Home Remedies for Headaches

Headaches are one of the most common ailments in the world. Everybody at some time is subject to the discomfort and inconvenience of a headache. Sometimes the headache is mild and only a mild bother and sometimes the pain can be so great that all you want to do is lie down in a dark room. And it doesn’t seem to matter if you are young or old, rich or poor, or from any country you can name. Sooner or later, you are going to get a headache.

Of course, there are going to be a lot of headache cures in the world, almost as many as there are headache sufferers. But among all of these headache cures, which ones are the best? Which ones actually work to relieve your pain?

There are many different forms of headaches, but there are certain headaches that are most common:

Tension Headaches - These types of headaches are the most common, and happen among teens and adults. The pain from a tension headache can be mild and moderate, and they can occur over a long period of time.

Ice Pick Headaches - These are headaches that occur in the back of head, neck, or both sides of the head, and feel like bring stabbed by an ice pick. They don't last long, but they are quite painful.

Migraines - This type of headache is infamous for the moderate to sever pain it causes the people who suffer from it, yet has no known cause or cure yet. They can last anywhere from hours to a few days, and can occur several times a month.

Mixed headache syndrome: This is a combination of tension and migraine symptoms.

Cluster headaches: This is not very common, but unfortunately the most severe. It has been described as an intense burning or piercing feeling that is either constant or is felt as a throbbing sensation. It can occur behind one eye, or both, and can happen several times a month.

Sinus headaches: This type of headache is felt in the sinuses, and can be more intense when the head is suddenly moved. Usually, this is accompanied by other sinus symptoms. To get sinus headache relief, you may need to see a doctor to see if you have an infection.

Hormone Headaches: These are felt in women who are dealing with a sudden change in hormone level.

While all these headaches are different and would require various levels of a degrees of treatments, varying from rest and over-the-counter pain medications to doctor intervention, there are some things that can be done to provide a good foundation to helping cure your headache.

The best place to start is by considering what might have caused the headache. Many times, headaches can be brought on by various factors in our lives, things like stress or feeling overworked or simply by not eating the right kinds of foods or not getting enough water to drink. If you discover that there is something in your lifestyle that is causing your headache then you can pinpoint the headache cures that will work best for you.

First, make sure you get plenty of hydration. Many headaches start because we become dehydrated, don’t get enough water into our systems. This can be as a result of workouts where you aren’t properly hydrated, being out in the summer heat without water, or even sitting at your desk working without keeping up a steady intake of fluids. The truth is, many headaches can be prevented and cured by drinking plenty of water.

You can also get headaches from certain types of foods, or from not eating enough. For some people, things like chocolate or wine will bring on headaches. Thus, the way to avoid headaches in these situations is to avoid foods that cause them. If you get a lot of headaches, you might want to keep a food diary so you can link the foods you eat to the onset of a headache. On the other hand, not getting enough to eat can cause headaches as well. If you are on a diet or simply missing meals due to work or family life, you may be bringing on headaches this way. Having a granola bar or apple handy might thus be one of the best headache cures available.

Stress from overwork or from financial or family troubles can land us in the middle of a headache. Learning how to relax and eliminate stress from the body is invaluable as a headache cure. Meditation, massage, and acupuncture are all headache cures that can relax tense muscles and tense minds. You can even massage your own neck and shoulders muscles if you feel a headache coming on. Many people use hypnosis to try and curb a problem they are having, like being overweight or quitting smoking, but stress can be a real mental challenge as well. You can also try self hypnosis for stress management - it will give you the subconscious means in order to deal with your stress appropriately.

Of course, many people find headache cures in the form of an aspirin or ibuprofen. And these can be excellent cures in many instances. But if you are like a lot of people, you want some natural alternatives to headache pain. For these people, here a few of the most popular natural headache cures.

First of all, there are herbs that people have taken for centuries as headache cures. Such herbs as feverfew, lavender, and gingko have been used to treat headaches far back in human history. These herbs can be found at your health food store and are often packaged in effective combinations for the alleviation of headache pain.

For many people, an easy and natural way to relieve headache pain is through the consumption of caffeine. Caffeine that is found in coffee and tea, even all-natural teas and coffee, can offer very quick relief from headaches. These work by constricting the blood vessels in the brain. Of course, for some people, caffeine has the opposite effect, leading to headaches. Therefore, you will have to discover for yourself whether caffeine is your headache boon or bane.

Some people swear that by going on a juice fast, their headaches and even migraines have come along less often or stopped all together. The idea is that replacing all the negative stuff in your body with healthy fruit juice allows for your body to heal. Also, allowing the digestive system to save energy by having to absorb better nutrients without having to break down unhealthy fake products like preservatives lets your body focus on healing, which in turn helps to ease your headache pains.

As you can see, headache cures come in many packages for many different people. And no wonder, given how common headaches are. The key to curing headaches, especially if you are prone to them, is to watch your body and see how it responds to both possible triggers and possible cures.