In case you are curious, here are the things that I try before resorting to meds. Often, though not always, these do the trick.
- Try to determine what kind of headache it is - sinus, tension, lack of sleep, squinting too much, etc.
- For sinus headaches - my primary culprit - I try these things
- drink water to water down mucus
- use a neti pot. A neti pot is an aladin's lamp looking thing with saline or saltwater in it (1 c warm water to 1/2 to 1 tsp salt). Turn you head to one side and point your nose down. Run the water through the top nostril, through your unhappy sinuses, and out the other side. This takes practice, but you allergy sufferers with sing its praises!
- use a mygra stick or other essential oils. Peppermint and lavender are my favorites. Run it on your temples, eyebrows, outsides of nasal passages, below your ears, etc. There are times that I feel like I just rub it all over my head. Breathe in deep the wonderful scents.
- massage or essential oil your neck. The vertebrae that relate to your sinuses are C1 and C2. They are located at the very, very top of your spin slightly under your skull. Using your own hands or the hands of someone you like, massage the muscles in your neck. Rub essential oil on the neck and rest it.
- use vibration. I have a 3-legged vibrating massager that I rub over my face and neck to loosen stuffy airways. This feels fabulous.
- use heat or cold. You will know which feels best. I tend to use heat by dampening a towel and putting in the microwave for a minute. Don't burn yourself, but get it as hot as you can stand and put it over your face. For added benefit, add an essential oil such as eucalyptus or rosemary oil to clear up the stuffy passages.
- yoga inversions. Up to this point, you might think that this is a lot of work for a headache and that going upside down is wacko. Could be. Caution - inversions are not for everyone, especially those with certain medical conditions (heart conditions, high blood pressure, etc). You can do a partial inversion such as a forward fold (bend forward like you would touch your toes) or downward facing dog. You could also do a full inversion such as a headstand, handstand, or chair-stand. If you would like to know how to do these - send me a comment and I'll explain more. After an inversion, immediately lay on the floor for several minutes. Let the blood go back to its regular places. I have noticed that this is like a glacier moving in my head - ah to feel stuffy passages clear and headaches go away.
- sleep at in incline
- For tension headaches, I just drink lots of wine and try to relax...just kidding, about the wine part anyway. Wine makes a headache worse! The relaxing part will help though. I try...
- identifying the location of tension. When I was pregnant, I noticed that I clenched my jaw - which lead to headaches. By identifying this , I was able massage it before I went to sleep and be aware when I woke up (which was frequently due to potty trips). Perhaps it is your neck, shoulders (common), even your back or pressure points on your feet.
- massage the location. Gently using your hands, self massage (or enlist the help of someone you like) the area. You might be surprised at how quickly the relaxation of one place can make your headache vanish. Massage from the location to the area of your headache.
- apply essential oils such as Mygra Stick (available at the Boise Co-op), lavender, chamomile, or other relaxing sent.
- lay down with your eyes covered and do mental relaxation techniques
- drink water, don't drink alcohol or caffeine
- take a nap
- For other headaches, I use a mixture of these techniques.
- If all else fails, I will take a medication - usually the smallest dose.
- What suggestions do you have??
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