You’ve experienced it—the nauseating, debilitating, earth-spinning pounding of a severe headache. Headaches are a common condition, and you never really know when one will strike and ruin your day.
No matter how big of a proponent of holistic healthcare you are, it only takes one severe migraine to send you running toward the medicine cabinet, desperate for relief.
Before you pop open the over-the-counter pill bottle, consider giving one of these drug-free, natural headache remedies a try.
Rehydrate
Did you know one of the most common symptoms of dehydration is a headache? Not to mention, it’s easy to get dehydrated. Your body is comprised of 60% of that good H20. If you lose even 1.5% of that water, you’re at risk of dehydration.
Do as your mother says and consume half your body weight in water each day. If you know you’ve replaced your daily water intake with Diet Coke and feel that dehydration headache coming on, add a natural electrolyte mixture to your water bottle.
Aromatherapy
In a 2012 controlled clinical trial study, researchers divided participants with severe headaches into two groups. Researchers gave the first group a placebo, and the second group a lavender essential oil aromatherapy treatment. The results? The group that inhaled the lavender oil felt relief 15 minutes faster than the control group.
Lavender and peppermint essential oils are excellent natural headache remedies. Add either of these oils to a diffuser and place it near your bedside while you relax. You can also rub these oils on your temples. Remember to add a carrier oil to the peppermint oil as it can irritate your skin.
Magnesium
Research shows that magnesium levels decrease during a migraine and that magnesium is one potential natural treatment for headaches.
In fact, the American Migraine Foundation recommends people take 400–500 milligrams of magnesium oxide as a daily migraine preventative measure.
As with any supplement, how much you should take will depend on your body type and how severe your headache is. The best course of action is to consult with your doctor to get the correct dosage.
Coenzyme Q10
Coenzyme Q10 is the heart-health supplement they hand out at Costco every Saturday, right? What does it have to do with headaches? Several studies show that CoQ10 supplements may are a smart, natural way to treat headaches.
One study tested the efficacy of Coenzyme Q10 in 80 participants. The results showed that 100mgs of the supplement a day reduced the severity, length, and frequency of headaches.
Cold compress
Staying hydrated and taking specific vitamins can help you avoid headaches. But, what do you do when life gets crazy, and your usual headache care regime slides?
Sometimes a headache catches you off guard, and the best thing you can do is to rest in a dark room and treat your symptoms.
In this case, placing a cold compress on the area of concern can decrease inflammation and soothe the pain.
Hopefully, your headaches will be few and far between. When the next one hits, try the natural remedies listed above.
