Home Remedies For Headache: Procedure, Recovery, Risk & Complication

It is important to discover what the cause of your headache is, in order to treat it. Sometimes a headache has no underlying cause but is the result of a problem with the brain, blood vessels, nerves, head and neck muscles, in the area surrounding the skull. A headache can also be the result of an underlying illness such as inflammation of the sinus, influenza, ear infections, brain tumor, etc.

There are over 150 different types of headaches that range from cluster headaches, migraines, tension headaches, and acute headaches to chronic headaches.

To treat the symptoms of a headache, here are some effective remedies:

1. Ginger in lemon tea:

   To prepare this, take a glass of hot lemon tea and soak a piece of the ginger root in it for ten minutes. You can drink this tea once a day until a headache subsides. If you apply a paste of ginger and water to your forehead, you will experience instant relief from the pain.

2. Basil:

   It is useful in treating mild tension headaches. It is a natural muscle relaxant for tense neck and head muscles. To make a home remedy with basil, boil a cup of water, add three basil leaves and a spoon of honey to it. Drink this cup of tea once a day, until a headache subsides. You can also inhale basil from a bowl of hot water or chew fresh basil leaves, for instant pain relief.

3. Head and neck exercises:

   These exercises can help improve blood circulation and provide relief from the pain. One exercise is to slowly rotate your head clockwise first and then anti-clockwise. Another exercise involves placing your thumb under your chin and pushing your head upwards, very gently, until you are facing the ceiling. Hold this position for around 8 seconds, then slowly lower your head and gently push it downwards, until you are facing the floor.

   Then gently push your head towards the right side, until it is in line with your shoulder and do the same on your left side. Hold each position for 8 seconds. Now repeat this process three more times.

4. Almond:

   Almonds are a good source of magnesium which helps to prevent headaches. If magnesium is deficient in the body it leads to headaches.

5. Drink water:

   As per the studies done by the researcher, it has been observed that people who don't drink sufficient water are more likely to have headaches. So, it's recommended to drink adequate water to avoid headaches.

6. Yoga:

   Yoga helps to relax your mind and body, and provide relief from stress. Doing yoga regularly can prevent frequent headache problems.

7. Tea or coffee:

   Tea or coffee contains caffeine which is a vasoconstrictor and constricts the blood vessels. It also helps to make the mood light and prevents headaches.

8. Peppermint:

   Peppermint oil contains a compound called menthol which is one of the most effective home remedies in reducing pain.

9. Proper sleep:

   Taking adequate amounts of sleep is important to avoid headaches. As per the studies done by researchers, it has been observed that people with less than 5-6 hours of sleep suffer from frequent headaches.

10. Say no to alcohol:

    Alcohol through the process of vasodilation, widens the blood vessels which results in easy flow of the blood. Alcohol also leads to frequent urination tendency in few people which results in dehydration and eventually headaches.

Summary: Headaches can be cured by ginger, lemon tea, almonds, peppermint, tea, or coffee, an adequate amount of water. Avoid alcohol. Take proper sleep.

In general, there are not many side effects of home remedies that treat headaches. However, it is advised to refrain from consuming an excess of lemon tea. Lime is acidic and overconsumption of lemon juice can lead to acid reflux and corrosion of your teeth. It is also important to take care while following the neck or head exercises. If the instructions are not followed properly, it can lead to a strain of neck muscles.

Summary: Despite being effective, certain home remedies have some side effects which vary from person to person, so choose your home remedy only if you are not allergic or sensitive to the particular substance. Do not use any home remedies in excess as it may be harmful to health.

For the treatment and prevention of headaches, along with these natural home remedies for headaches , it is important to make some changes to your lifestyle habits.

• It is important to stay hydrated, drinking lots of water will help clear your system and avoid headaches due to constipation or dehydration.
• In order for these remedies to be effective, you should eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly.
• It is advisable to avoid food that contains MSG or an excess of sugar and drinking caffeine or alcohol in excess.
• Other habits that you should avoid in order to prevent headaches, is sitting in front of the TV or computer for prolonged periods and doing strenuous activity for hours in the sun.

Summary: Follow the guidelines. Stay hydrated, eat a healthy diet, avoid excess sugar foods, avoid alcohol, avoid sitting in front of the TV for long hours.

The recovery time for a headache depends on the cause and the intensity of a headache. For a mild tension headache, the remedy may be effective and the pain could subside within a day. While for migraines and cluster headaches, the recovery time could last from a few days to a week.

Summary: The time of recovery for a headache depends on the cause and the intensity of a headache.But if after following the remedies you are not seeing any improvement then it's recommended to visit your doctor.

These home remedies are effective in providing relief from the pain and in alleviating the symptoms of a headache. However, the results might not always be permanent, since it is always possible for a headache to reoccur. A chronic or an acute headache that is caused by an underlying illness will persist until the root cause has been treated.

Summary: No, the results are not permanent as the headache can reoccur.

There is no special training or expertise required, in order to use these simple home remedies. However, while following the neck and head exercises, some guidance might be necessary.

Summary: No, there is no need for training or expert assistance since these home remedies are easy to perform.