Another blog post from Ann Arbor chiropractor Mike Tannenbaum, D.C.: How to Relieve Headaches

Many people suffer from chronic headaches, and I see many people for headaches at my chiropractic practice in Ann Arbor. From my experience treating people with headaches, and also as research has shown, chiropractic is one of the best and least invasive ways to treat chronic headaches. However, what can you do to tame a headache until you can get to a chiropractor? Well, below I've listed some natural remedies to temporarily treat headaches.

Peppermint oil: Peppermint oil is an “essential oil” that has been shown to reduce blood flow, thus reduce blood pressure and tension in blood vessels. It can be applied topically (onto the skin) but should be mixed with a few drops of “carrier oil” before you apply it – to the shoulders, temples, forehead, and back of the neck.

Lavender oil: Lavender oil is another essential oil found to help alleviate headaches. A good way to use it is to apply to the upper lip and then inhale deeply. It works really well for many people on the temples and wrists, too. 

Chamomile tea: It acts as a mild sedative and calms the nervous system, thus relaxing muscles and reducing inflammation, anxiety, and stress.

Feverfew: A type of herbal tea that has been consumed for ages as a headache reliever. Its active ingredient is parthenolide, which widens blood vessels, and reduces both inflammation and muscle spasms. Feverfew is used especially to help treat migraines. 

Black coffee: A cup of black coffee can work to constrict blood vessels and thus reduce headache pain. Coffee shouldn't be used all the time, though, as you might create a caffeine dependency, causing headaches if not enough coffee is consumed.

Questions about this blog post, chiropractic, back pain, neck pain, or headaches can be addressed to me at my Ann Arbor chiropractic office at [email protected].

The information in this blog is general in nature, and not intended to be used as a replacement for medical advice.