Headaches, including migraines, are extremely common. Headaches can stem from a variety of causes; some headache sufferers need treatment on a nearly daily basis. Below are several home remedy treatments that can help alleviate migraine pain and other types of headaches.
Lavender Oil
Besides its great smell, lavender is also useful for headaches and migraine pain. You can inhale it or apply topically. When you have a headache, add two to four drops for every two to three cups of boiling water and inhale the vapour. Unlike many medicinal oils, lavender oil is safe for external application without the need to dilute it. Lavender oil should not be taken orally.
Peppermint Oil
Peppermint is a soothing home remedy that is helpful with tension headaches. It has vasoconstricting and vasodilating properties, which help control blood flow in the body. Since headaches and migraine pain often occur due to poor blood flow, peppermint oil will help with the opening and closing of the vessels that promote flow. Peppermint home remedies can also open up the sinuses so that more oxygen can get into the bloodstream.
Basil Oil
Basil is a strong scented herb used as a topping for pizzas and pastas, with great smell and taste. The oil derived from basil plants can also be a helpful home cure. Basil can be a muscle relaxant, so it is especially helpful for headaches caused by tension and tight muscles.
Diet Changes
Making changes to your diet is one of the most useful home remedies for reducing headaches and migraine pain. Certain foods affect the frequency and severity of headaches and migraine pain, including dairy, chocolate, peanut butter; some fruits, such as avocado, citrus and banana; onions; Meats with nitrates, such as bacon and hot dogs; Foods containing monosodium glutamate (MSG) ; Foods containing tyramine (amino acid found in red wine); And foods that are fermented or pickled. Make sure keep track of your reaction to these trigger foods.
Scalp Massage
You can give yourself a scalp massage which can be an effective way to alleviate migraine pain. Researchers in Brazil showed that massaging the greater occipital nerve — the area in the back of the head, at the base of the skull — reduces migraine pain. Massage has been known to be a useful home remedy for headaches, especially reflexology (massaging reflex points on the hands and feet).
Feverfew
Feverfew is used to treat fever, but it is more known as an herbal headache treatment. It became popular in the 1980s, when a study in Great Britain showed that 70 % of participants had less migraine pain after taking feverfew daily. Other studies have also demonstrated feverfew’s benefit in preventing and treating migraine pain. One study showed improvement in migraine pain among people who took daily feverfew in combination with white willow, another herbal home remedy, which contains properties similar to aspirin.
Flaxseed
Flaxseed is rich in omega 3 fatty acids which have been shown to reduce headaches caused by inflammation. You can use flaxseed as a home remedy in several forms: oil, ground or whole seeds.
Buckwheat
The benefits of buckwheat as a home remedy for headaches and migraine pain come from a flavonoid known as rutin. Flavonoids are phytochemicals, which are found in plants, and contain antioxidant properties, which counteract damage to cells. Furthermore, researchers in Taiwan have demonstrated the effects of flavonoids on inflammation, a common cause of headaches.
Sourced: healthdigezt.com
