How to Treat a Headache without Medication

Headache pain can range from a mild irritation to teeth-grinding, day-stopping pain that makes normal function impossible. When suffering headache pain, your first impulse may be to reach for medication, but did you know there are several effective methods of treating headaches naturally? The next time headache pain strikes try these suggestions for treating it without medication.

The cause of your headache pain can help determine the simplest way of treating it without medication. One interesting tidbit: no matter what the underlying cause, new research suggests that disrupted electrical activity in the brain may be the ultimate trigger of headache pain.

Some of the most common reasons for headache pain are:

·         Hunger

·         Anxiety and muscle tension

·         Physical exhaustion brought on by insomnia or overwork

·         Eyestrain caused by too many hours at the computer or poor lighting in your work/study area

·         Sinus or allergy triggers

·         Migraine symptoms

Treating headache pain with self-care techniques, rather than medication, can be quite effective. Simple acupressure techniques such as pressing your thumbs against the base of the skull while gently dropping the head back then forward, may relieve the tension that has disrupted the brain’s activity. Massaging the neck, jaw, and forehead can also be helpful.

Another way to find relief from headache pain is by simply taking a nap or sitting quietly in a darkened room over a lunch hour. Others find relief through meditation or relaxation exercises that reduce mental and physical tension. One more time-honored way to relieve headache pain is to apply heat or cold to the forehead and back of the neck.

For headache pain that persists, you may need to seek professional help. Once it’s been determined there isn’t an illness or injury causing the headaches to reappear, there are a number of non-medication based methods they might prescribe for relieving headache pain.

A chiropractor might, for example, use adjustment, massage and other therapies to relieve recurring headaches. Many medical professionals are now using neurofeedback training to teach patients how to self-regulate irregular brainwave activity associated with headaches.

An acupuncture or acupressure practitioner can also be helpful in bringing relief to those for whom headache pain is a frequent occurrence. And don’t forget to consult your massage therapist about the pain you’re feeling; they can teach you a number of techniques for relieving the muscle tension that may be at the root of your pain.

Headache pain can be caused by many things, and can be relieved in a variety of ways, with or without medication. If you’re interested in how to treat a headache without medication, try the suggestions above to determine which best brings you relief.

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