The medical definition of a headache is pain that is felt in parts of the head, face and neck area of the body. Headaches may occur because of a particular illness, because of stress, and because of the environmental factors. They can be one-off events or they can be a chronic problem that affects daily life and can be a symptom of a very serious medical problem. Many times people take pharmaceutical help to cure a headache but a better and healthier option is home remedies for headaches. The following are some of the details about headaches:
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Types of Headaches
There are many types of headaches depending on the part of the head that is paining, the symptoms, the cause of the headache and the intensity and how often the headaches occur. The type of headaches includes tension headaches, migraines, cluster headaches, allergy/sinus headaches, and caffeine headaches.
It also includes exertion headaches, chronic and hypertension headaches, headaches caused by ailments, exertion, and post-trauma headaches. Headaches are classified into three categories- primary headaches, secondary headaches and face pain, and cranial neuralgias. The following are some of the causes of headaches.
Causes of Headaches
Before figuring out the home remedies for headaches, it is a good idea to understand the causes of headaches. There are many causes of different types of headaches. Headaches are caused because of indigestion, chronic migraine problem, stress, and tension and can even happen during sex. Sometimes headaches accompany cough, cold and fever and eating the wrong food, vomiting, lack of sleep, skipped meals, dental problems, hangovers, bad posture, and sinusitis can also cause headaches.
Some of the very serious causes of headaches include brain aneurysms, brain tumors, brain AVM, glaucoma, encephalitis, meningitis, strokes, and other serious health issues.
Headaches are caused by many different types of issues which can be resolved at home. For headaches caused by serious medical problems and diseases, it is always a good idea to consult a doctor and take proper medication for such problems.
For example, a headache that is caused by a hangover can be resolved at home with home remedies but a brain aneurysm headache has to be checked out by a doctor. The following are some of the home remedies for headaches:
Home Remedies for Headaches
Here are some of the best home remedies for headaches that will cure your condition in a jiffy:
Essential Oils
Different types of essential oils are used for different types of home remedies. Lavender oils and peppermint oils are extremely beneficial for healing headaches. These oils can be taken on a handkerchief or tissue to inhale or a few drops can be put in water steam to inhale the essential oils. These provide instant relief for many types of headaches and are one of the top headache relief tricks available at home.
B-Complex Vitamins
People usually take a lot of supplements with their diet as most diet does not provide all the nutrients essential for good health. B-Complex vitamins are available as supplements and also in many types of food. Increasing the intake of B-Complex, vitamins like folate, riboflavin, B12, B6 and other types of B-Complex vitamins will fight against headaches in the long run.
Elimination Diet
Sometimes home remedies for headaches are not easy to understand because the cause is unclear. Many times we include new types of food to the diet and that can cause headaches. The elimination diet is a way of removing one or two items from the diet at a time so that the cause of the headache can be found. Once the headaches stop or reduce it will be clear which food items caused the headache and this is a natural remedy for headache.
Tea & Coffee
Many people find stimulating drinks a great cure for different types of headaches. Tea and coffee are instant home remedies for headaches as they have caffeine which works well against headaches. Caffeine helps in bettering the mood, increases alertness and mental focus and constricts blood cells which help reduces headaches. Caffeine also helps medication like ibuprofen and acetaminophen work well against headache.
Yoga & Acupuncture
Nowadays, there are many types of alternative therapies that can help with reducing or eliminating headaches. Yoga is an ancient Indian practice which includes spiritual meditation and exercise technique which help keep body and mind healthy. There are many asanas in yoga which are excellent home remedies for headaches. Regular practice of these asanas helps reduce pain and frequency of different types of headaches.
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese method that involves putting thin needles into the skin at accurate places to remove ailments. Acupuncture specialists have many acupuncture cures for headaches. Yoga and acupuncture need to be done properly for it to work or it can lead to bad medical consequences.
Exercise
Headache is often caused because of inadequate exercise and regularly exercising is a good way of preventing and getting rid of headaches. Physical activity regularly keeps the body fit and healthy and stimulates the brain. It also helps in keeping problems like headaches at bay. Basic stretching exercises can reduce the intensity of headaches and relax the muscles.
Ginger Intake
One of the best home remedies for headache is ginger. Ginger can be taken with lime juice, by simply making a paste and eating it or in a drink. It reduces the inflammation of the blood cells in the head, stimulates digestions and reduces nausea. Sipping ginger tea is another way to get ginger into the system which then reduces headaches. Ginger is recommended for people who suffer from chronic migraines as it reduces the pain and intensity of migraines.
Cinnamon & Cloves
There are many types of spices that are natural home remedies for any type of ailments like headaches. Cinnamon is a spice commonly used in sweet and savory dishes but is also used for alleviating headaches. Cinnamon can be ground into a powder and paste can be made using this powder and water. This paste is then applied to the forehead to get rid of the pain caused by a headache. Another spice that is very good for headaches is cloves. Inhaling the smell of crushed cloves in a napkin can be an excellent headache remedy food solution.
Herbs – Headache Cures
Thyme & Rosemary
Just like spices, many types of herbs are also used to cure headaches. There are many types of herbs available at home and these are one of the easy home remedies for headache. Thyme and Rosemary are available in the most natural form and also as essential oils. A drop or two of these oils can be inhaled on a napkin to help with headaches. They can also be directly rubbed on the forehead as a headache cure.
Basil
Basil is an herb used in different cuisines but is also one of the home remedies for headache. There are many analgesic benefits of basil and the basil oil works as a muscle relaxant which helps in getting rid of the pain caused during the headache. Basil tea with honey is also a great way to naturally get rid of headaches with kitchen ingredients.
Water & Cold Packs
Cooling the body down is a natural way to get rid of headaches. Drinking plenty of water helps clear toxins from the body and also keeping headaches at bay. Dehydration can cause headaches and drinking plenty of water helps. Putting cold packs on the forehead is another way to get rid of plenty of types of headaches. How to get rid of a headache without medicine is a question that many people want an answer to and using cold packs is a simple solution to this problem. Cold packs reduce inflammation and reduce the pain caused during headaches.
Apple Cider Vinegar
One of the best ingredients in the pantry for home remedies is apple cider vinegar. There are so many home remedies for different ailments that include apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar helps in maintaining the acid-alkaline balance in the system which helps in curing headaches. Apple cider vinegar and water are boiled together in proper proportions and the steam is inhaled to alleviate headaches.
Preventive Home Remedies
Many people get frequent headaches and chronic migraines and look for cures that help them solve the problem of headaches that interfere in daily lives. Preventive home remedies for headache are the best way to completely avoid headaches. Many types of foods should be avoided if they are the cause of headaches. The diet plays a critical role in the cause of headaches and preventive home remedies are foods and drinks that need to be avoided in the diet to avoid headaches.
Foods & Drinks to Avoid Preventing Headaches
Junk Foods
Junk food in large amounts can be extremely bad for health as oily fried junk food can cause headaches and nausea. People who get headaches because of junk food should avoid pizzas, potato chips, donuts, cakes, and salty and sugary foods. These foods can cause nausea, headaches, and migraines.
Processed Foods
There are many types of processed foods in the market which are processed in many ways that remove the nutrients from the food and include ingredients that are harmful to health. Processed food is difficult to digest and has many added ingredients that are harmful and may cause headaches. This includes preservatives, artificial flavoring, and emulsifiers, starch, processed oils and sugar extracts which can cause health problems and headaches.
Alcohol
One of the common types of headaches is a hangover. This usually happens after the intake of too much alcohol the next day after people sleep off their alcohol consumption. Alcohol causes the blood vessels to dilate which then causes headaches. The level of alcohol that causes a headache varies from person to person. Hard drinks can cause more headaches than milder alcohol and it is a good idea to avoid alcohol if it gives massive hangovers and headaches. Some non-alcoholic drinks like tea and coffee that have caffeine in them can also cause headaches.
Some Dairy and Fruits
Headaches are caused by different types of food products. The elimination diet method is an excellent way to figure out which foods cause headaches and one of the home remedies for headache is to avoid these foods. Aged cheese, cultured dairy products, sour cream, yogurt, and buttermilk can all cause headaches.benefits
Some fruits can have a bad reaction and can cause headaches for some people. Ripe bananas, citrus fruits, papayas, kiwis, pineapples, and raspberries are some of the fruits to avoid if they cause headaches. Some people avoid ice creams because they give them headaches later.
Vegetables, Beans & Nuts
Like dairy and fruits, some types of vegetables, beans, and nuts can also cause headaches especially when people overeat these types of foods? Headache remedies homemade include eating in proper proportions and eliminating some foods that cause headaches. Generally, vegetables like pickled can cause headaches so avoiding them is a good idea.
Different people react differently to various types of beans. Headaches causing beans include lima beans, fava beans, pinto beans, snow peas, dried beans, and lentils to name a few. Nuts that cause headaches in some people include almonds, peanuts, and butter made from nuts. Chocolates have been known to cause migraines among some people.
Nitrates & MSG
Processed meats and cured meats tend to have nitrates in them which are a leading cause of headaches. Hot dogs, sausages, lunch meats, deli meats, pepperoni and other types of processed meats all have nitrates and avoiding these types of foods is a good idea.
Monosodium glutamate or MSG is often used as a flavor enhancer’s and meat tenderizer in many types of food. MSG is disguised by many names and it is all bad for health and can cause headaches and should be avoided. One of the easiest home remedies for headache knows all the ingredients in the food to know what to eat and what not to eat.
Headaches are a common problem that is caused by many ailments and some serious diseases and disorders. For some types of headaches, there are many home remedies and lifestyle choices which can help prevent and cure these headaches. Other types of headaches are generally cured with the help of a medical professional but headaches are a serious problem that needs to be cured.
