home remedies

29 November 2018

The “10-Second Tension Headache Remedy”

At least a couple of articles have been circulating promoting a tension headache remedy that is quick, and free. And certainly worth a try.

Tension headaches are, as you may know, now commonly called “tension-type headaches”. Why? Because doctors now know that these headaches aren’t simply caused by tension. Your muscles can be very tense, and you may not have any symptoms whatsoever. And – the reverse can also be true. (For more, see Just what is the “Common Headache”?)

Superficial chewing muscles — Diagram thanks to OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology

With that important caveat in place, the fact remains that, in certain cases, muscle tension is related to headaches. For example, muscle tension can trigger headache and/or migraine attacks in certain people.

That may be one reason why quitting chewing gum seems to help many people lessen headaches.

The “10-second remedy” is similar – it involves massage of the masseter muscle, a muscle used when you chew food – or clench your teeth at night. There are a few ways to massage here. One is using your fingers to put pressure on the front of the muscle (toward your mouth), then push back (up toward your ear).

Another method, the one you’ll read about in the following article, is to let the jaw do the movement.

Try it next time you feel a headache coming on. If it works, it may mean that jaw issues such as TMD are contributing to your headache symptoms.

The 10-Second Tension Headache Remedy a Physical Therapist Swears By (from Prevention)

22 July 2009

Just three drops to kill a Migraine Attack

James Tips 31

Many of you have heard of taking oil of Oregano for colds or the flu. Some people claim they can take it at the first sign of sniffles, and wake up the next morning feeling great. Others take it every day, and claim they’ve been able to avoid the flu all year.

But have you heard of using oil of oregano for migraine? Many people do.

Just three drops under the tongue at the first sign of a migraine attack, and that’s it.

I’ll warn you, it’s pretty strong. And it’s not just the oregano you put on your pizza (although it’s still oregano – you’ll recognize the smell). This is a kind of oregano known as origanum vulgare.

Two of the key ingredients occurring naturally in this type of oil of oregano are carvacrol and thymol. We don’t know exactly why oregano seems to work for some people, though we do know it has anti-inflammatory properties.

If you want to give it a try, make sure you get a reputable brand with 70% standardized carvacrol. A good option is Aromavita Essential Oil of Oregano (it’s also available in capsules, but for migraine you want the liquid to drop under your tongue). You can use another oil such as coconut oil to dilute before taking – it’s pretty strong.

As well as being well known as being an anti-inflammatory, oregano is being studied for its antiviral and antibacterial properties, and for such diverse issues as metabolic syndrome, colon cancer and respiratory illness. It is a powerful herb packed with health benefits, and I’m sure we’ll see more studies on it as time goes by.

I have some friends who have found oil of oregano helpful as a migraine killer. Have you tried it? Leave a comment!

7 January 2009

Little Known Ways to Get to Sleep (even with a Headache)

James Tips 15

Getting a good night’s rest is key to minimizing migraine attacks, cluster headache and many other types of headache as well. In fact, working at improving sleep may be one of the best ways you can fight migraine and headache.

Get to sleep - fighting insomnia with headache

Our first Community Question had to do with getting to sleep, and your excellent advice can be found here. But I was recently tipped off by Lifehacker that there are some great new articles out there with more quick tips.

First, 10 reader tips from the UK to relieve insomnia. From the more obscure (read a book of legal case studies? Yeah, that would do it…) to the very practical (write down everything on your mind, and get it out of your mind!), there are some good ideas here.

Next, some all-natural herbs to help you sleep (wait – which are the unnatural herbs?). You may have heard of these before, but one we haven’t talked a lot about is valerian root.

Valerian has been used for hundreds of years for sleep and relaxation. Some people find it helps right away, though often it needs to be taken over several weeks to be effective.

Valerian still needs to be studied more. We know it is a powerful herb, and though it usually seems to be safe it can cause side effects (ie headache and agitation). It’s wise to talk to your doctor before taking it.

Valerian has even been studied specifically for use in migraine and epilepsy, though so far the studies have not been conclusive. Some people take it during the day, but for sleep it’s often taken an hour before bedtime in a time-release capsule (such as these 600mg capsules).

Other surprises from these articles include lettuce and celery – a great whole food option that will do you good whether it helps you sleep or not!

What helps you get to sleep? Leave a comment and share your ideas with us!

3 September 2008

Do you use “folk remedies” for headache?

James Misc 1

Are “folk remedies” a part of your fight against headache or migraine? That was the question we asked in our last poll. Do you use folk remedies, and if so, how often? Here are the results:

This is a bit of a tricky one, because of the vagueness of the term “folk remedy”. Does that include home remedies? Self help? Is using ice a “folk remedy”?

Still, I think the poll tells us something about people’s attitudes and use of different types of relief. The winner was “I’ve never tried one” at 35%, but close behind was “They’re a part of my everyday life” at 27% (Not regularly-18%, Once in a while-13%, Never again-6%).

Back in January’s edition of Headway, we talked about some quick tips that you may or may not have heard of before. To read the home remedy tips, check out the back issue.

Be sure to take part in the new poll. This time we’re focusing on how long it was before you sought professional help for your headache. The choices aren’t exact, since I use both number of attacks and years, but choose the one that seems the closest.

14 January 2008

Chew celery

James Tips 4

Here’s a quick home remedy for the next time you have a headache: Chew celery. Or carrots. Or anything hard-and-healthy.Seriously. Exercising those jaw muscles can loosen things up and make you feel a whole lot better – depending on the type of headache you have.

Just don’t eat too much celery. It you do, you might find your jaw muscles getting sore, or getting tense, and you might end up with a headache the next day. That’s why people that chew a lot of gum can end up with jaw problems and headaches.

And here’s a bonus tip: If you try the first tip and discover that it works, it may be a sign you have problems with your jaw. There could be damage to the joint, or you could be over-using your jaw muscles by chewing, or grinding your teeth at night. Have a specialist check for damage, but even if there isn’t actual damage you could have tired muscles from teeth grinding or clenching. And that’s a great recipe for headaches.