How to Achieve Natural Headache Relief

June 26th, 2009 | No Comments | Posted in Health Research

We all get headaches from time to time. If you are lucky, a headache rarely happens to you. Others are not so lucky and have headaches on a regular basis. We all know how difficult it can be to get through the day with a headache that you just can’t shake.

There are a lot of medications for headaches at your local drug or discount store including aspirin and NSAID drugs. People who have migraines and other serious headache issues often require prescription medication. The problem is that using medication to treat headaches regularly can be hazardous to your overall health.

You can get natural headache relief and avoid these medications. Here are some suggestions:

  • White Willow Bark - White willow bark is what aspirin is made of. In its natural form, it helps relieve your headache but is less likely to cause stomach upset. You should not combine white willow bark with aspirin or NSAID medications. You can get white willow bark at a health food store near you.
  • Apples - Eating an apple every day has always been said to keep the doctor away and it may keep headaches away as well. For best results, eat a whole apple when your stomach is empty once a day.
  • Lemon - You can use lemons in a variety of ways for headache relief. You can make lemon tea with lemon juice and regular tea. You can also make a lemon paste from the skin and put that on your forehead. If you are overheated and have a headache as a result, try pressing lemon peels to your forehead.
  • Sandlewood - When crushed and made into a paste, sandlewood applied to the forehead can help relieve headache pain.
  • Cayenne Pepper - The capsaicin in cayenne pepper is known for its ability to increase the size of blood vessels, which helps relieve headache pain. Cayenne pepper is available in capsules or in the spice form. You can add a tiny amount of the spice to water or tea and drink for headache relief.
  • Rosemary - Rosemary also helps increase the size of blood vessels to relieve pain. Rosemary tea made by mixing fresh rosemary with boiling water and steeping is good for headache relief. Other ways to use rosemary are to inhale the boiled rosemary water steam or to use rosemary oil on your forehead.
  • Cinnamon - Headaches caused by exposure to cold can be cured with cinnamon paste applied to the forehead.
  • Eucalyptus - This herb is said to help tension headaches. Eucalyptus oil applied to the forehead will help relieve headache pain. You can keep a piece of cloth with eucalyptus oil on it with you and inhale that when you feel a headache coming on.
  • Ginger - Ginger helps relieve swelling, upset stomach and migraine headaches. There are many forms you can use including whole ginger, ginger capsules and ginger tea.

No one wants to have a headache but if you get one, there are many ways to relieve the pain. Often you can get more relief from natural headache relief than from medication. Consider an herbal remedy next time you get a headache.

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Take Care of Your Heart This Winter

January 28th, 2009 | No Comments | Posted in Family Health

We all seem to be more likely to be sick in the winter with colds, the flu and bronchitis among other things. Another disease that shows up more in the winter is heart disease. You may not know that the chances of having a heart attack are twice as high in the winter as opposed to the summer. People are also more likely to die from heart attack in the winter. If you have a history of heart problems, you need to take extra good care of yourself in the winter.

Exposing your body to the cold winter temperatures can be dangerous to your heart. Your blood vessels are contracted from the cold,  which means the blood flow in your body is reduced. Any underlying problems like plaque thus tends to be more dangerous in the winter. You can help prevent problems by always wearing warm clothes when outside in the winter. Don’t be in a hurry to take those warm clothes off after getting back in your warm house. Instead, remove them layer by layer over a period of time.

Stress is always a concern and contributes to heart problems all year round. The holiday season which falls in the winter can be a stressful time for all of us. Also, the decreased exposure to the sun and a decrease in our activity level can increase stress and make us sad and depressed. If you are feeling a lot of stress, you need to carve out time in the day to focus on yourself and to relax. There are many ways you can relax and calm down. You can try learning some relaxation techniques like visualization as well as yoga and meditation.

The winter is also a busy time for the flu virus. Getting the flu puts a lot of extra stress on the body,  and this could increase your heart attack risk. If you get a flu shot, you can lower your chances of catching the flu. Also, use common sense and avoid people who are sick and wash or sanitize your hands as often as possible.

Working out or doing chores can be dangerous in the winter. Too much exercise or strenuous exercise can contribute to a heart attack. In the winter, things like shoveling or suddenly working out very hard can raise your risk of a heart attack. You can exercise at a lower level of intensity and still get the benefits of a workout. It isn’t necessary to push yourself as hard as you can. Take it easy and be safe when exercising. Make sure your doctor approves of your exercise plan especially if you have a history of heart problems.

What you eat can increase your risk of having heart problems. In the winter, we are often feeling a little depressed, which can mean eating for emotional reasons. Emotional eating is usually related to unhealthy foods like cookies, cakes and sweets. The more junk food you eat, the harder it is on your body and on your heart. You’ll need to be extra careful with what you eat and how much of it you eat in the winter.

Heart disease is a serious condition but it can be prevented in most cases by using good judgment and taking care of yourself.

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