Headaches: just about everyone has had at least one in their lifetime. There’s a lucky few that have never had one. Headaches can be mild, tension caused, or the migraine, the most painful. There are cluster headaches, which is when you have one headache after another. They can occur daily for weeks at a time.

The majority of headaches are caused by muscle contractions. It takes over your whole head with a dull ache and tightness. Migraines are vascular(pertaining to blood vessels) and most migraine sufferers are female. Migraines are usually on one side of the head. They are characterized by an extreme throbbing, nausea, and sometimes vomiting. Most migraine sufferers cannot function. They need darkness and sleep.

Doctors have many patients that complain of headaches. Every magazine you pick up has articles on headache relief. There are many over the counter (OTC) remedies, such as aspirin, acetaminophin, and ibuprofen. Many prescriptions are available, too. Midrin and fiorinal are two commonly prescribed medications.

If you’ve tried those and are looking for something else, you might want to try some of these home remedies.

1. Use a cold pack: the cold can cool your head and numb the pain.
2. Use heat: a warm washcloth or a hot water bottle can ease pain.
3. Deep breathing exercises: if you suffer from headaches, sit in a darkened room and slowly take in deep breaths through your nose and let it out through your mouth. Do this until you feel relaxed.
4. Acupressure: reduce headache pain by squeezing the web of skin between the thumb and pointer finger as hard as you can; or use both thumbs and apply pressure under the bony ridges at the back of the head.
5. Meditate: imagine the pain flowing out of your head; you may combine this with the deep exercise.
6. Use an ointment with heat (for example Ben-Gay or Icy Hot or Tiger Balm) and rub it on your forehead or base of your neck, wherever it hurts. It will burn slightly and give a warm feeling to your head.
7. Listen to relaxing music while you lie down.

Although not medically proven, you can try the following:

• B6 or B complex vitamins can prevent headaches or lessen their severity
• Two tablespoons brewer’s yeast allegedly can cure headaches
• 1200 milligrams of lecithin capsules daily allegedly can prevent migraines but check with a physician before using.
• Peppermint Tea can calm you and ease pain.
• Chamomile tea can also calm you, so you can sleep which will help your headache.
• Some other common herbs can help with your headaches, they are: feverfew extract, Gingko leaf, Jamaican dogwood, skullcap, and valerian. Be sure to check the labels and consult a doctor about any herbs he/she can recommend. Also remember that herbs are drugs and should be used with caution.

Perhaps you’d like to try and prevent your headaches. you can use some of the above remedies and/or the following:

• Exercise: since exercise relieves stress, it’s a natural stress “preventer.” You can exercise during some kinds of headaches, but not during migraines
• Sleep: get 6-8 hours but don’t oversleep because that can cause headaches on its own.
• Use a neck pillow in bed: if you get a lot of morning headaches, they could be caused by the way you sleep. A neck pillow will support your neck and could prevent morning headaches.
• Eliminate caffeine, salt, msg, and chocolate.
• Avoid bright light because it can lead to squinting which can lead to headaches. Use sunglasses if you are going to be outside for any length of time
• Try not to skip meals; when blood sugar drops from not eating, the blood vessels of the brain tighten.
• Avoid foods containing nitrates, sulfites, and msg. They are known headache causers. Also note nuts and aged cheeses can cause headaches.
• Quit smoking and avoid smoke-filled rooms.

If you are a headache sufferer, you might want to try these ideas on preventing them in the first place. Try them all or try a few. You will find something that works for you. Headaches Be Gone!