache
Natural Remedies For Painful Headaches
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Drink Water
Inadequate hydration leads you to develop headaches. Dehydration can cause problems in concentration and can make you more irritable. Drinking water helps reduce the occurrences of headaches. You should focus on drinking water and consuming water-rich foods like fruits and vegetables.
Also Read: What Are The Benefits Of Keeping Your Body Hydrated?
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Take Some Magnesium
Magnesium is a mineral that is necessary for bodily functions like regulating blood sugar levels and nerve transmission. People who have magnesium deficiency are more prone to migraine headaches. Eating magnesium supplements helps reduce the severity of the headaches. However, always take them in the right amount as excess intake of magnesium supplements can cause diarrhoea.
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Limit The Intake Of Alcohol
Alcohol can trigger migraines in people with frequent headaches. It can also cause inflammation, dehydration, and widening of blood vessels. Therefore, it is advisable to limit the intake of alcoholic drinks.
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Not Getting Enough Sleep
Inadequate sleep harms the body and can cause headaches. Sleep apnea, a health condition in which breathing starts and stops repeatedly, is associated with morning headaches. Insomnia is connected to severe tension headaches. It is necessary to get enough sleep, therefore, you should take 7-9 hours of sleep.
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Avoid Foods High In Histamine
Histamine found in aged cheeses, beer, wine, smoked fish, and cured meats can cause migraines in people who are sensitive to it. Some people cannot digest histamine properly, which leads to headaches. Cutting down on food which has histamines helps reduce the occurrence of headaches.
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Use Essential Oils
These oils contain aromatic compounds from various plants and have therapeutic benefits. Oils like Peppermint, Lavender, and Eucalyptus essential oils are helpful for headaches. If you experience frequent headaches, try diffusing the essential oils or mix it with another oil like Jojoba and apply it on your wrists.
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Soothe The Pain With The Cold Compress
Applying a cold compress to your neck or head area decreases inflammation, slows nerve conduction, and constricts blood vessels, which helps reduce headaches. Cold compress also helps reduce headaches caused by nitrate medication. You can make a cold compress by filling a waterproof bag with ice and wrapping it in a towel. You can apply the compress on your neck, head, and temples for relief.
Also Read: The Secret Recipe for Stress Relief
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Drink Tea or Coffee
Sipping on beverages that contain caffeine like tea and coffee can improve your mood, increase alertness, constrict the blood vessels, and help reduce headaches. However, if a person stops taking caffeine, it causes withdrawal symptoms that lead to headaches.
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Relax with Yoga
Practising Yoga is the best way to relieve stress, increase flexibility, and decrease pain. Yoga helps reduce the frequency and intensity of headaches.
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Try Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medical technique in which thin needles are inserted into the skin to stimulate specific points on the body. It stimulates nerves and pressure points in the body to relieve headache symptoms.
Summing Up
If you find yourself grappling with the throbbing discomfort of headaches, there are a variety of natural remedies you can explore to alleviate the pain and potentially prevent future occurrences.
