Headache is a painful thing to have. Taking medication is often the solution that people go for every time they experience a headache. After all, it’s what doctors mostly recommend. While aspirin, ibuprofen, and acetaminophen can stop a headache in its tracks, over-the-counter pills cannot prevent the next headache from occurring. In fact, they could be the actual cause.

You read it right. Rebound headaches, or popularly known as medication overuse headaches, are a side effect of many medications for headaches. It makes sense why many headache sufferers seek natural remedies for migraines and headaches.

If you’re looking for all-natural treatment alternatives for headaches, check out this list.

1. Water

This is a basic life necessity. We all need water to survive every day. However, most people don’t get anywhere close to the recommended amount to drink. Headaches are one of the initial signs of dehydration. To make sure you are drinking the right amount of water, track your consumption for a week using a mobile app or your diary, and observe how often you have 8-12 glasses of water in a day.

2. Headache Exercise

Regular exercise can help keep the blood flowing so the brain has enough oxygen to function well. Even a 30-minute cardio workout each day can boost the body’s circulation. But before making a drastic change to your exercise habits, consult with a physician first. If you haven’t done any exercise in the last six months, don’t begin with a strenuous exercise routine. It’s best to start slowly, then increase your exercise duration and intensity over time.

3. Sleep

This is another basic need in life that has been pushed into the background because of our modern lifestyle. The standard amount of sleep needed by adults is eight hours every night. Consistency is the key. To maintain your body clock and get a good night’s sleep, go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, even on weekends. Create a comfortable and quiet environment to sleep in. Keep the bedroom lights out, and put away your mobile devices before bedtime.

4. Laughter

They weren’t kidding when they said this is the best medicine. Laughter is said to be an excellent way to get rid of your headaches. The idea is that as a person laughs, the brain receives more oxygen. One of the health benefits of laughter is increased blood flow and oxygenation to the cells and organs. Since reduced oxygen in the brain results in headaches, this may be a practical option.

5. Proper Posture for Headache

Maintaining a healthy neck and spine is crucial when it comes to keeping headaches or migraines at bay. Follow these simple tips to maintain proper posture throughout the day.

• Do not slouch while sitting or driving.
• When working or studying, keep monitors at eye level to avoid always looking down.
• Reduce your usage of mobile devices. Craning the neck to stare down at a phone frequently throughout the day can lead to “text neck” or the neck pain and damage you sustain from looking down at your phone too often. This can result in headaches.

6. Headache Supplements

There are many supplements you can take to avoid deficiencies that could cause headaches. Vitamin B is vital in producing neurotransmitters such as serotonin. Magnesium is another practical supplement. This nutrient plays a role in some of the visual and sensory changes that occur during migraine headaches. If you suffer from headaches and constipation, magnesium is good for the digestive tract. Be sure that you are taking the right amount as too much magnesium can lead to diarrhea. See a doctor before starting on new supplements.   

7. Aromatherapy

Stress is the leading trigger of headaches; that’s why tension headaches are the most common type of headache. Aromatherapy can help in providing stress relief. Peppermint and lavender are two of the scents that many people find soothing. Use essential oils with a diffuser to maintain a steady flow of relaxing scents in the air. Consider your allergies when choosing scents. Avoid scents you are allergic to since a reaction can cause headaches and other unpleasant symptoms.

8. Upper Cervical Chiropractic

Most headaches and migraine cases begin following a neck or head injury. Injuries in these parts of the body can cause a misalignment of the atlas and axis, the uppermost bones in the neck. When a misalignment happens, it can cause a reduction in the blood flow in the brain, brainstem dysfunction, and abnormality in the cerebrospinal fluid drainage. All of these are underlying factors in the onset of headaches and migraines.

Many patients who received upper cervical chiropractic care have reported improvements in their symptoms after their C1 and C2 vertebrae were realigned correctly. Upper cervical chiropractors perform accurate and gentle adjustments that are long-lasting. This provides the body enough time to recover. Once the vertebrae are correctly aligned, blood flow and the function of the central nervous system are restored, and you can finally find some relief from your headaches or migraines.

Call an upper cervical chiropractor in your area to see for yourself if upper cervical chiropractic is the right natural option for your headaches and migraines.

to schedule a consultation today.