Home Remedies for a Headache

A headache can be debilitating and most of us at some time or another has either had one or will have one. If you're like me, you would rather prevent a headache rather than treat one. Knowing what causes a headache is the first step. Knowing how to treat the different types of headaches using natural or home remedies will empower you the next time a headache comes on. The following is a list of the causes of headaches so that you can take that first step towards treating your headache with natural or home remedies.

1) Eye strain: A headache caused by eye strain usually occurs when someone sits at a computer too long, reads too long, watches TV, or plays video games for too long without taking enough breaks. Eye strain can also be caused from participating in any of these activities in poor light or if you are in need of eye glasses. If your eyes are sensitive to light, this could also cause eye strain while looking at a computer, TV, video game, reading, or while driving.

2) Stress: Stress related headaches are all too common. Life is full of stress created from work, driving, shopping, watching the news, family issues, money troubles, poor health, depression, lack of spirituality, and on and on. Stress usually brings on tension type headaches that sometimes turn into migraines.

3) Hangover: When we consume alcohol we are also dehydrating ourselves. Alcoholic is a diuretic, causing you to lose fluids. Alcohol affects the proper functioning of prostaglandins by not allowing blood vessels to contract and interfering with its ability to control pain.

4) Dehydration: Many athletes can suffer from a dehydration headache from not replacing body fluids lost while exercising. Also, anyone working in the heat can also suffer from this type of headache. When the body does not have enough water, the blood vessels constrict in an attempt to conserve whatever body fluids there are.

5) Illness: Common illnesses can also cause a headache such as the common cold or the flu.

6) Serious health condition: Headaches can also be a symptom of a more serious health issue such as a brain infection, tumor, or aneurysm, meningitis, and stroke.

7) Hormone imbalance: The Mayo Clinic has noted that when estrogen levels drop, the possibility for a headache increases. Many women suffer from headaches during menstruation.

Types of headaches

What type of headache do you have? Being able to answer this will help guide you to a treatment and a possible prevention.

Common Types:

Sinus usually includes mucus in the back of the throat and eventually a fever. Pain is usually around the eyes and cheekbones.
Tension is the most common type of headache and is described by pain or tightness in the head that sometimes radiates down the neck and/or shoulders.
Chronic (Migraine & Tension), according to medical staff at the Mayo Clinic, this type of headache happens fifteen or more days each month for at least three months and cannot be the consequence of another health condition.
Ice cream headaches, commonly known as "brain freeze," occur when we eat ice cream, or a very cold drink too fast. Luckily these do not last very long at all.

Less Common:

Thunderclap headaches happen just like a bolt of lightning, quick, sudden, and immense. These can be a sign of a serious and potentially deadly health condition and should be treated by a professional immediately.
Traction headaches can be serious and should be treated by a professional immediately. It usually feels like strong pressure on the head because there may be a tumor or hematoma somewhere in the head that is applying pressure wherever it is located.
Cluster headaches take place in groups for several weeks to months and then disappear for months or years.
Hypnic ("alarm clock") headaches only begin after you are asleep and then wakes you up, usually at the same time. These types usually occur after the age of 50 and the cause is still unknown.
Vascular headaches usually occur during and/or after exercise. Although the cause is unknown at this time, some suggest that the pain occurs because heavy exercise will dilate the blood vessels in the head. This type of headache usually is described as excruciating or aching.

Home remedies

I) How to treat your headache once you have it:

1) Soak your feet in a foot bath to help redistribute the blood in your head to your feet.
2) Take a hot shower to help relax tight muscles and open up your sinuses.
3) Apply an ice pack to your neck if heat isn't the answer.
4) Facial and/or head massage can help relieve tension and open sinuses.
5) Inhale onion steam by quartering an onion, placing it in water in a pot, and heat to boiling. Once boiling, place a towel over your head (careful not to let towel near burner) and the pot and breathe through your mouth and nose. Take deep breaths. This helps to open sinuses.
6) Mint or chamomile tea
7) Kudzu root helps not only with a headache but also a hangover.
8) Feverfew has helped relieve the pain of a headache for some.

II) How to Prevent a Headache

Knowing the cause and type of your headache can help you prevent another one. Pay close attention next time you get a headache and write down what you were doing leading up to the headache. Were you reading, driving, sick, or on your menstrual cycle? It doesn't do you any good to start a regimen of feverfew or kudzu if your headaches are brought on by exercise or allergic reactions to something in your environment.

To sum up:

First find out the causes of your headaches, second determine the type, and third seek out which natural or home remedies will work for you and/or seek medical advice from a professional.

For other articles related to natural remedies for breast pain (mastitis) or acne see:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/5658284/how_to_treat_breast_pain_natural_remedies.html?cat=5
and
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/5659028/how_to_treat_acne_natural_acne_treatment.html?cat=5

Authors' Disclaimer: While every caution has been taken to provide my readers with the most accurate information, please use your discretion before making any decisions based on the information in this article. Always seek the medical advice of a professional when confronted with any medical concern.

References

http://www.headacheupdates.com/migraine/magazine/edition/Causes-Of-Headache.htm
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/nighttime-headaches/AN00992
http://www.health911.com/headache
http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=16461