Looking for Headache Relief at Home? Open Your Cupboard.
There are so many things that can cause a headache. Stress, dehydration, hats, headbands, computer monitors that are too low, and our sedentary lifestyles. Unfortunately, even some of the things we love can cause headaches. “Brain freeze,” anyone?
Even though headaches are common, they shouldn’t be ignored. In fact, headaches are your body’s way of telling you that there’s something wrong.
Headaches usually strike when we least expect it, late at night or when we’re working to meet a deadline. So, it’s a good idea to have a few supplies on hand for headache relief at home.
1. Home headache relief tip: Use Thyme and Rosemary
Essential oils are very popular these days. There’s no shortage of people trying to sell you their latest 100% pure essential oils that will cure seemingly every ailment. BUT, essential oils have been used to treat headaches for centuries and are backed by science.
In a 2010 study, it was discovered that thyme and rosemary oils contain carvacrol, a COX-2 inhibitor (the same enzyme used in ibuprofen, but without the side effects of increased chance of heart attack or stroke.)
Here’s what to do:
Put a few drops of these essential oils on your fingers and then gently rub them into your temples. You’ll be surprised at how quickly you’ll experience headache relief.
2. Home headache relief tip: Increase Your Riboflavin
Also known as B2, you can find riboflavin in almonds, sesame seeds, hard cheeses and even some types of fish.
Keep a handful of almonds near your desk at work or in your kitchen while you’re cooking. Instead of grabbing a handful of chocolate chips while you’re making those cookies, eat a few almonds or some cheese with a glass of wine and head of your headaches at the pass.
3. Home headache relief tip: Soak Your Feet in Peppermint and Lavender
Okay, I know that just the idea of a foot soak sounds heavenly, but it’s also super helpful in relieving headaches. The hot water draws your blood down to your feet. This eases the pressure on the blood vessels in your head that are causing your headache.
Peppermint and lavender combine to create a soothing aroma making this one of the most easy and effective remedies for headache relief at home.
4. Home headache relief tip: Neck Stretches
The most common type of headache is the tension headache. Tension headaches are caused by vertebra in the neck or upper back that have shifted out of alignment.
This can cause a muscle called the rectus capitis posterior minor (RCPM) muscle to spasm. The RCPM muscle is connected to a pain-sensitive tissue that covers the brain. When the RCPM muscle spasms, it pulls on that tissue and a headache results.
If you often work long hours on a computer, have a bad habit of hunching over your keyboard for several hours or you are constantly on your phone, you’re likely to experience these types of headaches.
By performing neck stretches throughout your work day, you can keep your neck muscles moving, preventing and relieving headaches on the spot.
5. Home headache relief tip: Drink Camomile Tea
I just got a tea bag holder. It’s bamboo and has compartments for several different kinds of tea. Now, instead of getting down several boxes of tea to sort through, I just take down my tea box and pull out the kind I want.
I have a whole section of camomile tea.
Not only does it taste amazing, but it has compounds that help to relieve pain and help you relax.
Here’s what to do:
Brew a cup of tea with boiling water, cover and steep for 10 minutes. Sweeten it with a little honey, if you’d like, and sit in a quiet place while you slowly sip it.
6. Home headache relief tip: Basil Oil
Basil is an herb used in pizza, spaghetti sauce, and most Italian dishes, but it’s an amazing natural headache treatment, too. The oil derived from basil can provide effective headache relief at home.
It works as a muscle relaxant, so it’s especially helpful if you experience tension headaches.
Basil oil, like most essential oils is available at most natural health food stores and online.
Here’s what to do:
Add basil oil to your vaporizer or humidifier and inhale while you sleep or throughout the day. You can also add it to a warm bath.
7. Home headache relief tip: Drink Water
It seems simple, but many headaches are caused by dehydration. When you’re dehydrated, your brain actually shrinks a little and pulls away from your skull. That can trigger your RCPM (your pain receptor) to cause a headache.
Get into the habit of drinking water throughout the day. Keep a bottle with a straw on your desk and sip it several times every hour. This will also encourage you to get up from your desk to go to the bathroom which will add the benefit of movement and stretching to your daily routine.
Headache Relief Through Chiropractic Care
If you’ve tried several of these home remedies and are still not experiencing headache relief at home, consider chiropractic treatment.
Chiropractors specialize in natural headache relief. By restoring motion to joints in your neck that are locked up or fixated, chiropractors alleviate the pressure on the nerves and increase the function of restricted blood vessels.
Through non-invasive chiropractic adjustments, chiropractors provide thousands of patients with natural headache relief every year.