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All of us occasionally get headaches. In addition to classic painkillers, there are other ways to get rid of these pains.
A common cause is, for example, lack of water; in that case it is enough to increase your water intake and the pains should subside on their own. Poor hydration, however, is not their only cause. There are different types of headaches that also have different causes. It even often happens that doctors cannot correctly diagnose them, resulting in incorrect treatment.
Headache
Occasionally headaches can signal more serious disease. For example, neurologist Dr. Sakib Quereshi explains that they can sometimes be warning signs of other conditions. Therefore you should learn to recognize them correctly. When they appear next time, instead of reaching for a pill try to find out whether they are a sign of some other health problem.
There are four basic types of headaches that say something about your body. In the following text you will learn not only what they mean, but also which other remedies you can use instead of pills to eliminate them.
1. Sinus headache
In cases of sinus infections, pain that shoots into the head may occur. However, the cause is not usually the head or the tissues around the brain, but inflammation or swelling that creates pressure on the cheekbones, forehead or eyes. A possible fever may also contribute to the pain.
Treatment: Try to drink as much fluid as possible gradually (not all at once), preferably plain water. Still or slightly warm water is more appropriate in this case, because it helps reduce inflammation and clear the sinuses. In addition, eat some oranges or other fruit rich in vitamin C, which also helps suppress inflammation.
You can also try applying alternating cold and hot compresses, or eat a warm chicken or beef broth. Fresh ginger or ginger tea is also suitable, because it has strong anesthetic (pain-reducing) and anti-inflammatory effects.
2. Cluster headaches
This type of headache usually appears above one eye, most often affects women and comes repeatedly. It appears suddenly and leads to severe pain on one side of the head. It may be accompanied by congestion of one side of the nose, production of nasal mucus or tearing of the eye. The exact cause is unknown, but it usually arises when certain nerve pathways in the brain are activated.
Treatment: Use creams containing capsaicin (an extract from peppers and chili peppers). A small amount of this cream applied near the nostrils will cause blocking of the nerve signals responsible for the pain.
3. Tension and pressure headache
This is the most common type of headache, which manifests as relentless and persistent pain around the circumference of the head, most often at the back and at the neck, or at the temples. It can also radiate into the eye area. This headache often leads to nausea and vomiting. It is usually a result of stress, during which the muscles of the head and neck contract.
Treatment: Combine ginger tea with mint or with a few drops of peppermint essential oil. This should effectively alleviate the pain. You can also apply peppermint oil to the temples to achieve a cooling effect that relaxes the muscles of the head and neck. In addition, ginger tea will suppress possible inflammation.
4. Migraines
Migraines most often occur between the ages of 25 and 55, but can occur at any age. It is estimated that one in nine people suffer from them, usually women. They are a much more complicated type of pain than the previous kinds and include a much larger number of symptoms. Migraines manifest with intense, severe and pulsating pains on one side of the head. In one-third of cases they are on both sides of the head.
The pain is often combined with other symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, dizziness, sensitivity to light, smells and sounds, including numbness or tingling of the face. The pain usually shoots from the top of the head downwards.
Treatment: It has been shown that many migraine patients benefit from vitamin B2 (riboflavin), magnesium and omega-3 fatty acids. You should therefore ensure their adequate intake either through diet or by supplementing them in the form of dietary supplements.
In addition, a 2011 study showed that aerobic exercise is quite successful in preventing migraines. So, in addition to supplements, consider including exercise in your daily routine.
