7 Amazing Natural Remedies for Headaches

Headaches are a very common health issue.  If you’re reading this, I’m sure you’ve had at least one.  The estimated global prevalence of headaches is approximately 50%, while migraines are the third most common disease in the world. 

Approximately 1 in 7 people worldwide experience migraines, which are more prevalent than diabetes, epilepsy, and asthma combined.  Headache and migraine affect three times as many women as men.  

Why are more women impacted by headaches compared with men???  Often traditional medicine, science and research tell us that this is a result of hormones.  This makes sense, right?  Hormones must be to blame if more women are experiencing headaches.  

WRONG.

If hormones were the true root cause underlying headaches, half of the world’s population would NOT be experiencing headaches.  Ladies, you are not to blame for any chronic health problems that we are told hormones are causing including thyroid problems, inflammation, headaches, and migraines. 

Today I’m going to share a little bit more about what’s really at the root of headaches including what’s really to blame for headaches if you’re being told it’s hormones.  I want you to be empowered with the knowledge, not just tips, to protect your health and wellness.

I’m also going to give you some natural remedies for headaches.  These tips and strategies will help you combat headaches when they’re happening.  They’ll also target healing the root causes to prevent headaches and stop them from occurring as frequently.  You’ll definitely find one or more of these natural remedies for headaches that resonate with you!

People that suffer from headaches know that they can range from being tolerable to completely debilitating.  Thanks to science and research we know that concussions, meningitis, and strokes are some common triggers for headaches.  

There are other less commonly discussed causes of headaches: 

• Lack of sleep
• Ammonia permeability (AKA a defective gut): Ammonia permeability is regularly misdiagnosed as leaky gut. The truth? A very, very small percentage of the population actually has leaky gut. If you did have leaky gut, you would need to be hospitalized
• Electrolyte deficiency
• Chronic dehydration
• Sinus related headaches and migraines
• Chronic streptococcal infections can sit in the linings of the sinus cavity. This can create migraines and headaches.
• Stress trigger:

  Stress can lead to a surge of toxic and corrosive adrenaline that lowers the immune system. The “fight or flight” part of the nervous system, the sympathetic nervous system, becomes overactive during periods of stress. These two factors lay the perfect foundation for a headache to evolve.

Three of the most common root causes of headaches and migraines most often overlooked are:

• Viral pathogens:

  Viruses are often the root cause of headaches and migraines (and many other chronic health issues). Epstein-Barr and the Shingles viruses are the common culprits. Epstein-Barr virus can produce neurotoxins that interfere with the brain’s electrical impulses causing a headache. Shingles’ neurotoxins can lead to inflammation of the trigeminal, phrenic, or vagus systems. This creates headaches impacting the face, ears, jaw, and sides of the head.

• Toxic heavy metals:

  If toxic heavy metals (e.g. mercury, aluminum) are hanging around when viral pathogens like Epstein-barr are present, this will cause inflammation of the phrenic and/or vagus nerve leading to a headache.

• Menstrual cycle:

  Okay let’s bust this hormone myth. Ladies, at the time of your cycle 80% of your entire immune system redirects its attention to your reproductive system. This leaves only 20% behind to fend off other triggers like stress, food allergies, toxins, pathogens, and everything that poses a threat to your daily health and wellness. This is why so many women experience headaches, migraines, and other uncomfortable symptoms during parts of their cycles. When you’re told that your hormones are the cause of headaches, that’s false. Hormonal imbalance is sign and a symptom, not a cause. The truth is that the immune system shifting during menstruation is ultimately the trigger here.

So what are the natural remedies for headaches that are best?  Natural remedies that strengthen and protect your immune system are essential.  The following natural remedies for headaches target the symptomatic headache pain, the underlying root cause(s), AND the immune system.  

Natural Remedies for Headaches:

1. Apply cold packs.

   It might sound simple or old school but using ice or a cold pack can be important, especially if you’re having a headache you’re struggling to stop. Place a cold pack on the area that is bothering you for 30 minutes, twice during the day or timeframe when you have a headache. The ice/cold pack will train the nerves to calm down. This will help ease tension and vasoconstriction (blood vessels tightening), and inflammation will be reduced.

2. Hydrate with electrolytes

   Since chronic dehydration and electrolyte deficiency can lead to headaches and migraines, it’s no secret that hydration, especially with electrolytes, is extremely important. Hydration is essential for lasting health and wellness, it should be a non-negotiable. If you’re chronically dehydrated and eating a diet high in fat, this can lead to a sluggish liver. When this occurs without proper hydration, the bloodstream can become saturated with fat leading to a lack of oxygen. This means minimal oxygen supplies are reaching organs like the brain and creating problems like headaches. Some of the best ways to get hydrated are water (with lemon), coconut water (Taste Nirvana is my favorite), cucumber juice, and blended melons.

3. Load up on healing foods

   In general, eating more fruits and veggies will speed up the healing process and help fight off pain and symptoms. There are specific foods you can eat to help heal headaches and prevent them in the future too! These healing foods will help to relax muscles and calm nerves, provide nutrients to the body and bolster brain tissue, while also targeting the root causes of headaches and boosting the immune system.

   Apples

   Melons

   Papaya

   Cilantro

   Garlic

   Ginger

   Celery (especially celery juice)

   Leafy greens like kale

   Chili powder

   Cinnamon

4. Use acupressure

   Research studies have shown the efficacy of acupressure at relieving pain from headaches. In fact, a study conducted in 2010 suggested that acupressure was more effective in reducing chronic headache pain compared with a prescription muscle relaxer treatment.

   There are several pressure points in the body that are well known to be helpful at relieving headaches. One of them is called the Union Valley point. It’s on your hand and is located on the web, between your thumb and index finger. The Union Valley pressure point is believed to help relieve headache tension in the head and neck. Try these steps:
   a) Using the thumb and index finger of your right hand, pinch this area firmly on your left hand for about 10 seconds.
   b) Make small circles with your thumb on this area in one direction for 10 seconds, and then in the other direction for 10 seconds.
   c)Repeat this process on the Union Valley point on your right hand, using the thumb and index finger of your left hand.
   Another great option is an acupressure pillow. You can search for some options online or check this one out. This is a really nice way to apply some acupressure directly to your head and neck. I have one of these acupressure pillows and they’re amazing for stress relief too!

5. Aromatherapy and essential oils

   Aromatherapy is one of my go-to natural remedies for headaches when pain creeps up. It’s very helpful at treating and relieving tension and pain related to headaches. In general, grab peppermint, lavender, eucalyptus, or rosemary when you need to fight a headache. I also love the Deep Blue essential oil products from doTERRA. I use them and can share they’ve definitely supported me on my own healing journey.

6. Healing supplements

   Healing supplements and teas for treating and preventing headaches can be a wonderful option. Here are some of my favorites.

   Lemon balm

   Valerian root

   Vitamin C

   Skullcap

   Feverfew

   Chrysanthemum

   Cat’s claw

   Raspberry Leaf Tea

   These supplements will help target those triggers and root causes of headaches, while soothing the symptomatic discomfort.

7. Try energetic and spiritual healing

   Some of my clients and I swear by this. I invite you to explore the energetic side of your health. The truth is just like every disease and diagnosis has a physical root cause, each has its own energy and frequency as well.

   Over the years I’ve found in my practice that the barriers standing in the way to optimal health for people are not necessarily what they expect. The barriers are not always just pathogens and toxins. They’re energetic issues, energetic blockages. These energetic blockages impact your health and ability to heal. Here’s a technique to combat chronic headaches by targeting the energy and frequency of the physical health problem. By doing this and making it a part of your routine, you can absolutely prevent headaches and minimize their severity when they do occur. It might seem a little woo for you, but true healing requires a multi-layered approach. Give this a try and please share the changes you notice with me!

   Try addressing the energetic and spiritual frequency of the headache by using what I call the “scramble, neutralize, transform technique”. You can do this using a pendulum if you have one, but it is not necessary. Make these statements out loud if possible.
   a) Scramble the frequency, spirit and lifeforce of this headache completely and permanently. 
   b) Neutralize the frequency lifeforce, and spirit of this headache completely and permanently.
   c) Completely and permanently transform the frequency, lifeforce, and spirit of this headache to the frequency, lifeforce, and spirit of optimal health.

Reference:

Lisa Li-Chen Hsieh et al. Effect of acupressure and trigger points in treating headache: a randomized controlled trial. Am. J. Chin. Med. 2010; 38(1): 1-14.