Headaches are incredibly common, which leads some people to believe that they’re normal. That’s not the case. Sure, occasional mild headaches are an annoyance, but severe headaches and migraines can make it impossible to complete basic daily tasks. Contrary to popular belief, headaches are a preventable and treatable condition. If you’re dealing with chronic or debilitating headaches, rest assured: You have options. Read on for a few tips regarding how to cure headaches.
How to Cure Headaches
Classifying Your Headaches
One of the first steps in curing your headaches is identifying what type of headache you’re dealing with. There are several different kinds of headaches, some of which can point to serious health problems. There are three major headache categories:
- Primary headaches, which include tension headaches, cluster headaches, and migraine headaches
- Secondary headaches, which are due to underlying medical conditions like allergies or a neck injury
- Other headaches, which can include cranial neuralgias and facial pain
Seek the help of a physician to help determine what kind of headache you may be experiencing. Once you’ve and your physician classified your headaches, you can move forward with a treatment plan.
5 Ways to Get Rid of Headaches Naturally
1. Chiropractic
Chiropractors are skilled at alleviating primary headaches and other ailments due to issues resulting from musculoskeletal and nervous systems. It is a safe and effective treatment for many patients—including children.
Your chiropractor may perform the following if you are suffering from a tension headache, cluster headache, or migraine:
- Adjust the spine to improve spinal function and alleviate the stress on your body
- Discuss nutrition with you to explore if the underlying cause of the headaches is related to your diet
- Offer pain prevention advice on posture, ergonomics, exercise form, and relaxation techniques
2. Acupuncture
Migraine sufferers, listen up: A wide variety of studies have shown a strong link between headache relief and acupuncture. Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese practice that addresses disruptions to the flow of energy in your body. During an acupuncture treatment, a professional acupuncture practitioner will place small needles in specific parts of the body. That regulates the body’s energy flow, which helps to cure chronic pain conditions like headaches.
3. Reflexology, Massage, and Pressure Points
If you’re wondering how to reduce headaches naturally, look no further than hands-on regularly scheduled treatments like reflexology and massage. These practices can be sustainable, long-term solutions to chronic pain caused by headaches. While popping pain relievers might mask the symptoms of your headaches, allowing a reflexologist or massage therapist to address various pressure points throughout your body can treat the underlying muscle tension that causes some headaches.
4. Meditation and Yoga
If you suffer from migraine headaches, you know that chronic pain can greatly impact your quality of life. There’s hope for migraine sufferers: According to a 2014 study by the American Migraine Foundation, regular meditation can actually reduce the frequency of migraines in frequent sufferers. That’s because promoting deep relaxation through practices like meditation can release tension and stress, both of which can exacerbate migraine headaches.
You can also achieve deep relaxation with yoga. Try forward bend poses like Cat Pose, Seated Spinal Twist, and Child’s Pose to reduce the hormones that are released by the pituitary and adrenal glands.
5. Hydration
If you’re still experiencing regular headaches, your water consumption could be to blame. Tension headaches have been proven to be a common side effect of dehydration. While it’s easy to get dehydrated throughout the day, it’s important to make sure you’re consuming plenty of fluids while you’re on the go. If you’re not in the mood to chug water, green tea, chamomile tea, peppermint tea, and ginger tea have all been used throughout history to help treat ailments like headaches.
6. Nutrition
Food intolerances and allergies can also be to blame for headaches. You can develop food allergies and intolerances at any age, and they can lead to chronic health problems like headaches, IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), bloating, fatigue, and weight gain. Working with a chiropractic internist to develop a nutrition regimen that eliminates trigger foods may alleviate your headaches and help you feel healthier and happier.
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If you live near Springfield or Weaubleau, Missouri and you’re interested in learning more about how to cure headaches, reach out to Loehr Health Center. We’ll discuss your needs and determine a headache treatment plan that will work best for you. We firmly believe that the process of moving toward better health begins with determining your underlying issue. Our professionals provide high-quality health care for you and your family naturally. Give us a call at 417-887-8075 or schedule your appointment online, and experience the Loehr difference.