I am a huge advocate for natural cures for ailments. One of the biggest ones affecting us all are headaches. Here are some natural reliefs provided by Dr. Oz.
Instead of popping a pill, try these natural cures to relieve your headaches. Their efficacy proves that you can find relief outside of a bottle.
Tension Headaches
This is the most common type of headache. It feels like there is a vice squeezing your head. Caused by the contraction of muscles that cover your skull, this pain runs from one ear to the other, around the front of your head. It’s often caused by stress and lack of sleep.
Solutions
Peppermint oil
Apply this oil to your hairline; it creates a cooling sensation that relaxes the muscles in your head and neck. You can find this oil in health stores for $6.
Ginger Tea
You can buy fresh ginger at your local grocery store. Crush up an inch of ginger root and add it to boiling water. This homemade tea reduces inflammation in about the same amount of time as it would take an aspirin to work.
Cluster Headaches
The pain of a cluster headache is often described as an ice pick in the head because of its concentrated stabbing feeling. The name comes from the fact that the headache occurs in a cluster of days over several weeks. The pain is often followed by a runny nose or fever, so they are often known as “histamine headaches." Cluster headaches are common in the winter due to temperature changes.
Solution
Capsaicin Cream
The active ingredient in this cream is cayenne pepper. Apply a small amount to the inside of your nostril that’s on the side of your head where you are experiencing pain. The cream works to block nerve pain signals. This effective remedy can be purchased for about $11 in a health food store.
Migraine Headaches
This one-sided throbbing pain causes sensitivity to light and sound and may cause nausea. Migraines run in families and women are three times more likely to have them than men. Experts believe that migraines may be caused by nerve signals that the brain misinterprets as pain.
Solutions
Feverfew
In clinical trials, this supplement from the sunflower family has been shown to be effective for treating migraines. It reduces inflammation, which takes pressure off the nerves and helps to prevent migraines entirely. It costs around $12 and comes in capsule form.
Acupressure Massage
This ancient Chinese healing method involves applying pressure to certain points on the body to relieve pain. Place your finger in the depression between your first and second toe and press firmly for 3-5 minutes.
