Home Medications and Treatments for Headaches
Headaches are some of the most common afflictions from which people suffer. A headache is pain or discomfort in the head, scalp, or neck. They are often nature's warning that something is wrong somewhere in the body. Most people with headaches can feel much better by making lifestyle changes, learning ways to relax, and occasionally by taking medications.
Jump to - Symptoms, Causes , Treatment, Other suggestions
Symptoms of Headaches
Causes of Headaches The common causes of headaches are allergy, emotional stress, eye strain, high blood pressure, a hangover, infection, low blood sugar, nutritional deficiency, tension, and the presence of poisons and toxins in the body. Allergies are often the unsuspected cause of headaches. The foods to which some people are allergic and which can trigger headaches are milk and milk products, chocolate, chicken, liver, alcohol and strong cheese. Sneezing and diarrhoea are further indications of an allergy. Remedies
Lemon: There are several remedies for various types of headaches. Lemon is beneficial in its treatment. The juice of three or four slices of lemon should be squeezed in a cup of tea and taken by the patient for treating this condition. It gives immediate relief. The crust of lemon, which is generally thrown away, has been found useful in headaches caused by heat. Lemon crusts should be pounded into a fine paste in a mortar and applied as plaster on the forehead. Applying the yellow, freshly pared off rind of a lemon to each temple will also give relief.
Apple: Apples are valuable in all types of headaches. After removing the upper rind and the inner hard portion of a ripe apply it should be taken with a little salt every morning on an empty stomach in such cases. This should be continued for about a week.
Henna: The flowers of henna have been found valuable in headaches caused by hot sun. The flowers should be rubbed in vinegar and applied over the forehead. This remedy will soon provide relief.
Cinnamon: Cinnamon is useful in headaches caused by exposure to cold air. A fine paste of this spice should be prepared by mixing it with water and it should be applied over the temples and forehead to obtain relief.
Marjoram: The herb marjoram is beneficial in the treatment of a nervous headache. An infusion of the leaves is taken as a tea in the treatment of this disorder.
Rosemary: The herb rosemary has been found valuable to headaches resulting from cold. A handful of this herb should be boiled in a liter of water and put in a mug. The head should be covered with a towel and the steam inhaled for a long as the patient can bear. This should be repeated till the headache is relieved. Dietary Considerations
BREAKFAST
Option one:
Non-citrus juice such as apple, pear or peach
Whole grain, calcium fortified cereal topped with skim milk or soy milk and fresh berries
Herb tea
Option two:
Scrambled eggs (purchase those high in omega-three fatty acids) or add in some fresh cooked salmon or canned salmon and fresh herbs such as basil or cilantro
Fresh Blueberry Muffin or toasted whole grain bread
Herb tea
Melon
Option three:
French toast recipe such as Seattle Apple French Toast (using skim milk)
100% juice
Herb tea
LUNCH
Option one:
Vegetable cottage cheese (low fat) in whole-wheat pita with lettuce or sprouts
Fresh fruit
Herb tea
Option two:
Homemade soup that doesn't contain prohibited foods, such as Asparagus and Sesame Chicken Soup (substituting cider vinegar for the rice wine vinegar)
Crusty roll
Calcium fortified juice
Salad
Option three:
Tuna salad sandwich on whole grain bread with lettuce
Baby carrots
Strawberry Sports Shake
Oatmeal Cookies
DINNER
Option one:
Pasta stir-fry, such as Linguini Honey-Sauced Prawns
Steamed broccoli
Garlic bread sticks
Fresh fruit salad
Option two:
Broiled fish, such as salmon or tuna
Baked potatoes
Sautéed zucchini
Microwave Rhubarb Crisp
Option three:
Gingered Pork and Peaches (made without the lemon juice or peel)
Mashed potatoes
Mixed green salad
Cinnamon-Scented Raspberry Rice Pudding Other effective Remedies for Headaches Other helpful measures in the treatment of headaches are a cleansing enema with water temperature at 37degrees C, a cold throat pack, frequent applications of towels wrung out from very hot water to the back of the neck, a cod compress at 4.4degrees C to 15.6degrees C applied to the head and face, or an alternate spinal compress. Hot fomentations over the abdominal region just before retiring relieve headaches caused by stomach and liver upsets.
Hot food baths are also beneficial in the treatment of chronic headaches. The patient should keep his legs in a tub or bucket filled with hot water at a temperature of 40degrees C to 45degrees C for fifteen minutes every night before retiring. This treatment should be continued for two or three weeks.
Yogic kriyas like jalneti and kunjal; pranayamas like anulomaviloma, shitali, and sitkari; and asanas such as uttanpadasana, sarvangasana, paschimottanasana, halasana, and shavasana are also beneficial in the treatment of headaches.
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