Headache Away

When you have a headache, do you rush to your medicine cabinet or to the drugstore for a pain reliever? There are 100 brands, and most come in various forms (for example, tablets or capsules) and various strengths (such as regular and extra strength). The 100-plus brands fall into three types of pain relievers—aspirin, acetaminophen, and ibuprofen. Aspirin and ibuprofen can cause stomach irritation and gastrointestinal bleeding; acetaminophen can cause liver damage in some people.

So, next time you have a headache, instead of rushing to the drugstore, you might want to try one of these natural headache remedies:

1. Eat something soon: Eat something high in protein, a substance necessary for growth because it rebuilds your blood-sugar supply little by little. Sugary foods cause the blood sugar to go up rapidly and then drop again just as fast.

2. Wash it away: First take a hot shower even if the pain gets worse. This will make the blood vessels open wide. Follow it immediately with a cold shower. This process works well for a migraine headache. Cold water makes the blood vessels contract, which eases this pressure on the nerves.

3. Freeze it out: If you are miles away from the shower, put crushed ice in your mouth. This is useful for a migraine headache. However, the remedy is inappropriate for elderly or sick people.

4. Think it away: Sit down or lie down and close your eyes. Imagine that you are on the beach. And ocean breeze cools your face and your hands and arms grow warmer and warmer in the hot sun. Minutes pass, and when you open your eyes, you are left with very warm hands…and no headache.

5. Massage it out: Get to your head through your feet. Massaging the lower part of your big toe and the area under all your toes will lessen tension in the neck. This tension can often cause a headache.

6. Breathe it away: Breathing into an ordinary paper bag can get rid of migraine. Simply breathe into a paper bag and rebreathe the same air, which is mostly carbon dioxide. This process may take as long as 15 minutes.

7. Press it away: Some headaches can be cured by a sensitive finger-pressure massage. There are 3 pairs of points: one at each temple, one under each shoulder blade, and a pair at the back of the neck. Press each point for 15 to 30 seconds at a time. Remember to press both points in a pair at the same time, not just one side.