Got Headaches?

Headaches are a common ailment that most people have dealt with or deal with commonly. Our busy, stressful, “on-the-go” lifestyle doesn’t help relieve common headaches either! When your body is hurting or in pain, it is your body’s way of communicating to you that something is going wrong or something is missing. It could be something as simple as lacking hydration or something more in-depth such as hormonal or nutritional deficiencies. Stress, allergies, fatigue, blood sugar, and alcohol or drugs can also be the culprit of headaches. If you are looking for headache relief, try these simple remedies:

Try to Identify the Type of Headache You Are Experiencing

• Tension headaches are often caused by stress and can be known as “daily headaches.” They are mild to chronic headaches and tend to come and go over time.
• Cluster headaches tend to be more severe and the pain is intense, burning, or piercing behind the eyes. They tend to “cluster” over a period of a couple of weeks to a couple of months and may go into remission but often return.
• Sinus headaches are typically caused by inflamed sinuses that cause pain in the forehead, cheeks, and nose. Often fever, runny nose, pressure, and swelling accommodate the sinus headache.
• Migraine headaches are a few hours to a few days long and typically occur with sensitivities to noise, smells, or light, nausea, appetite loss, upset stomach, dizziness, blurry vision, or fever. Migraines often recur one or more times a month.

Identify potential causes for the headache you are experiencing. Based on the type, it could be stress, illness, environmental causes, eye or back strain, incorrect posture, allergies, or nutritional/vitamin deficiencies.

Try Some of These Remedies to Help With Your Headache

• Magnesium – Most people are deficient in magnesium, so oftentimes, adding in this supplement is often an easy fix to frequent headaches. Try taking 200-600 mg daily and try taking Epsom salt baths.
• Go Gluten Free – gluten sensitivity can cause headaches. This sensitivity is more common than you may think. Try going gluten-free for three weeks, then slowly add in gluten-containing foods and see how your body responds.
• Peppermint & Lavender Essential Oils – these oils are cooling and relaxing and effective for many types of headaches. Try rubbing this blend on your forehead, temples, and back of your neck.
• Chiropractic Adjustments – Regular chiropractic adjustments reduce oxidative stress and stress and tension headaches. Several clinical trials have shown spinal manipulation therapy helps in treating headaches.
• Feverfew & Butterbur Herbs – These herbs are tension relieving and research shows consuming these herbs reduces headache frequency. Butterbur reduces inflammatory effects from headaches and acts as a beta-blocker. Try 50-100 mg of feverfew extract or 75 mg of butterbur twice daily.
• B-complex Vitamins – These vitamins are involved in neurotransmitter formation, which may be low in people struggling with frequent headaches. Many people are deficient in these vitamins causing low energy, brain fog, and headaches. Vitamin B supplementation is a cost-effective treatment for headaches and overall health.
• Hydration – Proper hydration is key for all types of bodily functions. Often the body will communicate that it needs hydration through headaches. Reduce coffee, sugary drinks, and alcohol if headaches trouble you. Ensure you are drinking at least half your body weight in ounces of water daily.
• Stretch & Move – A sedentary lifestyle is toxic to our bodies including an increased chance of headaches. Staying in one position for an extended period of time can lead to body tension and possibly headache symptoms. Work in stretches, frequent movement, and even yoga into your daily routine to keep blood flowing and tension down!

For some immediate relief try reflexology, acupuncture, and rest!