12 Natural Remedies for Headaches

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1

Eat Avocado

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Brijesh Chandwani, BDS, DMD, points to a 2018 study conducted by the National Center for Biotechnology (NCBI) to highlight the benefits of magnesium-rich foods, like avocados.

“Studies show that magnesium is more effective than headache medications,” says Chandwani. “Magnesium is intricately involved in several physiological processes of the body including muscle relaxation, blood pressure regulation, and nerve transmission. Foods rich in magnesium are green vegetables, nuts, and legumes. For example, a medium sized avocado contains 58 milligrams of magnesium.”

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2

Use Lavender Oil

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“Modern research suggests that inhaling lavender essential oil can be an effective tool in addressing migraine headaches,” cites

Kristin Koskinen, who is a registered dietitian and performance nutritionist for Mid-Columbia Ballet. “A 2012 study demonstrated that 92 out of 129 headache episodes were treated in part or completely when subjects smelled lavender essential oil for 15 minutes. Steeping a tablespoon of lavender buds in a cup of hot water for 8 to 10 minutes makes a tea that can promote relaxation and digestion.”

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3

Soak Your Feet in Mustard and Olive Oil

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“A simple self-care technique is to do a mustard foot soak,” suggests author and integrative medicine clinician Leslie Korn, PhD, MPH. “Take a bucket of hot water so that you can place your feet, and cover up to your ankles with hot water. Add a tablespoon of ground mustard, then massage some olive oil around your feet and ankles and soak for 30 minutes. The heat from the water and the mustard will draw down the vascular congestion and release constricted blood vessels in the head, bringing blood flow to the feet and alleviating pain. In advance of settling into the soak, prepare a cup of feverfew tea to also reduce headaches.

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4

Apply Menthol Cream

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“Rub some menthol cream over the tender knots in the neck, as well as the painful area of the head,” says integrative physician and pain specialist Jacob Teitelbaum, MD. “The cool sensation is carried by nerve fibers that act almost like phone lines. These same fibers actually cause the pain, but the cooling effect of the cream will tie up the phone lines so the pain doesn’t reach the muscles. Think of it as your nerves receiving busy signal.”

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5

Get More Sleep

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“Experts recommend getting seven to nine hours of uninterrupted sleep to help reduce daily headaches,” adds Adil Arabbo M.D., who is a family physician at DMC’s Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital.

Per NCBI’s 2005 study, there’s a direct correlation between your sleep patterns and migraines. Researchers found that 50 percent of its patients’ migraines were triggered by interrupted sleep. In addition, results showed that those who slept less than six hours a night suffered from more frequent and severe headaches than individuals who slept longer.

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6

Massage Your Neck With Tennis Balls

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One effective way to naturally relieve headaches is by giving yourself a massage using tennis balls.

“When massaging the neck region, take two tennis balls in a sock and tie the open end of the sock with the tennis balls next to each other,” advises Chandwani. “Now lay down on a hard surface, such as a hard floor. Use the tennis balls to apply pressure at the back of the head where the base of head meets the neck.”

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7

Enjoy a Warm Cup of Coffee

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“Caffeinated coffee can help reduce headache symptoms by constricting blood vessels,” says Arabbo. “Studies suggest that drinking approximately four cups of brewed coffee daily appears to be safe for most healthy adults. “

Backing up Arabbo claims, the National Headache Foundation states that caffeine contains vasoconstrictive properties that cause the blood vessels to narrow and restrict blood flow, aiding in head pain relief.

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8

Take Magnesium Supplements

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“Magnesium deficiency is very common in people who get frequent migraine headaches,” says Arabbo. “Often times, neurologists recommend 600 milligrams of oral magnesium citrate per day to reduce both the frequency and severity of migraine headaches. However, there are different forms of magnesium and not all forms are as effective in treating headaches.”

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9

Apply a Hot or Cold Compress

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“Using a hot or cold compress can be a simple remedy to relieve and minimize headaches,” suggests Michael Henri, MPthy, BHK. “Heat increases the blood flow to the muscles of the neck, whereas a cold compress reduces further inflammation by restricting blood vessels. Apply a cold or frozen compress to the neck or head for upwards of 15 to 20 minutes. For a hot compress, place it on your neck, just below your skull and cover the area across from underneath each ear for 10-15 minutes. Make sure you’re in a comfortable position with a pillow to support the compress so your neck and body can relax. Alternatively, you can use a small water bottle filled with hot water, which can pull double duty as heat and trigger point therapy.”

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10

Practice Yoga

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“Practicing yoga has been shown to help reduce the intensity, duration, and occurrence of daily headaches,” adds Arabbo. “Yoga has been shown to help with flexibility and decrease tension when practiced regularly. My preference, as a physician, is to prescribe the least amount of medications and allow the body to heal itself naturally.”

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11

Drink Water

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“Dehydration is a common cause of headaches,” says physician Chirag Shah, MD, co-founder of Accesa Labs. “Often, when we’re dehydrated, the pressure of the blood flowing to our brains is less than adequate, resulting in reduced brain performance and headache symptoms. Fortunately, in some people, drinking a glass or two of water can be helpful in improving a headache and more research is coming out to support this as a possible intervention. It is important to note that persistent or severe headaches may not respond to drinking water and are better handled with the help of a licensed medical provider.”

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12

Keep a Food Diary

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“Keeping a food diary is extremely important,” recommends Arabbo. “Certain foods may trigger headaches. Foods rich in Tyramine, Nitrates, and Nitrites, such as fermented cheeses and processed meats have been known to exacerbate headaches. Consider tracking what you eat and when the headaches occur.”

Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment > Fact Sheets > Yale Medicine

Overview

You may have heard of, or experienced, migraine headaches—recurrent attacks of pulsating pain that often occur on one side of the head. Abdominal migraine, though, is less common and poorly understood. Most often diagnosed in children, this condition, characterized by stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting, can lead to absences from school, emotional distress, and a disruption in normal activities.

The cause of abdominal migraine remains a mystery, as does the condition’s relationship to migraine headaches. Children with abdominal migraine often have a family or personal history of migraine headaches, find relief with migraine medications, and share similar triggers and symptoms. Evidence also suggests that as children with abdominal migraine age, their conditions evolve into migraine headaches.

How is abdominal migraine similar to a migraine (or migraine headache)?

Abdominal migraine and migraine share similar triggers, such as stress, skipping meals, exposure to bright light, and poor sleep. Foods containing chocolate, caffeine, and monosodium glutamate (MSG) are also triggers. Because there are so few studies on medications used to treat this condition, patients with the condition are often treated with medications shown to be effective on a migraine.  

What causes abdominal migraine?

The cause of abdominal migraine is unknown. “We don’t know the exact connection between an abdominal migraine and a classic migraine, but we do know there’s a connection between the gut and the brain,” says Deena Kuruvilla, MD, a neurologist and specialist in facial and headache pain at Yale Medicine. “Many of the drugs we use to treat depression, for example, are effective in treating an abdominal migraine.”

Who is at risk for abdominal migraine?

Abdominal migraines mostly affect children, with the first episode occurring between 3 and 10 years old. Most children seem to outgrow the condition, though abdominal migraines in adulthood are just starting to be studied. A child with a family or personal history of migraine headache has an increased chance of developing abdominal migraine. 

What are the symptoms of abdominal migraine?

The main symptom of abdominal migraine are recurrent episodes of moderate to severe stomach pain that lasts for between 1 and 72 hours. Other symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and pale appearance. (These symptoms rarely occur between episodes.) 

How is abdominal migraine diagnosed?

There is currently no test to confirm abdominal migraine. Your doctor will make a diagnosis based on specific criteria that details the type, frequency, and severity of symptoms associated with abdominal migraine. The diagnosis will typically be made only after all other causes of abdominal pain have been ruled out. 

How is abdominal migraine treated?

Once a child is diagnosed with abdominal migraine, treatment generally falls into two categories: relieving symptoms during an episode and preventing future episodes.

While there are few studies on the treatment and management of abdominal migraine, doctors may prescribe the following medications, based on their usefulness in treating migraines:

• NSAIDs (such as ibuprofen) or acetaminophen to relieve the pain.
• Triptans. This family of drugs is commonly used to treat migraine headaches and, if taken as soon as a migraine starts, can prevent symptoms from progressing.
• Anti-nausea medication. Anti-nausea drugs act by blocking chemicals in the brain that trigger vomiting.

Some studies have shown evidence to support the use of the following medications in preventing abdominal migraine:

• Pizotifen, a benzocycloheptene-based drug.
• Flunarazine, a calcium channel-blocking agent.
• Cyproheptadine, an anti-histamine.
• Propranolol, a beta blocker with potentially serious side effects, including depression and hypotension.

As with migraine headaches, one of the main ways to prevent future abdominal migraines is to avoid triggers. Parents, children, and doctors can work together to identify specific triggers and devise strategies to help children avoid them. 

What is unique about how Yale Medicine treats abdominal migraine?

At the Yale Medicine Headache & Facial Pain Center, we have an acute treatment unit, which provides intravenous infusions for severe, disabling headaches as a convenient, patient-centered and effective alternative to emergency department. Our neurologists specialize in treating headaches and facial pain in adolescents and adults. We are sensitive to the needs of each patient, tailoring treatment options to individual needs.

Our doctors also conduct research to understand the underlying biology of headache disorders and new possibilities for treatment. 

Types of headache | InternetAptieka.lv

Everyone has experienced a headache at least once in their life – a very unpleasant sensation that causes discomfort and reduces the quality of life. But if your headaches are regular and severe, you should definitely see a doctor to find out their cause and start treatment. In this article, you will learn what are the most common types of headaches and how you can alleviate them.

Why does my head hurt?

Headache is one of the most common complaints that people turn to a therapist, it affects almost every second person in the world.

The cause of headache is usually divided into two main types:

Primary headache – in this case it is difficult or even impossible to determine the specific cause of pain with the help of additional laboratory tests or analyses. Although this type of pain is often severe and has a very negative effect on the overall quality of life, it is not indicative of a serious or life-threatening illness. These can be migraines and headaches due to tension – the so-called tension pains.

· Secondary headaches associated with another disease. They occur with frostbite, head trauma, cerebral hemorrhage, meningitis, and after drinking alcohol.

Pain is a signal that something is wrong in the body. So we need to find the reason. By contacting a doctor, you can find out if the pain is a sign of a serious illness.

Headache in the back of the head

If you have a headache in the back of your head, you may be suffering from tension or tension headache. This type of pain occurs due to a long stay in a static position, for example, when working at a computer, knitting or other monotonous movements.

Approximately one in three people experience this type of headache, and it tends to be periodic – attacks can last from a few minutes to several days. Headaches in the back of the head or tension-type pains are considered chronic if they last more than 15 days per month.

Headache in the temples

Headache in the temples may be a sign of migraine. Migraine is a very painful, sudden and severe headache that can spread throughout the head, but is more pronounced on one side of the head, especially in the temples.

Migraines are most often accompanied by other symptoms – aversion to light, sound and smells. Nausea and vomiting may also occur. A migraine attack can last from 4 to 72 hours. At this time, a person cannot fully function, which makes migraine one of the most common causes of disability worldwide.

Frontal headache

Headache in the frontal part can be secondary and signal the presence of some disease. For example, sinusitis causes a headache not only in the forehead, but also in the cheek area, which is especially aggravated by tilting the head or coughing. Associated symptoms are runny nose and fever. However, if a runny nose persists, an otolaryngologist (ENT) or an ear, nose, and throat doctor should be consulted. If the headache is in the forehead, but there are no symptoms, the cause may be a tension headache localized in the forehead.

Headache on the right or left side

Severe pain on one side of the head can also be a sign of a serious illness. In the case of a brain tumor, the pain gets worse. It can also be localized, for example, pain in the head on the left side, aggravated by movement, coughing or bending over. Other symptoms include extreme fatigue, confusion, loss of consciousness, etc.

Another cause of sharp, stabbing pain in the head can be trigeminal neuralgia, which occurs suddenly – most often on one side of the face. A stabbing pain or, for example, a headache on the right side may be aggravated by cold. When you touch the skin on the affected side, numbness or burning is felt.

How to get rid of a headache

If you have a headache on a regular basis, it is worth making changes in your lifestyle:

Eat a complete and balanced diet,

900 02 drink enough water,

po opportunities to reduce stress,

·           

For secondary headaches, it is recommended to take various painkillers within 20 or 30 minutes after the onset of the attack. When buying drugs, please consult your pharmacist or doctor.

Chronic and primary headaches (such as migraine) can be treated with special preventive medicines prescribed by a doctor.

There are different types of headaches, each of which can signal a lifestyle or health problem. The question of how to remove a headache is always best answered by an experienced doctor or pharmacist – it is important to consult and find both the cause of the headache and the necessary solution to this problem.

A wide range of drugs for headache relief and recovery is available in the leading online pharmacy in Latvia – InternetAptieka. lv. Great prices and free shipping to your door guaranteed!

The 10 most important things you need to know about migraines and more

Today, migraines are one of the most common reasons for visiting a doctor. The disease, of course, is not fatal, but quite unpleasant, capable of greatly spoiling the normal rhythm of life. In addition to the classic drug treatment, there are various alternative techniques to help get rid of migraines, which at first glance have nothing to do with medicine.

Author
Elena Levina

Today, migraines are one of the most common reasons for visiting a doctor. The disease, of course, is not fatal, but quite unpleasant, capable of greatly spoiling the normal rhythm of life. In addition to the classic drug treatment, there are various alternative techniques to help get rid of migraines, which at first glance have nothing to do with medicine.

Recommendations for everyone who wants not only to get rid of a headache, but also to feel more alert and healthier.

Know how to relax

One of the main health problems of modern man is stress. Call it what you like – daily stress, pressure at work and at home, nerves – excessive stress impairs the immune system, and puts you at risk for many diseases. Don’t take it to heart, don’t get upset over every little thing, breathe deeply and relax.

Eat well

As the ancients said: “You are what you eat.” There is no doubt about the truth of this statement: we went well, and you feel good. Ate poorly (or did not eat at all) – you feel really bad. What does it mean to eat well? Nothing new: more vegetables, legumes, lean meats. Less carbohydrates, dairy products and fatty meats. More steamed foods, less fried and fatty foods.

Drink plenty

Drink at least 8 glasses a day, and some doctors say 10-12 glasses a day. It is especially important to pay attention to drinking if you have problems with pressure. Just to be clear, we’re only talking about water. Not about juice, cola or coffee. Only about water.

Sleep well

Organize your sleep. Clean and air out your bedroom, fluff up your pillow, prepare your mattress. And get at least seven hours of sleep a day.

Do not take “drugs”

Not only heroin, crack and opium are drugs. Alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, simple painkillers, and sugar are also ‘drugs’. Not all of them are highly addictive, but they all take a toll on the body, disrupting our nervous system.

Start moving

Moderate exercise is very important for good health, weight loss and normal metabolism. If sport seems to be something unattainable and difficult for you to do, just add some movement to your daily routine. No need to wear sweatpants and sneakers, just try not to use a car or bus if you can walk the same distance on foot. Take the stairs instead of the elevator, wash the dishes instead of using the dishwasher.

Have sex

Sexual activity is not only a good way to pass the time, but it will be good for your health.