- No more days like these, thank you!
- The fever that’s good for headaches
- Discover these handy tips to a clearer head
Yesterday started out badly… and got worse as the day progressed.
I had been woken at 3.00 by the dog barking at a fox in the garden (not sure whether it was the fox or the outside light tripping on that caused the annoyance).
Then when I dozed back off, the smoke alarm on the landing started beeping as the battery level was low (this annoyed Lara who said I should have changed the battery well before it got so low… how could I have known?)
Then as I got out of bed I stepped on my glasses.
Later that morning I lost my car keys and received a bill from the builders that made me want to extract my own horrible revenge.
Next was a twisted ankle when I walked the dog through the woods, so I had hobbled back home in some pain.
Then in the afternoon I got a call from my Mum to say her car had a flat tyre and Dad couldn’t manage to undo the wheel nuts on his own… getting to the house (having found my car keys in my wellies when I took the dog out!) I grazed my knuckles on the floor as the wheel brace slipped off.
Dinner was a near disaster as the Yorkshire Pudding didn’t rise and I suffered the indignity of the family asking for some of that ‘Yorkshire Biscuit’!
I just hope today is a better one but with my luck I bet if I look out of the window right now, I’ll see a meteorite hurtling towards our house!
We all have days like that and it’s enough to give you a headache.
In fact, I HAVE got a headache, which is why these little tips are going to come in so handy…
The natural way to beat a headache without stuffing pills down your throat
As you probably know by now, I’m loathe to fill my body full of manmade drugs to get rid of pain, mainly because this usually only deadens the symptoms without doing a thing to tackle the root of the ailment itself.
But there’s a remedy that could change the way we tackle headaches especially aggressive sinus headaches for good.
Next to migraines, sinus headaches really are the worst of the bunch.
They cause a dull, deep, or severe pain in the front of your head and face that’s impossible to ignore.
They are caused by an inflammation to the network of passages that link your forehead, cheeks, nose, and eyes.
When these passages are working fine, mucus can drain and air can circulate freely, but if the sinuses get inflamed, these areas get blocked and can cause infection.
But as ever, a little digging around can reveal a whole host of natural remedies that can relieve the misery of sinus headaches.
If you can get fresh eucalyptus leaves or the oil from them you can put hot water over them and sit over the bowl they are in with a towel over your head and breathe in the scented steam. (My Dad used to do this with Vicks Vapour Rub instead.)
Barberry (berberis vulgaris), Echinacea or eucalyptus all work wonders when it comes pain relief plus they can enhance your immune system, prevent colds, and reduce sinus inflammation.
And for a normal, everyday headache, try these great remedies:
The fever that beats a headache…
Feverfew is a traditional medicinal herb that grows in many gardens (you might even have some hiding in yours), that seems to work by blocking the release of serotonin and prostaglandins, which are thought to be the main culprits behind migraines.
By preventing these two substances to do their work, the blood vessels in your head don’t get inflamed.
Feverfew has been found to reduce both the frequency and the severity of migraines – so it’s well worth a try (but as ever, only when you get the ok from your doctor).
Head off the start of a headache… feeling stressed, or having dogs leaping up and down at you at the three in the morning, can trigger a headache. So to help manage stress, try the herbs skullcap and wood betony.
Both are used to calm the mind and relieve tension, and should be taken throughout the week (particularly if you know it’s going to be frantic and you suffer from headaches).
Jamaican dogwood… this herb is a different kettle of fish all together. If feverfew is like taking a peashooter to the problem, Jamaican dogwood is like using a cannon. From what I’ve read, it seems to be very powerful and effective – but it can be toxic in large doses.
So whatever you do, DON’T try using this on your own.
Peppermint oil… an old favourite – just massage into your temples when it feels like there’s a Motorhead concert in your head, and the pain should ease.
Here’s hoping you week is faring better than mine so far, but hopefully for anyone that has a bit of a headache a few of these ideas might offer some relief.
