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Natural pain relief is something that many people opt for these days, since many medications have unpleasant side effects and can be bad for your body. While it`s easy to rely on a handful of pills to take care of a headache, there are other, non-medicinal methods of natural pain relief that are available. These herbal remedies enable you to treat your pain without having to resort to chemicals and drugs that could be harmful.
Herbal remedies for headaches have been around since cavemen used plants to heal their ills, but for several generations now, we`ve tended toward the more chemical solution. It`s time to get back to basics, though, since natural pain relief techniques are not only very effective and have no lasting side effects, they can also be considerably cheaper than more modern methods.
1. Drink a cup of tea. Herbal remedies are often some of the best ones when it comes to relieving pain, particularly for tension headaches and migraines. There`s just something relaxing about a cup of tea and when made with the right herbs, you can have a potent natural painkiller on your hands. Try feverfew mixed with chamomile for a soothing tea that reduces or eliminates headaches.
2. Get a massage. Tension headaches are caused by the tightening of muscles, often due to stress or unaccustomed exercise. A massage works to gently stretch these tightened muscles and help them release the tension there. By manipulating the muscles, particularly in the neck and shoulders, as well as the base of the skull, the tightness is eased and the pain will be eliminated. This is something you can do yourself, if you simply work the area where your neck muscles attack to the skull, but it does work best if someone else, preferably with experience, does this for you.
3. Drink some water. Did you know that 80% of Americans are somewhat dehydrated most the time? Most people drink soft drinks with their meals and snacks. Unfortunately, having a cola will not actually rehydrate you, it merely makes the situation worse, but if you are drinking sodas, then you probably avoid water. The state of dehydration, however mild, can cause headaches. Drinking water is a very important part of preventing headaches, but it can also be used to treat them. If you suspect your headache might be caused by dehydration, then try drinking a glass or two of water and waiting.
4. Take a supplement. In some cases, herbal remedies come in the form of supplements and can be a
great relief for chronic headaches. Cayenne is one of the more common natural pain relief options that can be used. You might also want to try supplements with feverfew or gingko biloba, both of which have a long history of being used to ease headaches, in addition to other benefits.
5. Use acupressure. Acupuncture is a well-known alternative medical treatment for quite a few health issues, but you might be pleased to know that the idea behind it works just as well without the actual needles. Try squeezing the fleshy area between the thumb and forefinger for up to 5 minutes for quick headache relief. Rubbing with small circular motions directly in front of the ears, in the little dip found there, can also help.