Headaches and migraines are one of the most common complaints amongst society today. Thankfully, there are natural drug-free remedies to relieve headaches, helping you to feel your optimal best.
A lot of the time, headaches and migraines are often the result of stress, poor diet, poor posture, emotional tension or exposure to environmental toxins. People are taught to believe that the only relief for their headaches are over-the-counter medications like tylenol. This, is in fact, not true.
Here are 10 natural drug-free remedies to help relieve your headaches and migraines forever!
1. Water
One of the major causes of a headache is dehydration. You can easily relieve the throbbing in your head if you just drank enough water during the day. Aim for 3-4 litres of water, daily. This may not be a quick fix, but after a week of doing so, your headaches will be much less frequent, if not at all present.
2. Celery and Cucumber
Celery and cucumber are both high in minerals like magnesium and calcium, two crucial components in helping prevent and relieve headaches. They are also natural diuretics, so they can help flush toxins and other built-up waste matter that may be triggering your headache.
3. Lavender oil
Aromatherapy and essential oils are great for helping get rid of headaches, particularly lavender oil. Lavender is known for its ability to dilate blood vessels. In 2012, a placebo-controlled clinical trial confirmed that therapeutic grade lavender essential oil helps relieve migraine headaches. Over 71% of those in the lavender group reported significant improvement in the severity of their symptoms.
4. Ginger
Eating ginger or making ginger tea helps reduce inflammation in the same amount of time as it would take an aspirin to work. Fresh ginger works best, especially made into a juice with celery, cucumber and lemon.
5. Cayenne Pepper
This miracle herb immediately equalizes blood pressure upon consumption. Migraines are in part related to blood vessel contractions, and so consuming hot peppers like cayenne will help alleviate pressure in the head region. Mix 1/3 of a teaspoon of cayenne pepper with 1 cup of water and consume 2-3 times a day if you are a regular migraine sufferer.
6. Peppermint oil
Peppermint oil contains menthol, which has a direct cooling effect on the tissues of the body it comes into contact with. This is useful when you want to use it for direct relief of pain. Placing it on your temples, back of the jaw, and forehead will provide immediate cooling sensation on contact. Make sure you dilute your peppermint oil a little bit before using, as it can be quite strong.
7. Sesame Seeds
These amazing little seeds are rich in vitamin E, which helps improve circulation and prevents headaches. Vitamin E is also important for women during their time of the month, because it helps stabilize estrogen levels and prevents migraines. Sesame seeds are also rich in magnesium, a mineral that has proven headache-preventing abilities.
8. Turmeric
Turmeric contains the chemical compound cur cumin, which has been used for centuries to treat conditions of inflammation, including those associated with migraines and headaches. The antioxidant properties of curcumin help reduce COX-2, an inflammatory enzyme that triggers pain and discomfort. I love juicing raw turmeric root in my juices so that I receive all of the benefits it has to offer.
9. Feverfew
Feverfew is one of the best natural remedies for getting rid of migraine headaches. It is a herbal remedy that has been used for centuries to relieve pressure in the head. Many people have reported that after taking feverfew that their migraines have become less frequent and/or stopped altogether. The best way to take this herbal remedy is in capsule form as the fresh leaves may irritate your mouth.
10. Watermelon
Water-rich, watermelons are a great way to help prevent headaches, given that dehydration is one of the main causes of headaches in the first place. The natural water contained in fruits and vegetables also contain essential minerals, like magnesium, that are key for preventing headaches.
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