Banish Tension-Type Headaches with Natural Breathing Techniques

Natural Pain Relief for Headaches

If you are one of the many people who suffer with tension-type headaches, then help is at hand as there are ways that you can reduce the quantity of headaches experienced, quickly, easily and without always having to resort to medication. Whilst we often reach for the pain killers without giving much thought as to the reason why our heads are pounding, we should really be looking for the cause.

Tension-Type headaches, despite the name, are not always caused by tension, anxiety and stress, but they are the most common type of headache and appear to affect women much more than men. Stress though does appear to be a major factor and it really is sensible to ascertain the cause and then eliminate that factor from your life where possible.

Sufferers have often stated that it feels like a band of pressure around the head but often the pain is mild to moderate and there can be some tenderness including the neck, scalp or even the jaw and sometimes there may even be sensitivity to noise or light. The headache is not usually so severe as to cause feelings of sickness, but as the duration can be anything from half an hour or up to a week, it makes sense to try to reduce the number of attacks.

Poor posture may also be responsible, so office workers and those who use computers on a daily basis should check that their work station is set up appropriately.

Practising a healthy way of life and getting sufficient sleep should also help but the most efficient way of controlling these types of headaches is to use natural breathing techniques. Learning to relax is a skill in itself but the benefits are far-reaching.

Deep Breathing

Involves slow, deep and controlled breaths so that with each breath in and out, you slowly feel your body relaxing. Initially, you do have to focus on specific areas of the body to ensure that the tension is evaporating, especially around the neck and shoulder areas. Breathing in deeply helps to oxygenate the body and ultimately helps to prevent headaches.

Alternate Nostril Breath

This breathing technique is slightly more complicated initially but is wonderful for headaches. Using the thumb of your right hand, close your right nostril and then breathe in through the left nostril. Release your thumb and then using your little finger of your right hand; close your left nostril whilst you exhale through the right nostril.

Now inhale once again through your right nostril, moving your thumb to close it, once inhalation is completed, remove the little finger and ring finger from the left nostril and then exhale completely.

This is one round of the alternate nostril breath.

Relaxation and Meditation

It is beneficial for headache suffers to learn to be able to relax at will as this will help ease out knotted muscles, and help to combat the negative aspects of stress, thus preventing or reducing the number of headaches experienced. Incorporate deep breathing with meditation techniques and your overall health will be greatly improved.