| Headaches are a common problem. About 12% of the | | | | the form of tea or in tablets available at health foods |
| population suffers from migraines; counting sinus, | | | | stores; use fresh or powdered ginger when you cook, |
| tension, and cluster headaches, that number probably | | | | eat crystallized ginger, or put fresh-grated ginger in a |
| approaches 100%. While over-the-counter and | | | | drink. Ginger is useful for migraines as well as other |
| prescription headache remedies often are appropriate, | | | | headaches, and also eases nausea.Honey is a natural |
| the expense and side effects can be problematic for | | | | sugar, pre-digested by bees, that has been used since |
| some people.These problems may be avoided with | | | | Bible times. It contains potassium and magnesium, |
| any of a wide selection of herbal and mineral | | | | which will help relax the arteries and allow more blood |
| supplements. Here are some you can try; they're listed | | | | to flow to the brain. Try taking a couple of teaspoons |
| in alphabetical order, and, as always, you should check | | | | if you feel a migraine coming on; it also might help with |
| with your health care provider if you have any | | | | a hangover. Try boiling equal parts of honey and apple |
| questions.General precautions:-- Some are not | | | | cider vinegar and inhaling the steam.Lavender reduces |
| recommended for pregnant or nursing women or | | | | pain and relaxes. Massage or sniff as with eucalyptus |
| children under age two. | | | | oil.Lithium, a salt that is used to treat bipolar disorder, |
| -- Don't take any of these with Coumadin or other | | | | can help those suffering from cluster headaches. It is |
| blood thinners without consulting a doctor or | | | | available at the health foods store.Marjoram eases |
| pharmacist. | | | | muscle tension.Menthol preparations can be helpful in |
| -- Don't take them if you have kidney problems | | | | relieving tension headaches. Massage the oil into your |
| without consulting a doctor or pharmacist.Butterbur. | | | | temples.Magnesium. Headache sufferers sometimes |
| Sold under the brand name Petadolex, it should be | | | | have underlying magnesium deficiency. Following the |
| taken regularly, as a preventative; you may not be able | | | | recommended dosage on the label, take with meals, |
| to find it at the health foods store (if not, do an Internet | | | | but not with dairy products--magnesium interferes with |
| search), and it's not inexpensive.Cayenne. Cayenne | | | | calcium absorption.Milk thistle, like feverfew, has been |
| dilates your blood vessels, improving circulation; it is also | | | | subject to many clinical trials that clearly demonstrate |
| a natural analgesic. You can buy cayenne capsules | | | | its effectiveness. It is frequently recommended to |
| and take them regularly as a preventative; or you can | | | | counteract the harmful effects of alcohol and other |
| take cayenne on an as-needed basis, and if you have | | | | drugs on the liver. Silymarin, a powerful anti-oxidant, is |
| cayenne (red pepper) in your spice cupboard, it'll do. | | | | largely responsible for the medical benefits of this |
| Put some in a glass of water, or a cup of tea, coffee, | | | | herb.Mustard. Soak your feet for 10-20 minutes in a hot |
| or hot chocolate. How much is effective without being | | | | foot bath to which you have added 2 teaspoons of |
| overpowering is something you'll have to experiment to | | | | powdered mustard. The heat and mustard will work |
| discover; start with 1/8 teaspoon and work your way | | | | together to ease your headache, and mustard powder |
| up. You may be able to tolerate a whole | | | | is available at the grocery store.Passiflora incarnata, a |
| teaspoon--but you may find relief from a lot less.Celery | | | | tropical herb, has been used since the 19th century for |
| seeds. You can find these at the grocery store. Soak | | | | nervous conditions. Clinical trials have demonstrated |
| the seeds in hot water, strain, and sip like | | | | the relaxing and calming effects of Passiflora; it is |
| tea.Chamomile. Chamomile tea is calming and soothing, | | | | often recommended to treat anxiety and reduce |
| and readily available at the grocery store.Cinnamon | | | | tension.Peppermint reduces pain and tension. Massage |
| reduces stress, loosens tight muscles, and lowers | | | | or sniff as with the other oils. (Warning: keep the |
| blood pressure--all of which ease a | | | | peppermint oil away from your eyes!) This may be |
| headache.Co-Enzyme Q10 acts on energy production | | | | beneficial for tension headaches. Drink peppermint tea, |
| within the mitochondria in the cells.Eucalyptus oil. This is | | | | available at the grocery store.Riboflavin (vitamin B-2), |
| an essential oil; put a few drops of this in a carrier oil | | | | like CoQ10, acts on energy production within the |
| (vegetable, olive, etc.) and massage into your forehead | | | | mitochondria; see package for the recommended |
| to help with tension headaches. Also, try putting a few | | | | dosage.Rosemary. Rosemary oil helps keep blood |
| drops on a handkerchief and sniffing it.Feverfew and | | | | vessels dilated; rub a few drops of it into your temples. |
| ginkgo reduce migraines and vascular headaches by | | | | Or make a rosemary tea using one teaspoon of |
| reducing blood vessel dilation and spasms. They also | | | | rosemary in a cup of hot water; cover and steep for |
| have anti-inflammatory properties; ginkgo, in addition, | | | | 10 minutes; strain and drink.Valerian reduces tension |
| relieves dizziness often associated with headaches. | | | | and pain. It's available in capsule form at the health |
| You can try chewing feverfew leaves, although they | | | | foods store.White willow bark will give you results |
| are very bitter; or get a tincture or capsules. This is a | | | | similar to aspirin, but is much gentler on the stomach. |
| good remedy for migraine or cluster headaches. | | | | This is the natural ingredient from which aspirin is made. |
| Feverfew appears to be better at prevention than | | | | Capsules or tincture can be found in health foods |
| treatment of migraines, so you may want to take it on | | | | stores.So, if you, like many people today, hesitate to |
| a regular basis. Both are available at health foods | | | | spend the money--and take the risk--sometimes |
| stores.Ginger relaxes blood vessels in the head and | | | | associated with traditional medications, try these first. |
| reduces swelling in the brain, and activates natural | | | | For most headache sufferers, it can't hurt.Lisa J. |
| opiates in the brain that relieve pain. It can be taken in | | | | |