Getting Rid of Headaches the Natural Way
by Donna Thomson

Woman with headache

Using drugs for headache relief

These days many of us consider paracetamol one of the safer drugs to take for headaches and general pain relief. In fact we are quick to take them at the slightest twinge of pain and I've seen people so used to these drugs that they self-medicate by increasing the dose above the recommendation. Once I was told by a friend "You need to double the dose for it to be effective and it's quite safe" - this was in relation to the amount of paracetamol they were giving their baby and their notion of 'safe' was that they couldn't see any immediate side effects.

People are so used to paracetamol these days that many of them take it daily! Or, they move to 'harder' pain relief with the additional ibuprofen or codeine which do have more side-effects for people. Codeine is upsetting to many people's stomach and ibuprofen is not recommended for asthmatics. A research study known as the 'Children of the 90s' monitored the health and development of more than 14,000 families and found that women who took paracetamol on most days or every day during the second half of pregnancy had children who were twice as likely to wheeze through early childhood as children whose mothers never took paracetamol (From: www.alspac.bris.ac.uk).

Drugs like paracetamol and codeine are analgesics which work by affecting the central nervous system. You can overdose on paracetamol which can cause liver damage (From the Therapeutic Goods Administration). Of course, these drugs may not be bad in themselves, if taken as recommended and over a short period of time. However, the bigger issue is people's perception of their 'safety' due to their ready availability in everyday supermarkets and even the corner store. This leads them to take these drugs more often than they should and for the slightest thing.

Find the cause and you are halfway there

If you are someone who suffers from headaches, the best thing you can do for yourself is to look for the underlying cause. Finding the cause can help you prevent future headaches or at least reduce them significantly by making changes in the way you do things.

Here are some of the common causes of headaches and migraines:

It's important that if your headaches persist or are severe, you seek immediate medical attention as headaches can indicate more serious conditions.

Treatment and prevention

The following are a couple of examples of 'preventing' headaches in different situations but they can also work as 'treatment'. For example, if you find a headache creeping up you can use any of the techniques below, to release the tension that has started to build up and therefore get rid of the headache for it takes hold.

In the Workplace
Someone who works at a computer all day could take a few minutes every hour or so to get up, stretch and perhaps go for a brief walk outside. This helps your body to release tension that might come from your neck or spine due to your posture and even the set-up of your equipment - make sure your desk, monitor and chair are at the right height to prevent stress on your back and neck. It also gives your mind a few minutes to tune out of that concentration mode and gives your eyes a rest from looking at the computer screen which can strain them over extended periods. Even looking away from the monitor of a few seconds and changing your focus to an object further away can prevent eye strain.

Emotional Stressers
Your headaches may stem from inner stresses such as suppression of emotions, dealing with traumatic events, not saying what is on your mind and anything else that you hold in or that plays on your mind. It makes sense that it would not benefit your health to have these stresses festering inside you and headaches are just one of the ways your body will express this dis-order from within. Dealing with these issues in order to release them takes more time than popping a 'quick fix' pill, but it will benefit you on a much deeper level and more permanently.

Natural Solutions

The fact is that we all get headaches from time to time and will need to do what we can to relieve the discomfort and pain and there are many natural ways to do this. While some of these also act as 'quick fix' solutions, such as taking rubbing some essential oil into your temples, the benefit is that it is a natural remedy that works in harmony with your body rather than being chemical-based, so it is safer to use. Taking the natural option also encourages you to take the time to consider where your headache is stemming from and to choose the most relevant technique or remedy to counteract it. This is much more effective that popping a pill and walking away.

Here are some alternative medicines, complimentary therapies and techniques that help treat and prevent headaches:

Aromatherapy
General headache - Rub lavender essential oil into your temples with circular motions and into the base of your skull. Lavender is the one oil that is okay to use neat (undiluted). Peppermint essential oil is also effective and you can combine the two oils (3 drops lavender and 1 drop peppermint) and combine with the equivalent of vegetable oil to create a massage blend. If your headache is from tiredness or general stress, try a relaxing warm bath with 20-30 drops of lavender oil added.
Tension headache - Same as above, but blend 3 drops lavender with 1 drop chamomile essential oil.
Sinusitis - Rosemary, geranium, eucalyptus and peppermint essential oils are good for treating sinusitis. Use one or a combination on a tissue to inhale or mix with vegetable oil and massage around the neck, ears, cheekbones, nose and forehead to promote drainage of the sinuses. You can also combine 3 drops rosemary, 1 drop thyme (or eucalyptus) and 1 drop peppermint, pour hot water into a bowl and add 2-3 drops of the blend while you lean over the bowl with a towel over your head - inhale the vapours for a minute or two.
Stale air and negative energy - If the air isn't clear and flowing in your house or work environment you may be susceptible to headaches caused by the build-up of positive ions in the air. Try adding some lavender oil to a diffuser (heated by candle flame or electricity) to clear the air or add a few drops to water in a spray bottle and spray the mist around the room. Lavender is also antibacterial so it will ward off germs that might lead to viruses and more headaches!

Healthy Eating
Watch what you eat - Reduce or altogether stop your intake of sugary foods and caffeine. Also make sure you get enough quality food with a regular intake of protein.
Hypoglycemia - Don't skip meals as this will also lead to headaches due to low blood sugar. If you have a headache resulting from this, eat something healthy rather than fatty or sugary foods.
Hydration - Not drinking enough water is a common reason for headaches so make sure you drink at least 6-8 glasses a day. It also benefits you in the following way...
Detoxification - Headaches are often caused by the breakdown of toxins in the body. This is especially possible if you've been exercising a little more than usual or detoxing by changing your diet. The toxins sit in the fat and are released as the fat is burnt. The solution for this is lots of water, but not just drinking plenty of water each day. Try having a drink of water the moment the headache starts coming on. As many causes of headaches can be relieved by drinking water, this could prevent the need for other remedies and is better for you as it is flushing out what is causing the headache rather than adding other things to the body to 'cover it up'.

Herbal Remedies
Try herbal teas such as Peppermint, Rosemary Leaf or Chamomile to relieve headaches. For general headaches, Willow Bark is good and for migraines try Ginkgo Biloba, Feverfew or Bay leaves. You can also add garlic, ginger and red pepper (cayenne) to your diet to help relieve headaches.

Homeopathy
Many health food stores and pharmacies are now stocking homeopathic remedies and some stock special headache blends. Please consult a homeopath regarding the correct use of these remedies as each one is specific to particular sets of symptoms depending on how they present. Here are some of the homeopathic remedies for headaches:
Belladonna - for violent, throbbing headaches with a hot flushed face and aversion to light and noise. This type of headache often starts in the afternoon and continues through the night.
Byronia - headaches that are worse for movement, worse on the left side of the head and accompanied by great thirst. Often brought on by eating rich food or over-exertion.
Gelsemium - feels like a band around your head, worse on the right side, begins at the nape of the neck and settles over the eyes. Often associated with acute illness, you might feel shivery, drowsy and heavy.
Natrum Muriaticum - for hammering, blinding headaches with a bruised feeling around the eyes. It starts in the back of the neck and spreads all over the head, with movement making the headache worse. It can be related to PMS or mental exertion.
Nux Vomica - for hangover-type headaches with nausea. You feel worse for talking, moving or any excitement and it feels like a nail being driven into your head.

Hydrotherapy
Alternate hot and cold compresses applied to the forehead and base of skull - cold to the forehead and hot at the base of the skull. Swap 6 times.

Massage
Massage is fantastic for tension headaches, e.g. if you've been driving for a long time or sitting at a desk.
Eye strain - Close your eyes and press your thumbs into the corners of your eyes (linking your hands together helps). Hold for 3 seconds, release and repeat about 6 times.
Clearing vision and easing tiredness - Using your thumb and index finger, pinch the top of your nose. Hold for 3 seconds, release and repeat about 6 times.
Forehead tension -Start at your right eyebrows and use two fingers to press upward from your eyebrows to your temples and across your forehead. Repeat as needed.
Neck tension - Spread your fingers apart and place your thumbs at the base of your skull, on either side of the centre neck muscle in the fleshy part. Use circular motions for a few minutes but stop if it feels painful. Repeat.
Indian-style head massage - 1. Use your index finger and middle finger together in circular movements on your scalp, slightly pulling your hair up as you go to invigorate your scalp. 2. Use both hands with fingers apart and placed on either side of your head. Make circular movements with your fingers all over your scalp. 3. From your face, run your fingers up and through your hair towards the back of your head. Repeat, starting at the base of your neck and pushing towards the crown of your head.

Reiki & Other Energy Healing
It's not uncommon today to find many hospitals and doctors applying a form of energy healing called Therapeutic Touch. Reiki and other energy healing can relieve your symptoms and promote the body's ability to heal itself. It can also encourage the release of suppressed emotions which may be the cause of your stress and therefore headaches. This form of healing involves channelling universal energy through your hands to aid healing or you can meditate to infuse your body with this healing energy. When using the hands for healing your headache, you would focus them over the relevant area such as the head, neck or shoulders.

Relaxation Therapy
Basic relaxation techniques can be very helpful in relieving just about any type of headache, except of course those with deeper medical reasons. Close your eyes and take a few slow deep breaths. Allow your stresses to flow from you….tense up and relax all parts of your body in turn…allow your mind to let go of its thoughts…as they come to you let them float away into the distance. Meditation is one form if relaxation that you could use on a regular basis to prevent the build up of stress in your system. Even before a headache takes hold, if you are getting tense for any reason, stop and take some slow deep breaths and release that tension to prevent it escalating. Visualization can also be helpful to distance your mind from the pain and even for dealing with issues that may be the root cause of the headaches.

Shiatsu/Acupressure/Reflexology
Applying pressure to the specific points mentioned below can help relieve headaches. It would also be beneficial to have a whole foot, hand, head or whole body massage due to the relaxing effects.
Ankle point - Use thumb pressure on the ankle, midway between the Achilles tendon and the top of the ankle bone. Press for 7-10 seconds and repeat 3 times.
Base of neck - 2.5 cm above the hairline at the base of the neck on either side of the centre neck muscle, press with your thumbs for 7-10 seconds and repeat 3 times.
Hand - In the fleshiest part in between the bones of your thumb and index finger, press hard with one thumb for 7-10 seconds (avoid during pregnancy).
There are also points at the temples on either side of the head and at the third eye (between the eyebrows). For the temples, press with one thumb for 7-10 seconds and for the third eye (or 'In Do' point) press with both thumbs for 7-10 seconds, 3 times.

Vibrational Medicine (Crystals, Colour and Chakras)
Many crystals may be useful to assist with headaches and depending on the root cause of the headache, the crystals that deal with those causes would work to great effect. The crystal may also represent a particular colour to help you feel calmer such as blue or green, or you could simply visualise those colours as you relax for a few minutes. Colours and crystals are often linked to the chakras, which are our energy centres and relate to different aspects of ourself. Again, depending on the root cause of your headache, different chakras, colour and crystals will be able to assist you - see our articles on these topics in the 'Healing & Wellness' (Auras, Chakras & Energy) and 'Connecting with Nature' (Crystals & Gemstones) classifications for more information. However, a couple of useful crystals for general headaches might be:
Amethyst - a popular crystal for the third eye, amethyst can help release blockages in the area and work much the same as the suggestions further down for applying pressure to this spot (see Shiatsu and Massage). In fact, why not use your amethyst crystal to apply the pressure to this spot and combine the effects, especially for headaches located in the forehead.
Clear quartz - this is a very cleansing crystal and can help to 'clear' your head, especially relating to tension headaches.
Hematite - helps to restore equilibrium in the mind and therefore release tension.

Hold the crystal against, or place it near, the location of your headache. If lying down, you could place the crystal on your forehead, just above your head or at the nape of your neck. You could also create a layout of one or more crystals around your head.

There are many more natural alternatives to pain relief drugs for headaches. Listen to some soft music or nature sounds, use yoga or tai chi, sit outside in the fresh air with nature and just take some time out from your everyday stresses. Why not create your own little 'toolkit' of favourite techniques and remedies!

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