Headache

A headache can strike at the most inopportune moments, especially those of the migraine variety. It’s sometimes difficult to tell what kind of headache you have in order to know what kind of home remedy is best to treat it. The most common headaches are migraines, sinus headaches, tension headaches, and cluster headaches.

The migraine is the most troublesome and may not always include an actual headache, though other symptoms will be present such as dizziness and blurred vision. If a headache accompanies these symptoms, which it usually does, it encompasses the entire head with a pounding throb that prevents you from doing much except lying down.

The sinus headache can be recognized by its pain in the temples and top of the head, but the most recognizable symptom is pain behind the eyes and a feeling of pressure in the sinus cavity.

Tension headaches tend to be in the back of the head and usually caused by physical tension resulting from overwork or psychological stress.  They may be severe, or have just a feeling of pressure.

A cluster headache can appear in various spots on the head, but it goes away and then returns at regular intervals, thus the term “cluster.” It may hurt steadily for a week, stop, and return two weeks later and do the same thing.

Home Remedies For A Headache

Each type of headache has a different natural cure, though sometimes you may find the same thing works for more than one.

Migraine:

For some people, the only thing that works is to lie down in a dark room until the pain subsides. A cold pack sometimes helps or products like Migraine Ice that are placed on the head at the point of pain. Some people swear by a combination of Ibuprofen and caffeine. Since most over the counter migraine medication include a large amount of caffeine, it’s safe to assume there is some connection between migraines and caffeine that allows them to work together.For severe migraine pain that doesn’t respond to a home remedy, medical intervention may be necessary.

Sinus Headache:

Sometimes a sinus headache will respond to other methods such as an ice pack, nap, or rest, but in most cases either a spray of saline solution or an over the counter sinus medication to dry the sinuses is necessary. Future problems can be prevented by staying away from those things that trigger the sinuses such as various allergens that cause the sinus pressure to build up. Sometimes a sinus headache can follow a cold and be the result of post-nasal drip.

Tension Headache:

A tension headache will only improve on its own after the physical or psychological source of the tension is removed. This sounds easier said than done, so on occasion, sufferers may use a couple of analgesic capsules such as Tylenol for relief or turn to massage therapy as an alternative.

Cluster Headache:

These recurring headaches can have their root in any number of different things, so it makes them much more difficult to treat. They may mimic a tension headache, sinus headache, or a migraine and turn out to be something very different. If a good night’s sleep doesn’t stop the pain, a couple of analgesic capsules should do the trick. If it keeps recurring, look for another source of the problem such as a sinus problem.