| Headaches are a common problem. About 12% | | | | health foods stores; use fresh or powdered |
| of the population suffers from migraines; counting | | | | ginger when you cook, eat crystallized ginger, or |
| sinus, tension, and cluster headaches, that number | | | | put fresh-grated ginger in a drink. Ginger is useful |
| probably approaches 100%. While | | | | for migraines as well as other headaches, and also |
| over-the-counter and prescription headache | | | | eases nausea. |
| remedies often are appropriate, the expense and | | | | Honey is a natural sugar, pre-digested by bees, |
| side effects can be problematic for some people. | | | | that has been used since Bible times. It contains |
| These problems may be avoided with any of a | | | | potassium and magnesium, which will help relax |
| wide selection of herbal and mineral supplements. | | | | the arteries and allow more blood to flow to the |
| Here are some you can try; they're listed in | | | | brain. Try taking a couple of teaspoons if you feel |
| alphabetical order, and, as always, you should | | | | a migraine coming on; it also might help with a |
| check with your health care provider if you have | | | | hangover. Try boiling equal parts of honey and |
| any questions. | | | | apple cider vinegar and inhaling the steam. |
| General precautions: | | | | Lavender reduces pain and relaxes. Massage or |
| -- Some are not recommended for pregnant or | | | | sniff as with eucalyptus oil. |
| nursing women or children under age two. | | | | Lithium, a salt that is used to treat bipolar |
| -- Don't take any of these with Coumadin or | | | | disorder, can help those suffering from cluster |
| other blood thinners without consulting a doctor or | | | | headaches. It is available at the health foods store. |
| pharmacist. | | | | Marjoram eases muscle tension. |
| -- Don't take them if you have kidney problems | | | | Menthol preparations can be helpful in relieving |
| without consulting a doctor or pharmacist. | | | | tension headaches. Massage the oil into your |
| Butterbur. Sold under the brand name Petadolex, | | | | temples. |
| it should be taken regularly, as a preventative; | | | | Magnesium. Headache sufferers sometimes have |
| you may not be able to find it at the health foods | | | | underlying magnesium deficiency. Following the |
| store (if not, do an Internet search), and it's not | | | | recommended dosage on the label, take with |
| inexpensive. | | | | meals, but not with dairy products--magnesium |
| Cayenne. Cayenne dilates your blood vessels, | | | | interferes with calcium absorption. |
| improving circulation; it is also a natural analgesic. | | | | Milk thistle, like feverfew, has been subject to |
| You can buy cayenne capsules and take them | | | | many clinical trials that clearly demonstrate its |
| regularly as a preventative; or you can take | | | | effectiveness. It is frequently recommended to |
| cayenne on an as-needed basis, and if you have | | | | counteract the harmful effects of alcohol and |
| cayenne (red pepper) in your spice cupboard, it'll | | | | other drugs on the liver. Silymarin, a powerful |
| do. Put some in a glass of water, or a cup of tea, | | | | anti-oxidant, is largely responsible for the medical |
| coffee, or hot chocolate. How much is effective | | | | benefits of this herb. |
| without being overpowering is something you'll | | | | Mustard. Soak your feet for 10-20 minutes in a |
| have to experiment to discover; start with 1/8 | | | | hot foot bath to which you have added 2 |
| teaspoon and work your way up. You may be | | | | teaspoons of powdered mustard. The heat and |
| able to tolerate a whole teaspoon--but you may | | | | mustard will work together to ease your |
| find relief from a lot less. | | | | headache, and mustard powder is available at the |
| Celery seeds. You can find these at the grocery | | | | grocery store. |
| store. Soak the seeds in hot water, strain, and sip | | | | Passiflora incarnata, a tropical herb, has been used |
| like tea. | | | | since the 19th century for nervous conditions. |
| Chamomile. Chamomile tea is calming and soothing, | | | | Clinical trials have demonstrated the relaxing and |
| and readily available at the grocery store. | | | | calming effects of Passiflora; it is often |
| Cinnamon reduces stress, loosens tight muscles, | | | | recommended to treat anxiety and reduce |
| and lowers blood pressure--all of which ease a | | | | tension. |
| headache. | | | | Peppermint reduces pain and tension. Massage or |
| Co-Enzyme Q10 acts on energy production within | | | | sniff as with the other oils. (Warning: keep the |
| the mitochondria in the cells. | | | | peppermint oil away from your eyes!) This may |
| Eucalyptus oil. This is an essential oil; put a few | | | | be beneficial for tension headaches. Drink |
| drops of this in a carrier oil (vegetable, olive, etc.) | | | | peppermint tea, available at the grocery store. |
| and massage into your forehead to help with | | | | Riboflavin (vitamin B-2), like CoQ10, acts on |
| tension headaches. Also, try putting a few drops | | | | energy production within the mitochondria; see |
| on a handkerchief and sniffing it. | | | | package for the recommended dosage. |
| Feverfew and ginkgo reduce migraines and | | | | Rosemary. Rosemary oil helps keep blood vessels |
| vascular headaches by reducing blood vessel | | | | dilated; rub a few drops of it into your temples. |
| dilation and spasms. They also have | | | | Or make a rosemary tea using one teaspoon of |
| anti-inflammatory properties; ginkgo, in addition, | | | | rosemary in a cup of hot water; cover and steep |
| relieves dizziness often associated with headaches. | | | | for 10 minutes; strain and drink. |
| You can try chewing feverfew leaves, although | | | | Valerian reduces tension and pain. It's available in |
| they are very bitter; or get a tincture or capsules. | | | | capsule form at the health foods store. |
| This is a good remedy for migraine or cluster | | | | White willow bark will give you results similar to |
| headaches. Feverfew appears to be better at | | | | aspirin, but is much gentler on the stomach. This is |
| prevention than treatment of migraines, so you | | | | the natural ingredient from which aspirin is made. |
| may want to take it on a regular basis. Both are | | | | Capsules or tincture can be found in health foods |
| available at health foods stores. | | | | stores. |
| Ginger relaxes blood vessels in the head and | | | | So, if you, like many people today, hesitate to |
| reduces swelling in the brain, and activates natural | | | | spend the money--and take the risk--sometimes |
| opiates in the brain that relieve pain. It can be | | | | associated with traditional medications, try these |
| taken in the form of tea or in tablets available at | | | | first. For most headache sufferers, it can't hurt. |