All Natural Treatments For Headaches

Headaches.  We’ve all experienced them, and we all know how disruptive they can be to the day.  If you have a throbbing headache and are looking to treat it, your first inclination might be to reach for a bottle of acetaminophen or aspirin.  While this can be effective, there are easier and better ways to put an end to throbbing headaches without visiting the drugstore.

If you want a great all-natural treatment for your headaches, consider a gentle walk or another form of non-vigorous exercise.  Exercise can get the blood pumping and flowing properly, relaxes tight muscles, and also encourages the body to release natural pain killing hormones.  A gentle workout, even if it only lasts for ten minutes, can often be all that is required to make throbbing headaches go away.

If exercise isn’t enough, or if you are not somewhere that exercise is an immediate possibility, you may also wish to consider drinking a cup of soda or coffee.  While caffeine in large amounts can cause headaches, you will find that a small amount is an incredibly reliable treatment.  Caffeine dilates the blood vessels, which can help relieve pressure and get rid of a throbbing headache quickly.

A third great treatment is self massage. Most throbbing headaches are caused by the tightening of the bands of muscles that run across the head, which can be triggered by tight neck muscles. If the headache is in the back or sides of your head, massage your neck in circles with the fingers of both hands, starting at the sides of your neck and working inward and upward towards the crown of your head, and back again. Massage with medium to firm pressure for at least 3-5 minutes with your head relaxed, your face turned up towards the ceiling and the back of your neck supported on a pillow or reclining chair. You will often find this helps the headache to go away within minutes.

If the headache is in the top or crown of your head, try this second massage trick. Use your thumb on one side of your head and your index finger on the other. Starting from the middle of your head, rub back and forth in a pinching motion, moving your scalp over the bone of your skull. Rub from the outside of your head inwards to the middle (from both sides) and back again for 2-3 minutes, pressing firmly. Finish by rotating your shoulders in circles several times, and roll your head from side to side in a circle. This will loosen up all the muscles which may be causing the headache, allowing gentle relief.

Treating your headaches doesn’t have to mean reaching for the nearest bottle of pain killers.  In fact, with the right tips, you can get rid of your headache completely naturally.  Something as simple as exercising, drinking a soda, or changing the position in which you are holding your head can provide great relief.

Note – always consult your doctor if your headache lasts for three or more hours without relief, gets significantly worse over a period of 12 hours, or is accompanied by changes in vision, sickness and vomiting, or nosebleeds. If you experience extreme sensitivity to bright light and see ‘halos’ around objects, you may have a migraine headache, which requires prescription medication.