Herbs for Headaches

Headaches, regardless of their severity, often result in unwanted discomfort and distress. The pain may be felt in only one, isolated spot, or may be spread out over various areas of your head. Sometimes, they can also be incredibly severe and debilitating, such as in the case of migraine headaches.

It is thought that headaches generally result from irritation of the nerves connected to the muscles of the shoulders, head, and, neck. This could be caused by any number of things including stress, anxiety, hypertension, hypoglycemia, temperature variance, eye strain, sinus problems, and injuries to the head, among others.

Many people simply resort to taking an over-the-counter pain medication for fast and convenient relief, but these medications also could have potential negative effects on your body, in the long run. Natural treatments can often be better, and safer, for treating headaches.

Try one or more of the following herbal remedies for headaches:

• For mild headaches, you can try spreading a paste composed of sandalwood and rose water across your forehead. This can have a pleasant cooling sensation which may relieve some headaches.
• Add a teaspoon of lavender leaves to one cup of hot water, let it cool, and drink the mixture two to three times a day.
• If your headache pain is more severe, try mixing lemon juice with tea to relive the pain.
• Create a mix of henna flowers with vinegar and apply it the forehead.
• Mix rosemary with boiling water, cover your head with a towel, and inhale the vapors. This can sometimes be effective at reducing the severity of a headache.
• Try drinking aloe vera water or taking an aloe vera supplement a couple of times per day to relive headaches due to hyper-acidity.
• Make a mixture of carrot juice and spinach juice and drink it every day.
• Inhaling peppermint steam can also help relieve headaches. As it acts as a mild decongestant, it can relieve headaches caused by sinus problems.
• Create a paste made from dry ginger mixed with water or milk and spread it over the forehead. Ginger can aid in relaxing blood vessels and relieving swelling in the head.