7 EASY HOME REMEDIES TO FIGHT A HEADACHE

WHAT IS A HEADACHE?

Headaches are common and are experienced by everyone more than once throughout their lifetime. This is a condition where one might experience pain in the face, forehead and even in the upper neck. This pain can be constant, sharp, dull or throbbing.

These could be caused by stress, lack of sleep, reaction to food or medications, dehydration, high blood pressure, acidity, indigestion, or tightness of muscles around the neck and the shoulders due to physical exertion.

Sure these headaches can be cured with just an Aspirin or a Paracetamol, more often than not. But here is a list of simple home remedies to save you a trip to the doctor or to a medical store.

1. DRINK WARM WATER AND HYDRATE:

Dehydration is one of the commonest causes of a headache. So this should be the first thing to get rid of. And hot water acts as a natural pain killer.

Drinking plenty of warm or room temperature water throughout the day and consuming water rich diet can aid in dehydration induced headaches.

Drinking water starts to show effects within 30 minutes to 2 hours.

2. TAKE A NAP

Another common cause of a headache is sleep deprivation. Inadequate sleep can cause various health issues including headaches.

Headaches can be caused due to sleeping too much as well. Getting the right amount of sleep is necessary for the better functioning of the body. Getting 7-8 hours of sleep per day is necessary.

During a headache, it is preferable to take a nap in a quiet and dark room for about 3-4 hours.

3. INCLUDE MAGNESIUM IN YOUR DIET:

Magnesium deficiency is another major cause of frequent headaches. Including Magnesium in your diet can help check these headaches.

Include the following foods in your diet to prevent such headaches.

• Milk
• Eggs
• Almonds
• Cashew nuts
• Peanuts or peanut butter
• Sesame seeds
• Flax seed
• Beans
• Tofu
• Black eyed peas
• Pumpkin
• Chia seeds

4. SCALP OR HEAD MASSAGE:

Massaging the scalp, forehead and temples helps in relieving headaches considerably. The massage should be done with the fingertips exerting bearable pressure.

Following oils can be used to soothe the headaches.

• Lavender oil
• Coconut oil
• Peppermint oil
• Ginger essential oil

Make sure the oils don't have a strong fragrance as that might cause the headache to worsen.

5. COLD COMPRESS:

Applying a cold compress is a simple solution to get rid of a headache. Things like an ice pack, cold water bottle, or any other cold item can be kept over the head or the neck or shoulder.

This will help in vasoconstriction, i.e.; it will help constrict the blood vessels which in turn will help reduce the inflammation that might be the cause of the headache. 

6. HOT OR WARM COMPRESS:

If the headache is due to tight muscles around the neck and shoulder, a warm or hot compress proves beneficial, as it helps relax the muscles.

For a warm compress, hot towel, hot water bag, heating pad, or any hot item can be placed over the neck and shoulders. A  hot water bath can have similar effects too.

7. GINGER:

Ginger has astounding benefits when it comes to headaches. Ginger soothes headaches and also helps in digestion if that is the cause of the headache.

Ginger can be taken in various forms like 

• Ginger tea
• Ginger essential oil (for massage)
• Ginger lozenges or candies
• Dry ginger powder

Fresh ginger can be added to day to day meals to get its optimum effects.