There was a time when herbal home remedies were frowned upon by medical practitioners who felt that they were ineffective and may cause more harm than good. Today, scientists in the medical and pharmaceutical fields have recognized certain herbs and other natural ingredients to be effective in treating common ailments like indigestion, the common cold, and headaches. This is why some pharmaceutical companies are developing drugs that contain these natural ingredients. Most of these natural substances have been used by our ancestors to treat illnesses way before the first chemical drug was developed. These alternative methods of treating ailments wouldn’t have been passed on from generation to generation if they weren’t effective in one way or the other.
In today’s world, more and more people are being more cautious about what they introduce to their body. This has created a market for alternative medicine and herbal home remedies. Headaches are an example of common everyday illnesses that can be treated using natural methods. Here are a few home remedies you can try at home using ingredients you can easily find in your kitchen.
- Ginger. If you’re fond of oriental cuisine, then you’re probably familiar with this ingredient. If you’re experiencing a headache caused by constricted blood vessels, then ginger is the ingredient to use. It helps dilate blood vessels, allowing the blood to pass through freely, eliminating that annoying throbbing pain. You can make your own ginger tea by chopping up some ginger roots and boiling them. Sweeten it up a little bit with sugar or honey.
- Chamomile. A hot cup of chamomile tea has nerve-relaxing properties that can help treat insomnia and anxiety. If you’re suffering from tension headaches, the relaxing feeling chamomile tea brings can help soothe the headache. It also has anti-inflammatory properties, making it a good option to treat migraines.
- Lemon Balm Extract. Here is another natural ingredient with a variety of medicinal uses. For headaches, the vasodilatation properties of lemon balm make it a good option to help treat migraines and other headaches where the blood vessels in the brain are constricted. You can take a spoonful of this herbal extract or mix it together with your food or drink if you don’t like the way it tastes.
- Basil. This herb is very common in Italian cuisine. It adds a lot of flavor to a number of dishes, and it also has medicinal properties that can help treat various conditions. It fights against inflammation which can cause a headache. Aside from consuming fresh basil, it can also be grounded up and applied on the forehead to relieve headache symptoms.
- Peppermint oil. Studies have shown that rubbing peppermint oil on certain parts of the head such as the forehead, temples and down to the back of the jaw can relieve the pain caused by migraine headaches. It may take a while but the coolness you feel on your skin when you apply peppermint oil can provide relief from headaches and other migraine symptoms.
There is no harm in trying out natural home remedies to treat the pain and discomfort headaches bring. Unlike over the counter medication, there are no unwanted chemicals introduced into your body when taking these alternative herbal remedies. If symptoms persist, or if you want to be sure of the effectiveness of these natural ingredients, consult your doctor.