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Headache Relief

A headache or migraine headache is not only painful and distressing, but can also disrupt your life if it stops you from working or going about your daily routine. It can be difficult to focus or concentrate when you have a headache; relief from the pain is sometimes the only thing you can think about. Headache pain is usually not as severe as migraine headache pain, but that is of little consolation when you are suffering and most people will look for headache relief at any cost. 

Not all sufferers can achieve instant headache relief. There are a wide variety of headache relief remedies available in the form of over the counter medication like ibuprofen or aspirin, but these are not effective for everybody, and some people would rather avoid taking these drugs regularly.  If you get regular headaches it is worth experimenting with various headache relief methods to see which ones work best for you. 

Here are a few of the headache relief treatments that you might like to try:

Headache Relief from a Cold Compress

A rush of blood to the head is a common trigger for headaches and can cause the beginning of a migraine. Applying a cold compress to your forehead and the back of your neck can slow the effects of this rush of blood bringing rapid headache relief. 

A cold compress works by constricting the blood vessels that have dilated to allow the blood to rush through.  Returning the blood vessels to their usual state provides speedy headache relief.  

One alternative to a cold compress is to gently massage your temples and the back of your neck to achieve the same effect. Dipping your hands in cold water, or using a few drops of cooling peppermint oil on your fingers can increase the efficiency of the massage, bringing quicker headache relief.

Headache Relief through Relaxation

As stress and tension may well be the cause of your headache, relief from headache pain may be as simple as relaxing in a quiet room for a few minutes.

Try to find a place where there is very little noise and you will not be disturbed. Why not book a meeting room if you happen to be in the office?  Switch off the lights, close the shades, and find somewhere you can lie down comfortably for a few minutes.   

Another way to relieve tension headaches is to smile! This might sound strange but the endorphins produces by smiling or laughing can really help with headache relief. Watching or listening to something funny or entertaining can provide headache relief both by making you smile and by distracting your mind from the pain.

Serious Relaxation therapies - when your headache will not be cured by light relaxation it may be that your whole body needs to relax. Here are three intensive relaxation therapies you could consider:

·         Autogenic training

·         Progressive muscle relaxation

·         Meditation

You can read more about these techniques here....

Headache Relief through Massage

Massage therapy can be very successful in relieving headache pain.  The muscles in your neck, shoulders and the back of your head can become tender and stiff, with pressure points within these muscles causing severe headache pain. These pressure points are known as trigger points. By applying pressure to the trigger points through massage, the pain can be effectively reduced and tightness in the muscles relaxed.

Headache Relief through Herbs, Supplements and Aromatherapy

Herbal Remedies - if, like many other sufferers, you are looking for natural remedies to provide headache relief, there are a wide variety of herbal supplements you can try.

Herbs such as 'Feverfew' have been used for over two thousand years and have proved to be very successful in diminishing the pain or frequency of migraines. You can read more about the following herbal supplements here .....

·         Belladonna

·         Bryonia

·         Gelsemium

Aromatherapy - for many people aromatherapy is their first choice in seeking headache relief. It is a natural headache remedy and has been practiced for thousands of years.

Aromatherapy is the process of applying essential oils which are distilled from plant materials, to foster better health and a feeling of wellbeing. You can use aromatherapy oils in a special burner, or combined with a base oil for a relieving massage.

Headache Relief through Acupuncture

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese therapy and recent medical research has shown it may be more effective than western medication for providing headache relief.

Many people are put off by the idea of having needles inserted into their skin, but there is no need to be afraid. Our editor underwent extensive acupuncture to effectively treat back pain and sciatica and didn’t feel any pain when the needles were inserted.

Headache Relief through Exercise

Exercise may be the last thing you feel like doing when you have a headache; you probably just want to lie down and do as little as possible.  However, before you decide to skip that trip to the gym, bear in mind that light exercise can provide headache relief for many people. 

Taking a brisk walk for thirty minutes or so can be enough to prevent a headache taking hold if you can recognize the symptoms early enough.  Going for a swim, or doing some other form of aerobic exercise can also provide headache relief, but remember to drink a lot of water and stay hydrated, or you may just make that headache worse.  

Headache Relief through Biofeedback

Biofeedback is a recent addition to the menu of headache relief methods. Biofeedback is about training your mind to recognize and adapt to responses from your own body and put you in control of your physiological activities, enabling you to relieve headache pain without medication.

During treatment biofeedback equipment will monitor your body’s responses by measuring blood pressure, activity of the brain, heart rate, muscle tension, and skin temperature.  Read more about biofeedback here.....

Headache Relief through Prophylactic Treatment, Pain Killers and Prescribed Medication

Prophylactic treatment - If you are experiencing recurring headaches then it would not be unusual for your doctor to suggest a prophylactic. In simple terms prophylactic treatment is medication that is taken regularly as a preventive measure.  Prophylactic treatment may reduce the frequency of headache pain and possibly the severity.

Here are some examples of prophylactic treatments available:

·         Beta Blockers

·         Tricyclic Anagesics

·         NSAID

·         Anticonvulsant

Medication - the most common forms of headache relief medication are pain killers, known technically as analgesics. Acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and aspirin are the most popular pain killers. However, when it comes to dealing with regular headaches or severe migraine headache pain they may not be the most effective option.

Prescribed Medication - If you are experiencing regular headaches and are finding yourself taking large quantities of pain killers, you would be well advised to consult your doctor in order to obtain prescription drugs that can give you more effective headache relief.

Summary for Headache Relief

There is no single magic cure for headache pain or migraine attacks that works for everyone.  A method that relieves headache pain for one person can make it ten times worse for someone else. While massage can be the perfect cure for a tension headache, it can also trigger a migraine in some people.  Caffeine can be effective at reducing a migraine as it causes the blood vessels in the neck to constrict, but its dehydrating properties can also make some headaches worse.

The only way to find effective headache relief methods for you is to experiment.  Keep a diary showing when you got a headache, any ideas about what might have triggered it, the headache relief methods you used to combat the pain, and the effectiveness of these remedies.

It is tempting to reach for those pain killers as soon as you feel the beginnings of a headache, but these can simply be masking the problem, or even making it worse. Experimenting with natural or alternative remedies can help you to lead a happy and active life, free from the misery of headache pain.

More articles to read.....

Migraines and Headaches
Is it a Sinus Headache ?
Migraine Headache Treatment for Children
Tension Headache
Stress Headache
Migraine Headache Medicine
Food Triggers for Migraine Headache
Menstrual Migraines
Natural Headache Medicine
Natural Remedy for Headache
Migraine Aura without Headache
Child Headache

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