Headache ?!

Headache ?

anyone know of a food or drink (non alcohol) to help ease a tension headache?

I THOUGHT OF WRITING THIS FIRST : DON"T USE CAFFEINE AS THE FIRST CHOICE AS USSUALLY IT WILL BE ONLY A SHORT TERM SOLUTION AND DO MORE DAMAGE THEN HELP.

ah! Headache, one of the most common ailements these days,

We'll here's a couple of ways to get rid of it-

Ammonia Put 5 drops of ammonia in 1/2 glass of water and inhale the fumes.

Apple cider vinegar (ACV) It has been found that a person with a headache has slightly elevated urine alkalinity, so taking some ACV will assist in bringing the body's pH back into sync. You may add a few tablespoons of ACV to a glass of water to accomplish this. Use pH test strips to measure your urine's pH.

� Add a few tablespoons of vinegar to a vaporizer or pan of boiling water and inhale the fumes for five minutes. Lie down for 15-20 minutes afterward and the headache should be gone. Repeat if necessary.

Butterbur (Petasites hybridus) As reported in Neurology, December 28, 2004, a proprietary standardized extract of butterbur reduced the occurrence of migraines by 48%. Participants took two 75 mg tablets of the extract per day for four months. The extract, Petadolex, by Weber & Weber International, Windmere, FL, is standardized to 15% petasins (the active ingredient).

Cayenne pepper Put 1/2 to one teaspoon of cayenne pepper in a glass of water and drink slowly. This will dilate your blood vessels and improve circulation.

Celery seeds Soak the seeds in hot water, strain and sip slowly.

Eucalyptus oil Put a few drops of this essential oil in a carrier oil and massage your forehead. Also, try sniffing the oil - put a few drops on a handkerchief and sniff. This may be beneficial for tension headaches.

Feverfew Chew some feverfew leaves (they are very bitter!) or get a tincture or capsules at a health food store. Take two 300-380 mg capsules in divided doses or 60-80 drops of tincture once a day. This is a good remedy for migraine, pre-menstrual or cluster headaches. Feverfew is very similar to aspirin in the way it works and it inhibits the release of inflammatory substances called prostaglandins, which are believed to contribute to the onset of migraines. It appears that it works on migraines by reducing the swelling that constricts the blood vessels in the head, pain, and blood vessel spasms that are a major cause of headaches.

Feverfew appears to be better at prevention than treatment of migraines, so we suggest that you take it on a regular basis. Recent research has shown that one of the active ingredients in feverfew, parthenolide, has clear anti-inflammatory properties. In addition, researchers believe that parthenolide normalizes the slightly irregular blood cell activity sometimes seen with migraines. Caution: It is not recommended for pregnant or nursing women, and should not be given to a child under two.

Try a product called MigreLief which contains a combination of B-2, feverfew and magnesium.

Ginger inhibits a substance called thromboxane A2 that prevents the release of substances that make blood vessels dilate. Use fresh or powdered ginger when you cook, eat crystallized ginger, or put grated fresh ginger in a drink. Ginger is useful for migraines as well as other headaches.

Honey Take two teaspoons of honey with each meal. Honey contains potassium and magnesium which will help relax the arteries and allow more blood to flow to the brain. This is very good if you feel a migraine coming on or have a hangover.

� Boil equal parts of honey and apple cider vinegar and inhale the steam.

Lavender oil Put a few drops of this essential oil in a carrier oil or lotion and massage your temples and neck. Also, try sniffing the oil - put a few drops on a handkerchief and sniff.

Lithium salts often help those suffering from cluster headaches.

Menthol preparations can be helpful in relieving tension headaches. Massage the oil into the temples which will relax the temporal muscles.

Mustard Soak your feet for 10-20 minutes in a hot footbath to which you have added 2 teaspoons of powdered mustard.

Peppermint oil Place a few drops of this essential oil in a carrier oil or lotion and rub on your forehead, temples or neck. Also, try sniffing the oil - put a few drops on a handkerchief and sniff. This may be beneficial for tension headaches. Warning: Make sure you don't get the peppermint oil too close to your eyes!

� Peppermint tea Drink one or two cups of tea if you have a headache.

Rosemary oil Rub a few drops of oil of rosemary into your temples. Rosemary helps keep blood vessels dilated.

� Make a rosemary tea using one teaspoon of rosemary in a cup of hot water; cover and steep for 10 minutes; strain and sip a cup three times a day.

Walking If you feel a headache coming on, take a brisk walk. This will relax you and your circulatory system so that more blood and oxygen can get to the brain. Your headache should disappear quickly.

Water/hot Soak your feet in a pan of very warm water. Add more as it cools off. This increases the blood flow to the lower extremities and away from the head, where increased blood may be the cause of your headache.

White willow bark (Salix spp.) will give you similar results as aspirin, but is much gentler on the stomach. Capsules or tincture can be found in health food stores.

Cinnamon is useful in headaches caused by exposure to cold air. A fine paste of this spice should be prepared by mixing it with water and it should be applied over the temples and forehead to obtain relief