Oh, headaches. Painful, exhausting and always striking at the most inconvenient time.
While it might feel like your brain is being squeezed out through your ears, most headaches are totally benign. But that doesn’t mean we should just live with them, right? If you’re prone to headaches, these five natural remedies might just prevent your next attack.
Note: If you experience persistent or severe headaches, you should see your healthcare practitioner.
1. Stop eating processed food.
It’s no surprise that yet another health condition can be helped by cutting junk out of your diet.
- Sugar and caffeine: Consume excessive amounts of these? Both can cause headaches. On the flip side, you’ll also experience headaches if you stop consuming them abruptly. In this case, it’s worth the withdrawal symptoms for the improved health in the long run.
- Food additives: Up to 70 per cent of people with migraines or headaches are sensitive to monosodium glutamate (MSG), preservatives and added salicylates. Many are also triggered by synthetic antioxidants and artificial colours.
- Blood sugar fluctuations: Your blood sugar can spike and fall after eating sugar and refined carbs, which can cause the arteries in your head to spasm.
- Alcohol: Anyone who has woken up with a sore head the morning after knows this! Drink responsibly, y’all.
- Food sensitives: Your headaches may be triggered by an unknown food intolerance. Keep a diary of your food and symptoms if you think this might be an issue for you.
2. Get moving.
Yes, exercise is probably the last thing you feel like if you’re prone to headaches. But a 2009 systematic review and meta-analysis found that exercise had therapeutic effects for tension headaches, particularly stretching and postural relaxation.
Exercise also improves your posture by strengthening core muscles. We know that posture issues can trigger headaches by pulling on the tight muscles that connect to your head. Hey, another good reason to work on your planks.
3. Try acupuncture.
According to Cochrane, there is moderate evidence to suggest that acupuncture is effective for those suffering frequent or chronic tension headaches. Yep, it might be weird to have a bunch of needles stuck into you, but if you are especially prone it’s worth checking out this ancient medicine.
4. Stay hydrated.
We know, it’s obvious. Yet, how many of us actually drink enough water? It’s thought that dehydration headaches happen because the lack of fluids cause the brain to shrink and pull away from the skull. Is anyone else refilling their water bottle right now?
Luckily, the remedy for this is easy. We’d also recommend drinking tea with soothing herbs like lavender, mint, chamomile or calendula. They make water more interesting and help relieve stress… which brings us to our final remedy for headaches…
5. Keep a lid on stress.
Emotional stress and lack of sleep (as well as not eating on time) are among the most common triggers of tension headaches and migraines. Prevent headaches – and improve your mental health at the same time – by maintaining good sleep hygiene, practicing mindfulness and even dabbling in meditation. Not sure how? Check out our easy guide to meditation for beginners.
Tell us your best natural remedies for headaches below!
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