Natural Headache Remedy

Headaches. We all get them and some of us more than others.  I fall into the second category as being a chronic headache sufferer.  Tension headaches and the worst of all...migraines.  

I have been searching for years for a natural remedy or relief from headaches in general. Looking at everything including my diet, exercise, sleep, caffeine usage, herbal remedies including feverfew and homeopathic remedies, etc...I have been pursuing a way to naturally relieve them and prevent their onset.  
 

To be honest; I had just about given up trying until I recently attended a women's conference and the speaker chose to talk about health one evening.  She quickly mentioned about how she would take "a couple of Omega 3's" at the onset of a headache and it would take care of them immediately.  I jotted down what she said and forgot about it later.

 

However, the very next day I was feeling the onset of a headache that was destined to become a migraine.  I remembered what the speaker had said and quickly took two fish oil pills (Omega 3's) and didn't think much about it until later when I realized that I ended up not getting a headache OR a migraine.

Wow...this is pretty amazing stuff!  I was a bit surprised because I was used to trying everything to avoid one and nothing seemed to work.  So, all week I took two fish oils in the morning and two at night before bed because those were the times that I would tend to get them.  I would feel a bit muscle "achy" but I never got a for two weeks.  When I did get a mild one, I would take two fish oils or Omega's and they would keep the headache at bay.  

The Omega 3's seem to have eliminated my constant headaches to the point I am able to work out with weights again. However, I have had two days of migraines since then but I woke up with them in the morning and wasn't able to take anything to prevent them.  I did use fish oil with other remedies including pain reliever and valerian to help relieve the pain.  The fish oil seemed to help but I did need the extra boost of pain relievers to get through the headache.

So they seemed to be the most effective when taken before a headache comes on and it's important to be able to "read your body" on when you think this is happening.

  

How does fish oil or Omega 3 supplements work?  

This is a great question and to be honest, the medical community is not completely sure how it works exactly but they do know that this type of oil does have benefits that may contribute to migraine relief.

You can use fish oil to help and or other supplements that include, evening primrose oil, flaxseed oil, chia seed oil, borage seed oil, extra virgin olive oil.  Food that are rich in Omega's include, walnuts, winter squash, kidney and black beans, and wild rice. 

"According to the American Heart Association the ingredients of fish oil help reduce inflammation, reduces blood clotting, lowers blood pressure and steadies the heart rhythm. These actions, particularly the reduction of inflammation or swelling, may be helpful in reducing the head pain and other migraine symptoms of migraine attacks because it may reduce migraine head inflammation." 1

"Some research suggests that since Fish Oil prevents constriction of blood vessel, it can prevent the actions in the brain that lead to migraine attacks." 2

"A 2002 study of 27 adolescents who took fish oil found that they had fewer migraines, shorter headaches and less severe migraine headaches." 3

"Omega-3 fatty acids do decrease inflammation and relax blood vessels. These may also reduce the tendency of platelets -- blood cell fragments that play an important role in clotting -- to clump together or aggregate. Some studies link platelet clumping to the migraine process, and many standard migraine drugs serve to decrease the tendency of platelets to aggregate." 4

So far, they are taking care of most of my migraines.  I am also learning how to regulate my hormones so I can eliminate the migraines associated with them as well.  

You can use fish oil to help and or other supplements that include, evening primrose oil, flaxseed oil, chia seed oil, borage seed oil, extra virgin olive oil.  Food that are rich in Omega's include, walnuts, winter squash, kidney and black beans, and wild rice.

What to do when you feel like a headache is coming on?  Take a couple of fish oils or Omega 3's and see if you notice a difference.  Our 17 year old son took a couple when he had a mild headache and it went away for him.  If it works then you've just found a great simple, low cost remedy!  If it doesn't, keep trying as it may not work with hormonal headaches the same way it does for tension ones.  

All in all...it's certainly worth trying.  I am so thankful!

Have you found a natural cure that works for you to eliminate headaches?

Be blessed (and headache-free!)

*Here's a link to another great post from an M.D. about eliminating migraines.  He has some more suggestions on symptoms and treatments that are valuable to know.  You can read it here.


References:

1. http://migraine.com/migraine-treatment/natural-remedies/fish-oil-for-migraine-headaches/
2. Ibid.
3. Ibid.
4. http://headaches.about.com/lw/Health-Medicine/Conditions-and-diseases/Dietary-Supplements-and-Botanicals-for-Migraine-Headaches.htm

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Valerian: Natural Sleep Aid and Relaxant

Soon after I married, I began to take a huge interest in herbs and herbal medicines.  I don't know where this interest came from, but it was consuming.  I think I checked out every book from the library I could get on the subject and got herbal reference books for a few years after that.  

 All this study paid off because after our two boys were born and while still babies and toddlers, I began to look for a natural sleep aid.  I soon started using Valerian Root to help get through some restless nights.  My husband, highly skeptical but very desperate, began to use them as well.  We soon discovered that this highly unlikely herb had a permanent place in our medicine cabinet and we've been using it for over 15 years.

Valerian has been used for centuries to help soothe nervous tensions, anxiety and mild insomnia.

 

Even though we use it mostly as a sleep aid, Valerian is very effective as an overall tension reliever.  "It contains some unique substances such as valerenic acid and valeranon that have a central and muscle relaxant action that is particularly effective in treating stress and anxiety. It is one of the first herbs to consider if looking for a remedy to ease anxiety and panic attacks." (Source)

Valerian promotes an overall feeling of calmness and soothes and relaxes the muscular system.  

 

This is what causes you to be able to sleep as well.  It's not that it putting you to sleep, as much as it is relaxing you enough that your body is able to calm down and therefore you can go to sleep.

It relaxes the muscular system so well, that when I have a chiropractor's appointment, I always take 2 capsules (400 mg each) a half an hour to an hour before I go.  I always have a good adjustment when I do this.  If I don't take them, I usually don't adjust nearly as well and have more pain afterwards.

I have also used Valerian to help treat tension headaches that are going into a migraine headache.  I will take a few with a pain reliever and then continue to take them every few hours. They have really helped calm muscle spasms.  This makes them helpful for menstrual cramps as well.
  
 Valerian is great for cases of mild insomnia.  It helps you get a refreshing night's sleep but doesn't leave you with any side effects the next day.  

This is important as the whole point of sleeping is to feel refreshed the next day and Valerian can accomplish this without feeling over medicated.

I have found that if I'm am very stressed or having problems sleeping that Valerian can't handle, I will work on exercising, taking some chamomile tea, and overall relaxing more before bedtime.  It generally lasts me for four hours a night.  If I wake up after that, I will take another capsule which will get me through the rest of the early morning hours.

Valerian needs to be taken over the course of a few weeks in order for it to work for mild insomnia.

Like many herbal remedies, Valerian's benefits are gentle and accumulative.  This means you'll want to give it some time before you may notice a significant change.

 

More Benefits of Valerian:
  - It's very easy to find and buy.  I love the idea that I can just run to the drugstore and for a little over $3.00 a bottle, can bring a hundred capsules home.  You can also make your own capsules from purchased dried powder or your own plants.  Of course, if you make your own then you'll have to sacrifice your plant, but it does self sow pretty easily.

    - It's gentle and effective and non-habit forming.  You won't want to take it every day of your life for sure, but it is thought to be generally safe and even can have some health benefits.  We usually take a break from it after using it for a month or so but have never had any side effects from taking it long term.  This is one herb that is gentle enough to be considered a tonic.

Any Con's for Taking Valerian?
   - It is very odorous and this makes it not good for a tea but a capsule or maybe a tincture.  The Greeks named it "phu" because it smells, well, really bad.  Yes, this makes it hard to get past the lips, but once done, its benefits far outweigh any off odors.  I remember smelling a terrible odor in our bedroom one time.  We couldn't figure out where it was coming from and I actually thought something had died in that part of the room.  I finally discovered the source...an opened bottle of Valerian.  I didn't make that mistake again!  

Valerian is too valuable of an herb to let a little bit of an odor get in the way. :)    

You can certainly grow your own Valerian, just make sure it's Valerian Officinalis to get the medicinal qualities you are looking for.  The upper parts of the plants are healing as well.  The plant is also used externally to help with bruising and minor infections.

I have not grown any as the capsules are so easy to find.  But it wouldn't be a bad idea to have a plant in the herb bed. Just another note...cats love this plant, so if you live in an area with roaming cats, be aware as they'll pretty much ruin it.  I lost a beloved catmint plant this way.  You'll want to put it in a place where it can have some protection from the feline species.

So, the next time you're struggling with sleep make sure to check out Valerian...just make sure to plug your nose when you open your first bottle! 

Blessings!

Have you used Valerian before?  How do you like it and what do you use it for?


Resources:

http://www.herbalsafety.utep.edu/facts.asp?ID=38 
http://www.herbfacts.co.uk/pages/herb-file/valerian.php 
http://botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/v/valeri01.html

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