Headaches are absolutely horrid. Sometimes you wake up in the morning with that throbbing pain on one side of your head, then you get a nauseating feeling where eating is just impossible. The only way for you to be relieved is to crouch in your comfortable bed, in an utterly dark room, and sleep for hours. Sometimes, you arrive from work with some pain and discomfort all over the scalp, which feels like a band is being placed tightly around the head. It sometimes radiates to the neck and shoulders and you cannot seem to pinpoint what caused the pain. Was it the lack or overdose of caffeine? Was it the straining of eyes while writing the report on the computer? Was it the excessive inhalation of smoke during the side trip to the bar before going home?

Headache is perhaps the most common pain experienced by men and women. There are several causes for it and the symptoms vary constantly, depending on the type of the headache. While the brain does not cause any headache because it does not have any pain receptors, the extracranial parts of the brain, such as the muscles of the head and neck, the meninges that cover the brain tissue and the nerves can actually be pain sources. When any of this is subjected to any conditions of inflammation, there will be pain. In most cases the immediate treatment is to down synthetically formulated drugs to eliminate headache. But drugs have several effects in our body. While its target is to ease the pain in the head, some chemicals of the medicine travel to other parts of the body and causes adverse effects.

There is however a safer way to treat aching heads without fear of experiencing adverse effects in the body. The first one uses the sense of smell, the other one makes use of natural herbs that are believed to have fewer side effects than the medications made of chemicals.

1. Aromatherapy

   In spas and similar locations that encourages relaxation; the volatile liquid material of the plant is being used to induce relaxation and ease of pain in the body. The volatile liquid from plants is called essential oils. By inhaling these materials, there are evidences showing that the individual’s mood is altered or health is affected positively. Take for instance the scene of being relieved from stress when one runs towards a garden of flowers. It is not simply about the sight of colorful foliage but the pleasant smell that makes one relax. This is the basic idea of aromatherapy. In aromatherapy, there are three types of essential oil that help reduce headache.

   1. Peppermint oil

      Peppermint oil is an extract from the hybrid plant – a cross between spearmint and watermint. Evidences shows that peppermint is being used as medicine for thousands of years already. In modern alternative therapies, peppermint is being used as treatment for headache, such as tension headaches, migraines of headaches due to sinus problems. To use peppermint oil, a drop or more is massaged into the temples, forehead and the jaw part. Depending on the level of a person’s sensitivity, the pain will usually disappear after 30 minutes when it is applied. A feeling of coolness around the aching area will be felt when peppermint oil is applied.

   2. Eucalyptus oil

      Eucalyptus oil, like peppermint oil, has been used for centuries to relive pain and other ailments. In fact, several medications in the pharmaceutical market incorporate eucalyptus oil due to its therapeutic effect. As a therapy for headache, eucalyptus oil, an extract of the leaves and twigs from the plant Eucalyptus globulus is applied on the forehead and temples and massaged effectively. In a study made at the University of Kiel in Germany, it shows that eucalyptus oil is effective in relieving headache to some degree. Aside from it, it improves mental performance and helps calm the body from stresses.

   3. Lavender

      Several migraine sufferers have found relief in products with lavender extract. For some, they mix lavender essential oil into the vapor bath. The steam with the scent of lavender enters the nose and the pores that help ease headache symptoms. Placing a warm damp towel with lavender scent is also helpful in reliving the pain. The name lavender has therapeutic origin; from the word “lava”, it simply denoted washing or purifying the body and spirit.

2. Herbal therapy

   Herbal therapy is making use of herbs as dietary supplements. The market is filled with herbal products, from tea, to capsule, to teas, to fresh plants, claiming to have various therapeutic effects. When using herbs for therapy of certain ailments, especially headaches, it is advisable to discuss the matter with the physician first before ingesting them. Below are some of the popular herbs used to treat headache symptoms.

   1. Willow bark

      There are already plenty of evidences that show that willow bark is effective relief for headaches. According to studies, the salicin compound in willow bark has an anti-inflammatory effect in the body. Willow bark is the dried bark of various willow trees. The dried bark is simmered with water and taken as a tea. The bark is also powderized and placed in a capsule to be taken orally to relieve headaches. There are some side effects when taking willow bark to treat headaches, yet evidences shows that the tendency of getting gastrointestinal upset is unlikely compared to chemical pain relievers.

   2. Fever few

      From the sunflower family, feverfew, or Tanacetum parthenium, has for centuries, shown to be effective in clearing the headache. Feverfew is mostly used to treat those suffering from migraine headaches, especially for women with hormonal imbalances. In Great Britain, a study was made to those with headache and taking feverfew. It showed that 70 percent are relieved of the pain after days of taking 2 to 3 leaves of feverfew. Mot all studies showed that feverfew offers total headache relief, it is therefore recommended to consult with the physician first before using feverfew to treat migraine headaches.

Sources
naturalhomeandgarden.com
florapathics.com
livestrong.com
umm.edu
livestrong.com