| Headaches are a common problem. About 12% | | | | tea or in tablets available at health foods stores; |
| of the population suffers from migraines; counting | | | | use fresh or powdered ginger when you cook, |
| sinus, tension, and cluster headaches, that number | | | | eat crystallized ginger, or put fresh-grated ginger |
| probably approaches 100%. While | | | | in a drink. Ginger is useful for migraines as well as |
| over-the-counter and prescription headache | | | | other headaches, and also eases nausea.Honey is |
| remedies often are appropriate, the expense and | | | | a natural sugar, pre-digested by bees, that has |
| side effects can be problematic for some | | | | been used since Bible times. It contains potassium |
| people.These problems may be avoided with any | | | | and magnesium, which will help relax the arteries |
| of a wide selection of herbal and mineral | | | | and allow more blood to flow to the brain. Try |
| supplements. Here are some you can try; they're | | | | taking a couple of teaspoons if you feel a |
| listed in alphabetical order, and, as always, you | | | | migraine coming on; it also might help with a |
| should check with your health care provider if you | | | | hangover. Try boiling equal parts of honey and |
| have any questions.General precautions:-- Some | | | | apple cider vinegar and inhaling the |
| are not recommended for pregnant or nursing | | | | steam.Lavender reduces pain and relaxes. |
| women or children under age two. | | | | Massage or sniff as with eucalyptus oil.Lithium, a |
| -- Don't take any of these with Coumadin or | | | | salt that is used to treat bipolar disorder, can help |
| other blood thinners without consulting a doctor or | | | | those suffering from cluster headaches. It is |
| pharmacist. | | | | available at the health foods store.Marjoram eases |
| -- Don't take them if you have kidney problems | | | | muscle tension.Menthol preparations can be helpful |
| without consulting a doctor or | | | | in relieving tension headaches. Massage the oil into |
| pharmacist.Butterbur. Sold under the brand name | | | | your temples.Magnesium. Headache sufferers |
| Petadolex, it should be taken regularly, as a | | | | sometimes have underlying magnesium deficiency. |
| preventative; you may not be able to find it at | | | | Following the recommended dosage on the label, |
| the health foods store (if not, do an Internet | | | | take with meals, but not with dairy |
| search), and it's not inexpensive.Cayenne. Cayenne | | | | products--magnesium interferes with calcium |
| dilates your blood vessels, improving circulation; it | | | | absorption.Milk thistle, like feverfew, has been |
| is also a natural analgesic. You can buy cayenne | | | | subject to many clinical trials that clearly |
| capsules and take them regularly as a | | | | demonstrate its effectiveness. It is frequently |
| preventative; or you can take cayenne on an | | | | recommended to counteract the harmful effects |
| as-needed basis, and if you have cayenne (red | | | | of alcohol and other drugs on the liver. Silymarin, a |
| pepper) in your spice cupboard, it'll do. Put some in | | | | powerful anti-oxidant, is largely responsible for the |
| a glass of water, or a cup of tea, coffee, or hot | | | | medical benefits of this herb.Mustard. Soak your |
| chocolate. How much is effective without being | | | | feet for 10-20 minutes in a hot foot bath to |
| overpowering is something you'll have to | | | | which you have added 2 teaspoons of powdered |
| experiment to discover; start with 1/8 teaspoon | | | | mustard. The heat and mustard will work |
| and work your way up. You may be able to | | | | together to ease your headache, and mustard |
| tolerate a whole teaspoon--but you may find relief | | | | powder is available at the grocery store.Passiflora |
| from a lot less.Celery seeds. You can find these | | | | incarnata, a tropical herb, has been used since the |
| at the grocery store. Soak the seeds in hot | | | | 19th century for nervous conditions. Clinical trials |
| water, strain, and sip like tea.Chamomile. | | | | have demonstrated the relaxing and calming |
| Chamomile tea is calming and soothing, and readily | | | | effects of Passiflora; it is often recommended to |
| available at the grocery store.Cinnamon reduces | | | | treat anxiety and reduce tension.Peppermint |
| stress, loosens tight muscles, and lowers blood | | | | reduces pain and tension. Massage or sniff as with |
| pressure--all of which ease a headache.Co-Enzyme | | | | the other oils. (Warning: keep the peppermint oil |
| Q10 acts on energy production within the | | | | away from your eyes!) This may be beneficial for |
| mitochondria in the cells.Eucalyptus oil. This is an | | | | tension headaches. Drink peppermint tea, available |
| essential oil; put a few drops of this in a carrier oil | | | | at the grocery store.Riboflavin (vitamin B-2), like |
| (vegetable, olive, etc.) and massage into your | | | | CoQ10, acts on energy production within the |
| forehead to help with tension headaches. Also, try | | | | mitochondria; see package for the recommended |
| putting a few drops on a handkerchief and sniffing | | | | dosage.Rosemary. Rosemary oil helps keep blood |
| it.Feverfew and ginkgo reduce migraines and | | | | vessels dilated; rub a few drops of it into your |
| vascular headaches by reducing blood vessel | | | | temples. Or make a rosemary tea using one |
| dilation and spasms. They also have | | | | teaspoon of rosemary in a cup of hot water; |
| anti-inflammatory properties; ginkgo, in addition, | | | | cover and steep for 10 minutes; strain and |
| relieves dizziness often associated with headaches. | | | | drink.Valerian reduces tension and pain. It's |
| You can try chewing feverfew leaves, although | | | | available in capsule form at the health foods |
| they are very bitter; or get a tincture or capsules. | | | | store.White willow bark will give you results similar |
| This is a good remedy for migraine or cluster | | | | to aspirin, but is much gentler on the stomach. |
| headaches. Feverfew appears to be better at | | | | This is the natural ingredient from which aspirin is |
| prevention than treatment of migraines, so you | | | | made. Capsules or tincture can be found in health |
| may want to take it on a regular basis. Both are | | | | foods stores.So, if you, like many people today, |
| available at health foods stores.Ginger relaxes | | | | hesitate to spend the money--and take the |
| blood vessels in the head and reduces swelling in | | | | risk--sometimes associated with traditional |
| the brain, and activates natural opiates in the brain | | | | medications, try these first. For most headache |
| that relieve pain. It can be taken in the form of | | | | sufferers, it can't hurt.Lisa J. |