Headache Relief

 As a chiropractor, I have never seen a chronic headache sufferer who has not had misaligned bones of their neck. This goes for all categories of headaches people suffer from that I've seen at my Ann Arbor chiropractic office, and all “triggers” for these headaches. An example is migraine headaches caused by stress or sinus headaches caused by allergens. Because my experience suggests that all chronic headache sufferers – no matter what kind of headaches they suffer from – have misaligned vertebrae of their neck, the only way to permanently get rid of the headaches is to make sure the neck vertebrae are properly aligned. However, not all people can immediately get to a chiropractor to get their neck vertebrae aligned. So, here are some stopgap natural remedies: they won't prevent headaches from re-occurring, but can be used for temporary headache relief.

Peppermint Oil: Peppermint oil acts to reduce pain, increase blood circulation and relieve tension. Using a peppermint oil (purchased as a pure essential oil) can work well if you apply a couple of drops to your temples, the back of your neck, your forehead and shoulders, and lightly spread it over your skin. Most sources recommend diluting it in a few drops of oil, such as coconut.

Chamomile Tea: Chamomile acts as a muscle relaxant and anti-inflammatory agent, and it calms the nervous system.

Black Coffee: Coffee (you should only need to consume a single 8-ounce cup of brewed black coffee) quickly works to constrict blood vessels. This one is good for migraines.

Almonds: Almonds have salicin in them, which is a natural pain killer. A small handful of almonds should be adequate to help quiet a headache. Conversely, as a side note, almonds have been found to be a migraine trigger for some people.

Apple Cider Vinegar: Dilute some apple cider vinegar and then bring to a boil in a pan. Turn the stove off and breathe in the steam. Be careful not to get too close to the boiled water, and make sure the steam is not too hot, so as to avoid burning yourself.

Feverfew: It has the active ingredient parthenolide, which is anti-inflammatory and reduces blood vessel constriction which often relieves muscle spasm. Feverfew is available in many formulations; two popular ones are a topical preparation (like a gel) and tea. Make sure to follow the directions included.

I hope this blog post can be of some help to you headache sufferers, and if anybody has questions about headaches, neck pain, back pain, or chiropractic, I can be contacted at my Ann Arbor office at [email protected].

The information contained in this blog post is for educational purposes only, is general in nature and is not intended to replace medical advice.

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