Headache treatment (Other type of headache)

How to get rid of a headache? Aspirin can be helpful as it can give quick pain relief (just like Ibuprofen or other pain relievers).

The recommended adult dose of aspirin is 325 to 650 mg, every three to four hours as needed, up to six times per day. Be careful not to overdose, because it may cause nausea and vomiting, or in extreme cases hallucinations, seizure, coma, and even death due to cardiac arrest.

What causes headaches? Many factors, including mental effort, illness, etc. In most cases a headache is nothing to worry about, however there are cases where visiting the doc is a good idea. Those include: 


- If your headache lasts longer than a day;
- If the pain you feel is especially strong;
- If you experience a new type of headache you never had before;
- If your headache is accompanied by other issues such as fever, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, stiff neck or rash;
- If you cannot sleep because of your headache;
- If you recently had an accident;
- If you have frequent headaches (e.g. 3 times per week);
- If your headache started after taking medicine;

If your headache stays for weeks or months, you should consider going to a neurologist who may apply advanced treatments (e.g. botox).

According to a research published in the Australian Journal of Medical Herbalism in 2007, henna possesses anti-microbial and anti-analgesic properties that can help you relieve migraine pains and headaches. 

What to do:

1. Take some henna powder obtained from henna leaves, not the chemicals used for colors.
2. Mix the powder with some water so as to make a paste.
3. Apply it to the head and let it sit there for 30 minutes.
4. Wash the hair thoroughly with a shampoo.Keep in mind that henna will turn your hair color into red bright, therefore, be careful with it.

Basil, among its other properties, can work as a muscle relaxant, which is especially helpful for headaches caused by tension or tight muscles. All you need to do during a mild headache indicating migraine, chew some fresh basil leaves. You can alternatively massage your forehead and temples with 3-4 drops of basil oil.

 Additionally, drink some basil tea. Simply steep 5-8 basil leaves in hot water for 5-10 minutes and drink it.

Basil is known to work as a muscle relaxant, which is helpful for headaches caused by tension or tight muscles. Combining it with witch hazel can give an even better effect.

What to do:

1. Boil 2-3 cups of water and add 1-2 tea spoons of dried ground basil.
2. Let it steep until it's cool.
3. Add 2 tablespoons of witch hazel.
4. Take a cloth and soak it in this mixture.
5. Wring out all excessive water and place this cool compress on your forehead so that it covers your temples too.
6. Stay in this position for 15-20 minutes or until you feel better.

Mint tea prepared with can be an effective means of getting a relief from a headache. All of the mint's main components, menthol and menthone are able to alleviate pain from headaches. 

What to do:

1. Boil 1 cup of water and add the mint leaves (1 table spoon of fresh leaves or 1 teaspoon of dried leaves).
2. Let it steep it for about 5-10 minutes.
3. Strain it and drink.
4. You can add some honey if you feel like it.

Peppermint, eucalyptus, and lavender oils can be extremely helpful in alleviating headache. Lavender oil is known to reduce muscle spasms and nervousness while peppermint and eucalyptus oils can relax mind by having a calming effect.

What to do:

1. Add 2 drops of lavender, eucalyptus, and peppermint essential oils into a cup of water.
2. Soak a clean washcloth in this mixture and wring out excessive water.
3. Put this compress over your forehead. You may cover your eyes for soothing effect, too.

Butterbur contains such components as petasin and isopetasin which are able to reduce spasms and inflammation to provide you with a pain relief. All you need to do is take a butterbur supplement (about 50-75 mg twice a day). 

However, do not use butterbur if you are pregnant or nursing.