Most importantly, they don’t have the same nasty side effects as conventional treatments. Natural remedies are certainly worth a second look….

Headaches are very common – and there are many different types of headache too…and just as many causes…

You can soldier on through some headaches, but some simply demand silence and a darkened room…

Painkillers are probably the first thing you reach for whenever you get a headache. Occasional use of mild painkillers shouldn’t be too much of a problem… but did you know that if you regularly use painkillers to dull your headache, you could actually be making it worse…?

Regular use of painkillers, means you end up needing to take more and more to get the same effect – so gradually making your headache worse and worse – until even your high strength painkillers don’t help!

This is just one, in a long list of nasty side effects that conventional painkillers have on your body. They also cause damage to the stomach, liver and kidneys – possibly leading to more health problems …. really, it’s not what you want!

Natural remedies for headaches are a gentle alternative …. and just as effective …. Just without the troublesome side effects.

Depending on the cause of your headache, there are lots of natural health remedies you might want to try. Some you can easily prepare in your kitchen, at home … others might require the skills of a trained practitioner … so it is up to you to choose the remedy that suits your situation best….

Treatments that you can take long term, with the help of a qualified practitioner, are acupuncture, acupressure, head and neck massage and osteopathy.

You may also find relaxation treatments are beneficial, especially for tension headaches. You can do these at home, or with a trained practitioner. Some you might want to try are: yoga, massage, hypnotherapy, massage.

You can also get more calming and relaxing effects by using Flower Remedies or the relaxation herbs, such as Camomile, Passion flower or Lemon Balm.

Why not try essential oils as a very effective natural remedy for headache, that can work in minutes. Aromatherapy essential oils that usually do the trick, are peppermint, lavender and rosemary. This usually involves a gentle head massage as well, or using hot or cold compresses on the head.

Some foods can affect your headache too. There may be foods that you are allergic to, or sensitive to. And there are food types that commonly cause headaches in lots of people – caffeine, chocolate, strong cheese, red wine, processed meats, additives and sweeteners. These can easily be avoided, once you have identified your triggers.

Certain foods can actually help with your headache – particularly spicy foods such as horseradish or cayenne pepper. These remedies are most useful for sinus headaches. This type of headache also responds well to steam inhalations too.

Herbal remedies that you can try at home include: Cayenne, Ginger, Peppermint, Passion flower, Valerian, Oregano and Ginkgo Biloba. Feverfew is said to be one of the best herbs for effective treatment of migraines.

I think one of the strangest natural remedies for headaches is warm cabbage leaves on the head…. Does it work …? I don’t know … I’ve never tried it! But it is meant to be very effective!

Whether you choose to put cabbage leaves on your head, or not, is completely up to you. Natural remedies for headaches are gentle, versatile and actually very effective.

Well worth a try – you may find you never go back to the painkillers…!

Click here to find out more about all the natural headache treatments you have read about here, how to use the herbal treatments, and how to avoid getting headaches in the first place.