Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Natural Headache Remedies

Do you suffer from headaches? Many different health problems cause headaches, but most are not serious and are treatable and preventable. Causes of headaches can be numerous including poor diet (eating processed foods which contain chemicals or toxins), becoming dehydrated, being under too much stress, not receiving adequate sleep, and some environmental factors such as being exposed to chemicals or toxins. Chronic headaches are often caused by these types of things. Headaches which are caused from brain tumors or cancer are much more rare, but can occur and should be checked out by a health care professional.

To avoid headaches, eat an organic diet with whole foods and eliminate processed foods. Drink plenty of filtered water. Dehydration can cause headaches as well as other health problems. Get plenty of sleep, moderate exercise, and stress relief.

If you develop a headache, here are some useful remedies to try other than drugs:
  • Hynotherapy
  • Massage
  • Yoga
  • Acupuncture
  • Aromatherapy
  • Hot or cold packs - try a hot or compress on your head with a moist wash cloth, and try different essential oils from herbs such as peppermint, lavender, eucalyptus, passionflower, ginko, cayenne, willow, or valerian (especially for sleep problems). Visit this site for more information on herbs used for headaches.
  • Herbal teas with the above mentioned herbs can also be effective
  • If you are taking herbs from a supplement and you are also taking some type of drug, consult with your practitioner to make certain there are no known reactions to what you are taking.
If you have persistent headaches, you should always consider lifestyle habits and making changes before taking medications or drugs. Medications and drugs can mask the problem causing your headaches that lifestyle changes can often easily address. If you have tried everything in earnest to eliminate headaches, consult a knowledgeable practitioner, and one that will listen to you and your body - not someone who will immediately jump to the conclusion of putting you on medication before determining the cause of the problem.

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