No matter how healthy you are, no matter how your day is going – a headache can stop a person in their tracks and bring on a great deal of pain. Reaching for a bottle of acetaminophen is usually everyone’s go to method because the television commercials have told us for years that they can fix the problem.

However, what other options are available that don’t involve taking an over the counter drug? Well, I’m here to tell you that there are several other methods to curing a headache that do not involve a manufactured chemical. There are a plentiful amount of holistic methods that are derived from organic treatments that work wonders.

Lavender

Lavender oil can be either inhaled or applied topically. To inhale: apply two or three drops for every two to three cups of boiling water. Unlike many remedies, this method can be used safely without diluting it. However, never drink the lavender oil.

Peppermint Oil

Peppermint has been found to benefit tension headaches. The smell helps control blood flow throughout the body. In case you didn’t know headaches and migraine pain are directly related to the poor blood flow of an individual. The peppermint oil helps to open and close the vessels that promote the blood flow throughout the body. It’s also said that peppermint remedies are also used to open up the sinuses so that more oxygen get enter the bloodstream.

Basil Oil

While it may taste delicious in your foods, basil can also be exactly what you need when you’re experiencing a headache. Basil works as a muscle relaxant and helps to alleviate tension headaches and other pains from tight muscles.

Avoid Trigger Foods

There are many trigger foods that can affect the frequency and severity of a headache. These foods include: dairy, chocolate, peanut butter, avocado, bananas, citrus fruits, onions, meats with nitrates – such as bacon and hot dogs, foods containing MSG, red wine and last but certainly not least foods that are fermented or pickled. While that may be a long list of foods to avoid, it’s wise to take note of which foods trigger headaches if you’re prone to them.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Headaches that are brought on by inflammation can be reduced by the consumption of omega-3 fatty acids. For example, flaxseed is an excellent source of omega-3s.

Buckwheat

Buckwheat is an excellent remedy for headaches and migraines that come from flavonoids. The antioxidants found in buckwheat are very strong and can counteract damage and inflammation.

Ginger Tea

Purchase fresh ginger at your local grocery store. Crush up an inch of ginger root and add it to the boiling water. The homemade remedy will reduce inflammation within the same amount of time any over the counter acetaminophen product would take.

Capsaicin Cream

Cayenne pepper is the active ingredient in this cream. Apply a small amount of the cream to the inside of your nostril that’s on the side of your head where you are experiencing pain. The cream will work to block nerve pain signals. Capsaicin cream can be purchased at any health food store.

See, the possibilities are endless. Do the research before popping a pill. There’s no way of telling how or what an over-the-counter medication is made of. Nature provides us with so many different options to maintain healthy and happy lives. Be sure to make the most out of the resources that we readily have available to us.