Headache Cures

Migraine Headache Premonitory Signs

Some people seem able to able to predict a migraine attack with non-headache symptoms, hours or the day before a headache. Typical non-headache symptoms are, tiredness, difficulty concentrating or stiff necks, so if you discover these or other symptoms apply to you, you will be ready to do something to avoid or get ready to treat the migraine at its earliest stages, another reason for keeping that headache diary.

Natural Preventative Remedies

Many people prefer to seek a more natural approach than synthetic pharmaceutical drugs; these are some that you may like to consider below.

Herbal Remedies For Migraines

Feverfew

Feverfew (not to taken if pregnant or nursing) is recommended for its ability to prevent or reduce the frequency of migraines when taken on a daily basis, either as one or two fresh leaves or more conveniently bought as capsules.

It usually has few side effects, but eating fresh leaves can result in mouth sores, taking the capsule form prevents this.

Research suggests that one of the active ingredients of feverfew, called parthenolide, taken as an extract of the whole leaf, should be taken as a minimum daily dose of 250mg to stop or reduce the number and severity of migraines. It takes about 6 weeks to take effect. .

Gingko Biloba

Gingko Biloba also may be effective in treating migraines and some tension headaches by improving blood circulation, reducing inflammation and inhibiting the production of “platelet-activating factor” that may be linked to migraine headaches.

For Tension Headaches

There are a number of herbal products for treating the pain of these types of headaches, working either as a sedative to make you feel calmer and reduce stress, or as an anti-spasmodics.

Anti-spasmodics decrease muscle tension in the head and neck and also to relax the muscles that constrict the arteries in the neck reducing blood flow to the brain.

See section on Headache Relief

When You Have One They can also help prevent headaches before they occur by helping to reduce the effects of stress.

Non-Prescription Medication

Over the Counter (OTC) Medication There are a large number of over the counter (OTC) medications for pain relief in general and for headaches in particular. It is always wise to get advice from the pharmacist or health professional about your type of headache and especially if you are on other medication. Never take more than recommended dose. If you are taking painkillers regularly for headaches, or other pain relief see warning about rebound headaches in the Headache Triggers section of this site.

Osteopaths

See chiropractors.

Postural Training Regimes

Bad posture in moving when, walking, running or lifting or holding poor positions when sitting, working at the computer or watching TV are all examples of things that can be corrected by postural training. Bad posture causes headaches by strain or injury to muscles particularly to the back, neck and shoulders, or it can affect healthy blood and oxygen supply to the body including the brain. The 3 systems listed below offer much more in the way of health benefits than just headache relief.

Alexander Technique  – can help with tension headaches and migraine headaches by reducing physical and mental stresses.

This is a method of learning how to get rid of harmful tension in your body. It uses simple practical methods to improve freedom of movement when carrying out everyday activities such as, standing, walking, lifting, lying down etc. and by only using the appropriate effort giving you more energy to use for other activities.

Pilates – can help with tension headaches and migraine headaches by reducing physical and mental stresses.

Is a modern form of body conditioning developed about 80 years ago, by a German athlete. It focuses on developing core strength and elongating the spine and working towards awareness of the whole body posture. It is more about body conditioning than a cardio-vascular workout. Like Yoga it focuses on breathing and concentration, both of which can help with stress relief and the related headaches.

Yoga – can help with tension headaches and migraine headaches by reducing physical and mental stresses.

Yoga is an ancient physical fitness system that focuses on physical and mental well being of the individual, it is often considered more of a lifestyle choice. It includes concentrating on correct breathing and meditation both of which reduce stress and hence can reduce or prevent the related headaches.

Psychotherapy and Counselling

Past life events often lead to stress and depression both of which lead to or cause an increase in headaches. Dealing with these problems in therapy can get to the root cause of many headaches, otherwise you are only dealing with symptoms that are likely to persist.

Relaxation and Stress Relief

Headaches often result from stress of the body or mind, often both, it is well recognised that prolonged mental stress can result in actual physical changes in the body.

These changes including increased muscle tension often happen subconsciously, we don’t notice how stiffly we hold our neck and shoulders, how often have you seen someone under stress subconsciously rubbing their neck and shoulders.

These changes often result in tension headaches, chronic persistent headaches and migraines. It is not possible to avoid all stress and it is not bad in itself, it is necessary, it can provide energy and motivation to get something done, it is only problematical when the stress is prolonged and nothing is done to counteract its effects.

Sleep – Too Little or Too Much

Sleep is vital to maintaining one’s health generally, a person can survive longer without food and water than they can without sleep!

Sleep can have a particular relevance to headaches depending on what type of headache you suffer from.

Lack of sleep alone can cause headaches, but also it leaves a person less able to deal with stress, this can have a significant effect on tension headaches for example, where the muscle tension results from mental stress, and also migraine headaches can result but here the link is less clear, although it may result from a decrease in the body’s ability to deal healthily with stress.

Too much sleep may result in the “weekend headache” following a lay in, assuming not linked to “caffeine withdrawal” see earlier, it may result in postural tension headaches, even laying down there are always certain muscles under tension, particularly if your bed or pillow is not giving the correct support if it is too soft or too hard.

Cluster headaches can be triggered by taking an afternoon “nap”, thus it is better to have better sleep at night time so that you are less likely to need or be tempted to take a nap during the day.