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.

NEUROFEEDBACK FOR MIGRAINES & HEADACHES

Natural Remedies for Headaches – Try Acupressure

Suffering from headache pain caused by tension in the head and neck can be more than an annoyance; it can impact your ability to study, work, and generally be at the top of your game in life. If your medical care provider has determined that your tension headaches don’t have a more serious underlying cause and you don’t want to take pain medication, there are natural remedies for headaches that may bring relief.

One of the most interesting is acupressure, the application of pressure via the thumbs and fingers (most commonly) to ‘acupoints’ in the body. The practice of acupressure comes from traditional Chinese medicine and is based on the concept of meridians located throughout the body along which energy flows.

According to TCM practitioners, pressure at acupoints along those meridians releases blocked energy and reduces the surrounding tension. At the same time, endorphins are being released to relieve the pain associated with the blockage. They also believe that acupressure can enhance necessary bodily functions like digestion and sleep.

In particular the acupoints located at the base of the skull on either side of the neck are favored for relieving headache pain. It is believed that energy must flow freely through these gateways to the mind in order for a person to function well.

In one acupressure exercise known to relieve tension headaches, the practitioner will place her thumbs against these acupoints and press firmly in toward the center of the skull. As you allow your head to drop slowly back, inhaling as you do, she will continue to maintain pressure. The acupressure is released as you exhale and slowly bring the head all the way forward to hang loosely.

As natural remedies for headaches go, acupressure moves such as this are safe, non-invasive, and easy to learn. If you were practicing this on yourself just now, you have just completed one of the many soothing yet energizing acupressure routines a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner can help you to learn.

Tension headaches are a reality of life. When they become frequent and painful enough to disrupt your usual routine, you might want to investigate acupressure; it is one of the most intriguing natural remedies for headaches.

NATURAL REMEDIES: NEUROFEEDBACK THERAPY FOR HEADACHES

Exploring ADD Natural Remedies

Distraction, irritability, impulsivity, and difficulty connecting with others are only some of the frustrating symptoms of attention deficit disorder, ADD. The person seeking help to manage these symptoms may consult with their physician and be prescribed one, or a combination of, medications such as the amphetamine stimulant Adderall, the non-stimulant Strattera, or one of the older generation medications such as Ritalin; however there are a number of ADD natural remedies worth exploring.

Here are brief explanations of three of the categories of ADD natural remedies:

·         Specialized Diet for ADD – This is an area of some controversy, as little hard research has been performed on the actual impact of specific foods on ADD symptoms. It may be helpful to begin eliminating suspect foods and watching for an improvement of symptoms. There are reports of improved ADD symptoms in some people when such foods as sugar, refined carbohydrates, gluten, and artificial food additives are removed from the diet.  The overall goal, not only for those with ADD but anyone who wishes to live a healthier life, is to have the healthiest diet possible to support brain and body functions.

·         Biofeedback Therapy – Another of the ADD natural remedies gaining ground with those who hope to avoid extended medication use is biofeedback therapy. Biofeedback therapy involves training the person with ADD symptoms to self-regulate brain wave activity. By such innovative means as video games, the patient is taught to bring their brain waves back into normal rhythm. This may bring significant relief of ADD symptoms.

·         Supplement Therapy – A third area of ADD natural remedies worth exploring, by itself or in conjunction with the others mentioned, is the use of specific supplements. Supplement therapy for ADD symptoms is another area in need of solid research, but parents of children with ADD in particular, have reported positive outcomes when adding certain supplements to the diet. Those to explore include zinc, gingko biloba, and Omega 3 fish oil.  As with all therapies, they should be investigated with the assistance of the person’s health care provider.

The symptoms of attention deficit disorder can have serious negative impact on the life of the person suffering with them. For many ADD sufferers, a lifetime of medication use is not desirable. The abundance of ADD natural remedies to alleviate symptoms may offer those people the safe, medication-free relief they are seeking.

NEUROFEEDBACK FOR ADD/ ADHD

Natural Ways For Dealing With Insomnia

When searching for natural options for insomnia, you will find some remarkably effective and simple treatments available. Many people with insomnia worry about taking medicines like sleep aids and prescription SSRIs. However, there are numerous natural treatments available, which have been proven very effective for those who have sleeping problems.

The Right Diet

Probably the most overlooked natural option for insomnia is paying attention to your diet plan. You will find that if you include or remove certain meals from your diet, this will improve your sleeping. Some nutritional changes to think about include:

·         Staying away from sweets - Sugar not only gives instant energy, but it may disrupt bloodstream sugar levels. As bloodstream sugar levels fall, your sleep could be disrupted. If you don’t want to eliminate sweets altogether, try restricting yourself to not eating anything with sugar after 5:00 p.m. This gives your body time to process the sugar before bedtime and will ensure that you'll have a more restful night’s sleep.

·         Eating magnesium wealthy meals - Magnesium deficiency is an underlying problem for a lot of insomnia sufferers. Studies have proven that it is an all-natural sedative and plays a vital role in sleep regulation. Dark leafy vegetables, nuts, seed products, and whole grain products are excellent sources of magnesium.

·         Getting enough calcium - Like magnesium, calcium also plays an important role within the sleep cycle, particularly during REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. The lack of deep sleep continues to be associated with calcium deficiency. Adding items like milk, cheese, and yogurt to your diet will help you restore proper amounts of calcium to your body.

Nutritional Supplements

There are numerous nutritional supplements that are natural options for helping with insomnia, two of which are melatonin and lavender. Supplements won't have the same impact on everybody, so it is recommended that you test numerous natural options to discover what works best for you. Some effective but less known sleep-aid supplements include:

·         Wild lettuce - This supplement has been utilized because of its medicinal qualities since ancient Egypt. It is used to treat headaches, chronic discomfort, anxiety, and insomnia.

·         L-theanine – This supplement is present in eco-friendly tealeaves. It helps relieve the anxiety that disturbs normal sleep. L-theanine increases feelings of wellness and induces brain waves that correspond with relaxation. Additionally, it may decrease your heartbeat and lower reactions to worry. However, it might also hinder certain prescription medicines, so before taking L-theanine, talk to your physician first.  

Other Effective Treatments

Apart from adding supplements and monitoring your diet plan, there are other natural options for insomnia. Therapy has become a promising avenue for treating insomnia. Cognitive-behavioral therapy might help patients change sleep-related actions that could be leading to insomnia.

Neurofeedback therapy utilizes computer systems to help individuals retrain their brainwaves to healthy designs. This therapy has no side effects, is non invasive and has been proven to help with different conditions including chronic discomfort, headaches, anxiety, and insomnia.