5 Soothing Solutions for Your Aching Head
Foil head woes with a dab of oil.
Tension headaches disappear like magic when you rub peppermint oil on your forehead. Don’t believe it? Take a look at the research.
A solution of 10 percent peppermint oil in ethyl alcohol lowered the intensity of tension headaches after just 15 minutes, shows a study out of Germany. Researchers discovered it was just as effective as 1,000 milligrams of acetaminophen.
Tackle migraines with this magnificent mineral.
People with migraines tend to have low levels of magnesium, say scientists, so they decided to put it to the test. And found magnesium supplements could cut down on the number of migraines you suffer.
If you want to try taking supplements, keep a few cautions in mind. Too much and you could experience upset stomach, diarrhea, and other tummy woes.
Of course, you could opt for food sources, instead. Two tablespoons of chunky peanut butter will give you 30 percent of your daily requirement. An ounce of almonds, 20 percent.
Drink away brain pain.
As you get older, your body becomes less able to sense dehydration and signal your brain that you’re thirsty. The bad news — becoming dehydrated may cause your head to pound.
Women who were mildly dehydrated suffered more headaches, found it more difficult to complete tasks and concentrate, and felt more tired and angry, found one study.
A common guideline is eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day. But some experts say you get much of the water you need from certain fruits and vegetables and from other beverages like milk, juice, and even caffeinated beverages like coffee, green tea, and soda.
Massage your scalp to minimize the misery.
Migraines that start at the base of your neck, at the occipital nerve, and creep up the back of your head can leave you feeling like your head’s been run over by a truck.
Thankfully there’s something you can do that’s easy and cheap.
Place a warm compress on the area for a few minutes then gently massage the base of your skull for some short-term relief.
Thwart head throbbers with popular sleep aid.
For some, the sleep hormone melatonin is a miracle cure for jet lag. Could it also heal headaches? Apparently, it can.
Just 3 milligrams battled not only tension headaches but migraines as well, show two separate studies.
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Migraine sufferers also had fewer headaches when they took melatonin at bedtime. Their headaches were less intense, shorter, and didn’t require pain medication as often.
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People who suffered chronic tension headaches an average of 20 days a month slashed those numbers down to, on average, just 13 days a month.
Melatonin could help against headaches by working as an anti- inflammatory, regulating the brain chemical dopamine and the hormone serotonin, or by hunting down toxic free radicals.
- FC&A Staff Writer
