By Debra Williams
The Lord will guide you continually, watering your life when you are dry and keeping you healthy, too. You will be like a well-watered garden like an ever-flowing spring. Isaiah 58:11 (NLT)
A headache can often leave you down for the count and reaching for the stash inside your medicine cabinet. Dr. Oz has all-natural relief for your three most common kinds of headaches (http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/all-natural-headache-cures )
Instead of popping a pill, try these natural cures to relieve your headaches. Their efficacy proves that you can find relief outside of a bottle.
TENSION HEADACHES
This is the most common type of headache. It feels like there is a vice squeezing your head. Caused by the contraction of muscles that cover your skull, this pain runs from one ear to the other, around the front of your head. It’s often caused by stress and lack of sleep.
Solutions:
Peppermint oil
Apply this oil to your hairline; it creates a cooling sensation that relaxes the muscles in your head and neck.
Ginger Tea
You can buy fresh ginger at your local grocery store. Crush up an inch of ginger root and add it to boiling water. This homemade tea reduces inflammation in about the same amount of time as it would take an aspirin to work.
CLUSTER HEADACHES
The pain of a cluster headache is often described as an ice pick in the head because of its concentrated stabbing feeling. The name comes from the fact that the headache occurs in a cluster of days over several weeks. The pain is often followed by a runny nose or fever, so they are often known as “histamine headaches.” Cluster headaches are common in the winter due to temperature changes.
Solution:
Capsaicin Cream
The active ingredient in this cream is cayenne pepper. Apply a small amount to the inside of your nostril that’s on the side of your head where you are experiencing pain. The cream works to block nerve pain signals.
MIGRAINE HEADACHES
This one-sided throbbing pain causes sensitivity to light and sound and may cause nausea. Migraines run in families and women are three times more likely to have them than men. Experts believe that migraines may be caused by nerve signals that the brain misinterprets as pain.
Solutions:
Feverfew
In clinical trials, this supplement from the sunflower family has been shown to be effective for treating migraines. It reduces inflammation, which takes pressure off the nerves and helps to prevent migraines entirely.
Acupressure Massage
This ancient Chinese healing method involves applying pressure to certain points on the body to relieve pain. Place your finger in the depression between your first and second toe and press firmly for 3-5 minutes.
All headaches stem from either chemical, emotional, or structural problems. Instead of taking painkillers to alleviate a headache, it is more beneficial to find out the underlying causes of them to prevent them from happening in the future.
Painkillers only mask the symptoms and if taken in excess over long periods of time, they can cause other health conditions.
A MAJOR CAUSE FOR HEADACHES IS DEHYDRATION
To treat your headache naturally with water, it is a good idea to first find out what type of headache you have. First, there are chronic tension headaches that can result from stress overload, fatigue and even from physical problems, psychological and emotional issues, and depression.
Then, there are cluster headaches, which are categorized by coming in groups of one to four a day in a set cluster period that could be days or months.
Hormonal headaches are similar to migraines in that they affect only one side of the head, and they are also frequently accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and/or noise.
Finally, there are sinus headaches, which can be experienced after a cold or other medical condition.
Water can aid as a treatment to all of these headaches. In tension headaches, it was noted above that a cause can be fatigue. Fatigue is a side effect of dehydration. So, if dehydration is the cause of the fatigue and fatigue is the cause of the headache – start by treating the fatigue and get hydrated. Tension headaches could also be a symptom of other problems, so if they persist, it is a good idea to seek help from a medical professional.
Cluster headaches are also known to be cured by drinking water. A woman by the name of Margi contributed a piece of advice at clusterheadaches.com, reporting that her husband’s headaches have not come back since he started drinking a glass of water at least every hour. Additionally, the hot water from a nice, warm shower or bath can help relax those tightened muscles.
OTHER NATURAL REMEDIES
Peppermint Essential Oil – In addition to its mention at the start of this article, place a few drops of this oil on your forehead, neck, and temples. Breathing in the soothing oil can also help to ease symptoms. (Keep away from your eyes!)
Honey – Take two teaspoons of honey with each meal. Honey contains potassium and magnesium which will help relax arteries and allow more blood to flow to the brain.
Walking – If you feel a headache coming on, take a short walk. This will relax you and your circulatory system so that more blood and oxygen can get to the brain.
Mustard – Add 2 teaspoons of mustard powder in a hot footbath and soak your feet in the water for 10-20 minutes.
Cayenne pepper – Put ½ to one teaspoon of cayenne pepper in a glass of water and drink slowly. This will dilate your blood vessels and improve circulation.
In essence, when dealing with headaches the pain can be relieved by drinking clean water, avoiding caffeine, and applying natural remedies. Just drinking a few glasses of water whenever you feel you might be coming on with a headache might save you from taking many pills over the course of your lifetime.
Try several different remedies to see what works for you and kiss those headaches goodbye!
Watch these slide shows on headache-triggers:
http://www.webmd.com/migraines-headaches/ss/slideshow-surprising-headache-triggers
http://www.webmd.com/migraines-headaches/ss/slideshow-migraine-overview
MEDICAL DISCLAIMER
The information above is for educational purposes only. It is meant to be used as a guide towards health and does not replace the evaluation by and advice of a qualified licensed health care professional. For detailed interpretation of your health and specific conditions, consult with your physician.
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Source: https://www.lhfministries.org/
Contact Debra Williams (naturopathic doctor) at Life, Health & Foods Wellness Centre – Shop 7, 4 Springvale Ave., Kgn 10. Tel. 876-878-8867/876-326-4650, email: [email protected], website – www.debrawilliamsja.com. She is author of two books: “Recipes for Optimum Health – Healthful cooking” and “When Faith in God is Bigger than the Fear of Cancer.”
