Posts Tagged ‘headache relief’

Headache Treatment | Massage For Tension Headache Cure

Friday, April 23rd, 2010

There is hardly anyone who has not suffered from a headache. Some headaches may begin at any time of the day, and then continue for as long as it doesn’t receive treatment. Headaches can come with different symptoms like nausea, sensitivity to light or sounds, and pain in the temples, head, and forehead. If you experience a headache frequently, and it carries on for an extended period of time, there is a possibility that these headaches may even cause a disruption in your work.

One of the easiest and most effective treatments for headaches is a massage. Apart from allopathic medicine, massaging is considered to be the best alternative treatment. Massage is also all natural, and therefore, you can save yourself from unnecessary side effects that come with the over the counter medicines.

Another symptom of headaches is pain in the neck. Massage can also help relieve the soreness and tension in the neck region. There are two types of headaches, muscle and vascular. If you have a headache due to muscle tension, it can cause aching in the neck and sensitivity in the neck and the scalp. The muscles behind the head and the neck seem tense and hard. There is a tightening in the temples, forehead, and the base of the skull. Vascular headaches on the other hand, feel like a throbbing or pounding sensation. Vascular headaches usually increase with physical activity, and it is important to take adequate rest to treat the headaches.

Massage therapy can be used to relieve both types of headaches. Massage can also help relieve spasms. To relieve a headache, begin with a massage, using small strokes and medium pressure. You can use a warm oil for the massage or simply warm up your own hands before beginning with the massage. This will help dilate the blood vessels so that the blood flow to the brain increases. Start at the base of the neck, from the point where the shoulders meet the neck. Work your way upwards, working the length of the neck and the base of the skull before you reach the forehead. Once you have reached the forehead, massage the temples lightly and work towards the center of the head. Use circular and oblique strokes to improve blood flow and relieve pain.

If you receive massage on an ongoing basis, it is possible to prevent headaches in the future. Regular practice of yoga mediation and other relaxing techniques can also help ease muscle tension and keep the stress levels low.

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Headache Treatment : Acupuncture For Headache Relief

Thursday, April 1st, 2010

Migraine and mental tension or stress are two common causes of headaches. Tension related headaches might range from moderate to intense, while migraine related headaches are chronic in nature and their occurrence is more frequent. It persists for longer periods and sometimes, the pain is so severe that it becomes debilitating. Headaches due to migraines are usually triggered by emotional stress. You are also prone to suffer from common types of headaches due to your day-to-day hectic lifestyle and stress. If this occurs frequently, it may lead to chronic headaches.

Today, acupuncture therapy is gaining popularity at a very fast rate for the treatment of headaches due to many reasons.

Acupuncture therapy involves the insertion of very fine needles at pre-defined, specific points in the body. Usually, when the treatment is provided, you are asked to stay in a seated position as the response to the treatment is better this way when compared to the reclining position. This is done because the blood vessels are in better control in the seated position. At times, it is required to manipulate the insertion points of the needle. The insertion of the needles leads to an increase of the blood flow in those specific areas. In some specific cases, needles are connected to a high frequency current of 100 Hz in order to constrict the blood vessels. It is likely to produce better results in such special cases.

It is not always the case that all patients will respond to the acupuncture therapy in the same manner. In some cases, it might be the reverse. Some patients experience instant relief from the pain, while others could find it more painful. Not only does the success of the acupuncture therapy for headaches depend on the therapists, it also depends on the person undergoing the treatment.

In some cases, a special technique of acupuncture is used in which there is a shallow inversion of the needles in the upper layer of the skin, just touching the lower layer, without piercing it. It has been observed that many patients get instant relief from headaches using this technique. The acupuncture points for this technique are located at the front portion of the arms and lower legs.

If you happen to suffer from severe headaches frequently and opt for acupuncture therapy as a treatment, you must always consider seeking advice from your healthcare provider and not stop taking the medicines prescribed unless advised otherwise.

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Aromatherapy Headache Relief

Wednesday, August 26th, 2009

Nothing beats a relaxing head massage, especially when you’ve got a pounding headache. Unfortunately, sometimes headaches can be so severe that even a good massage doesn’t help to alleviate the pain. This is where aromatherapy can help.

Aromatherapy is a form of alternative medicine that uses the extracts from different plants to promote healing. Although the name suggests that aromatherapy works on smell alone, the truth is that most of the ingredients used in aromatherapy also have some intrinsic medicinal value. So, in effect, a cure is achieved by combining the medicinal property of these aromatic compounds along with the soothing or enlivening power of their smell.

The plant extracts that are used in aromatherapy are known as essential oils. These essential oils are extracted from various parts of the plant using different methods such as steam distillation and cold pressing. These essential oils are very potent in nature and must never be applied directly on the skin. However, when combined with a carrier oil, such as almond oil or jojoba oil, they may be massaged onto the skin. This form of massage therapy is known as aromatherapy massage and is particularly useful in getting rid of nasty lingering headaches that just refuse to go away.

Essential oils for Headache Treatment

The aromatherapy essential oils that can be used to provide relief from a headache are:

  • Peppermint essential oil: Peppermint is famous all over the world for its cooling effect and this property of peppermint essential oil can also be used to cool the head and alleviate headaches.
  • Lavender essential oil: It has a very soothing smell and aids in inducing a deep sense of relaxation. This is very useful in relieving stress induced headaches.
  • Sandalwood essential oil: It is well known for its medicinal properties. In addition to being a very good essential oil for curing depression and anxiety, it is also used in treating headaches caused by stress and anxiety.
  • Rosemary essential oil: It has a fresh smell and is very useful in alleviating muscular tension by increasing the circulation of blood. It can be used in a soothing aromatherapy massage to cure stiff and tense muscles and headaches.
  • Eucalyptus essential oil: Another, Fresh smelling oil, it is used in a number of massage lotions and ointments. This is due to its peculiar property, whereby it cools the surface of the skin while simultaneously warming the muscles below. This amazing property of this oil can be used to good effect in curing headaches and reducing muscular tension.

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Aromatherapy Headaches Treatment

Friday, April 24th, 2009

A headache is a simple thing that affects almost everybody, and yet, it can cause a lot of discomfort to people and can sometimes even be debilitating. Fortunately, aromatherapy is very good for treating headaches, and in this post we’ll talk about some aromatherapy based possible treatments. Keep in mind, though that headaches are often symptoms of some other illness in the body (for instance, dehydration) and it’s important to identify and correct whatever is causing the problem.

Some of the essential oils that are helpful in treating headaches are chamomile, cinnamon, clove, ginger, jasmine, lavender, lemongrass, marjoram, and patchouli. Peppermint, eucalyptus, and lavender are especially useful in treating headaches. These essential oils can be applied in different ways, and it is important to remember that different methods and oils affect people differently. Different types of headaches also need different treatments.

Cold compresses work very well for most people, but some people also prefer hot compresses. You can experiment with both to find out which one suits you. You can make a cold compress with chamomile, eucalyptus, or lavender and apply this to your forehead. Change the compress when the towel reaches room temperature.

Migraines can be especially painful, and in some serious cases, can be debilitating. These headaches respond best to a blend of ginger and lavender. You can warm up some water with a few drop of oil in them, and dip your hands in the water for some quick relief.

Cluster headaches can often be very painful and difficult to treat. You can use a cold compress to treat these, but also apply a cream made from capsaicin, the substance that gives cayenne peppers their kick. Apply it on your temples (but away from eyes). This cream is available in aromatherapy stores.

An aromatherapy bath can often have wondrous effects. Fill up a tub with warm water, and add a few drops of an essential oil of your choice. Let it stand for a few minutes, and then get in the bath. Jasmine and chamomile have relaxing and healing powers effects, and can help relieve the stresses that cause the headache.

If you’re out at work, and don’t have the time to do any of these, then you can dab a few drops of essential oil onto a handkerchief. Keep taking whiffs from this handkerchief to help relieve the headache.

If you have the time, you can make perform an aromatherapy massage for your head. Use a carrier oil that suits you, and mix the essential oil into this and get someone to softly massage it into your temples or scalp. Remember that this may not suit some people.

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