Showing posts with label Headache. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Headache. Show all posts

Ginger For Migraine Relief

It has been long known by many that ginger is excellent at soothing an irritated stomach and works well to alleviate motion sickness but according to a study done at the Odense University in Denmark, researchers discovered that ginger works the same way that aspirin does by blocking prostaglandins (A chemical that causes inflammation in the blood vessels of the brain). It reduces the stickiness of blood (platelet aggregation).

At the beginning signs of a migraine, taking a ½ to 1 tsp of ginger in warm or room temperature water, can greatly reduce or even eliminate the pain. It has a strong peppery taste but is not intolerable. For those that are allergic to aspirin or who don't want to take drugs for every little pain, ginger may be able to help you.

Other benefits of ginger are:

- it stimulates the digestive system and can move undigested food and gas through the intestines (this is good news for seniors because they often have digestive difficulties that make them feel sluggish and tired).
- Japanese studies have indicated that ginger works very well for reducing the pain of rheumatoid and osteoarthritis.
- can help in the healing of stomach ulcers.
- can aid in reducing nausea, particularly helpful for chemotherapy patients.
- reduces platelets in blood vessels and thins the blood to reduce the chances of having a stroke or heart attack.
- helps to sooth menstrual cramps.
- Is very helpful in minimizing the effects of colds or the flu

If you are not familiar with how to buy fresh ginger at your supermarket, look for a firm root that does not have any discoloration in the flesh. If you see browning in the flesh or cracks and splits, then it is on its way out. It is interesting to note that the ginger you buy in most supermarkets has a dry brown skin that is hard to peel. Fresh ginger just pulled out of the ground does not have dry skin at all and is very easy to peel, but, it's difficult to find that kind of freshness at any grocery store.

Fresh ginger is best, but powdered will work if that is all you have on hand. To keep fresh ginger readily available, one of my favorite chefs had a great tip. Peel off the skin of firm fresh ginger, place it in a freezer bag and freeze, and it will be ready to grate anytime you need it. Frozen ginger is also much easier to grate than fresh.

There are many great recipes but here are a couple of simple ones to start with, especially if you are trying to stave off a headache or quell nausea etc.

Recipe for ginger tea;

Add one oz of grated fresh ginger (or 1 tsp of ground) to 1 cup of boiling water and steep for 5 to 6 mins, then strain. Add the juice of ½ a lemon and 2 tsps of Blue Agave (A low glycemic syrup) or sweetener of your choice. Enjoy!

Quick and easy homemade ginger ale;

Place ½ tsp of ginger and 2 tsps of Blue Agave (or sweetener of your choice) in a glass. Slowly add carbonated water to ¾ of a glass. Add lemon juice and stir. Enjoy! Note: make this only when you are going to drink it right away because ginger will reduce the carbonation level of the water.

Common Locations of Headache Pain


Headache pain is put into one of two groups, primary or secondary. All headache symptoms belong to one of these mentioned groups. With primary headaches the headache is the primary disorder, but with secondary headache pain the headache is the result of some other health disorder. Secondary forms can be caused by lots of disorders and conditions such as tumors of the brain, allergies, infectious diseases, drug-caused (whether prescription or over-the-counter), and lots of other unknown conditions. This article will talk about frequent primary headache symptoms and signs and how to make a distinction between them.

The most universal primary headaches are tension-type, also known as stress-type, and migraine headache, which comprise the majority of the occurrences. The primary grouping also includes sinus and cluster types, but they are much rarer. Somewhere in the vicinity of 9 out of every 10 adults undergo tension-type headache pain and women will suffer from them two times as frequently as men. Migraine headaches are the second most common form and will occur in approximately 10% of the populace, which translates into about 30 million Americans.

Stress headache pain types have a few comparable symptoms and signs as migraine pain and can therefore occasionally be mistaken for them. Tension-type pain is normally mild to moderate in severity while migraine attacks are moderate to severe. Typical tension headache pain symptoms and signs typically consist of a dull aching pain, are bilateral, and create the feeling of your head being in a vise. The standard sensation is a pressure-type feeling from the backside of the head all the way to the front. On the other hand, migraine discomfort is most often a throbbing and pulsating one-sided head pain. These are differences that will most likely be able to make it possible to tell them apart.

Migraine attacks can be accompanied by visual disorders, loss of strength, and sense of balance problems while tension headaches are classically not coupled with these headache symptoms. Migraine attacks can be severe enough to be disabling, but tension types are very infrequently severe enough that normal work activities can't be performed. Migraine attacks can include nausea and throwing up while stress or tension headaches will not. Migraine pain usually begins at a young age, generally between 12 years of age to young adulthood, but they can certainly emerge earlier.

Swollen facial sinus cavities are the disorders that cause sinus headache pain. The Sinus cavity locations are in the forehead, base of the nose, and cheek areas. Sinuses produce mucus that drains into the nose, but when sinus cavities become infected and inflamed, normal mucus flow is prevented. This will cause the mucus to build up, increasing pressure, with the end result being sinus headache pain.

The nature of headache symptoms that are customarily seen with sinus infections are headache pain, classically in the area of the sinuses, increased nasal mucus discharge, swelling in the face, and an increase in body temperature.

Cluster headaches are also in the primary class and can be the source of very severe ache. They are often known as suicide headaches due to their intense pain. Luckily, they affect less than 1% of the populace, making them infrequent. Most of the time they show up in men and their main symptom is intense head pain. They are typically not mistaken with migraine headache pain because they come on very rapidly. They are sometimes confused for tumors due to the fact that the pain is severe and they are felt on one side of the head.

In many instances it can be tricky to accurately identify these different forms of primary head pain. Even professionals often have trouble for the reason that differing forms of head pain may perhaps give comparable symptoms and signs.


Concussions - Traumatic Brain Injury - Cause - Symptoms - Treatment

Concussion Symptoms Need to be Evaluated by a Doctor
For those children and adults who have recently sustained a concussion, effects of their concussion can be subtle and often aren't noticed before the person attempts to return to school or work. Immediately following a concussion, it is crucial to watch and observe the individual to ascertain if the signs and symptoms are becoming worse. To determine whether the person has had a concussion or a more serious injury, it's suggested that they go to the nearest hospital emergency room to have formal diagnostic testing to determine the presence and/or extent of the injuries.

For how long are concussion signs and symptoms expected to last?
Although signs and symptoms vary between people, almost everyone has signs and symptoms that resolve inside a couple of days. For individuals with signs and symptoms that keep going longer than ten days, they might be identified with publish-concussive syndrome. This is a group of physical, cognitive and emotional symptoms that last longer than the expected recovery time. It often occurs when a person either has a serious concussion or has had more than one concussions or brain injuries.

What exactly are the common concussion signs and symptoms?
The signs and symptoms of concussion are frequently divided into 3 groups: physical, cognitive and emotional. Physical symptoms refer to those which impact the feeling of the body. Cognitive signs refer to an individuals thinking skills or mental capacity. Emotional or psychological symptoms refer to how the person is coping with the injury and adjusting to it mentally. Not everyone with a concussion will have the same symptoms.

Physical Signs and symptoms
  • headache
  • light headedness
  • sensitivity to noise or light/visual stimulation
  • tinnitus
  • balance issues
  • sleep problems
Cognitive Signs and symptoms
  • feeling "foggy" or "cloudy"
  • difficulty paying attention
  • memory loss
  • difficulty focusing in busy environments
  • problems with multi-tasking
Emotional Symptoms
  • becoming easily angry or sad
  • depression
  • not feeling "like yourself"
  • anxiety
  • paranoia

If you are a loved one are experiencing concussion symptoms after having a blow to their head, it is important to seek medical advice. The brain is an extremely fragile organ and swelling can cause permanent damage. Should permanent damage occur, your doctor can help you find appropriate concussion treatment options. Head injuries Concussions are not to be taken lightly and should be addressed immediately. If not treated, post-concussion syndrome can be developed and the concussed individual will have an even harder time returning to work, school and being able to be independent.


Natural Remedies for Head Ache using Herbs

In some cases a headache may be a symptom of a more serious underlying disorder, but often headaches are caused by stress, dehydration, tiredness, poor posture, caffeine, alcohol, drugs, food allergies, eyestrain, sinusitis, poor nutrition, or low blood sugar.

Alternative RemediesGingerTraditional Chinese herbal medicine recommends ginger for headaches. Eat a small piece of fresh ginger root or make ginger tea from the fresh root or tea bags.

Coriander SeedsAn Aryuvedic treatment for sinus-related headaches is the steam inhalation of coriander seeds. Put the coriander seeds into a small bowl. Pour on some boiling water, drape a towel over your head and the bowl, and inhale the steam.

Celery
Celery contains phthalide which helps you to relax and be less anxious, which helps with pain. It is also rich in potassium which many headache sufferers are deficient in. Celery seeds can be used in smoothies/juices or soups. Taking 2 oz of celery juice and then laying down for 30 minutes has proven to be a very effective remedy for headaches.

Herbal TeaSitting down with a relaxing cup of mild herbal tea is often good for a tension headache.


Vitamins and MineralsFrequent headaches could be a sign that you are low on some important vitamins and minerals. Low levels of niacin and vitamin B6 can cause headaches. For example, all the B vitamins are needed to help combat stress and avoid tension headaches. The minerals calcium and magnesium work together to help prevent headaches, especially those related to a woman’s menstrual cycle. Good sources of calcium are dark green leafy vegetables, such as kale or broccoli, and beans and peas. Magnesium is found in dark green leafy vegetables, cacao, nuts, bananas, wheat germ, full spectrum salts, beans and peas.



AromatherapyThe relaxing qualities of lavender oil make it a good treatment for a tension headache. This essential oil is very gentle and can be massaged in your temples, the base of your neck, or the base of your nostrils. 
The combination of oils: Lavender, Peppermint, Marjoram and Rosemary are known to have a pain reliving effects.
Taking a bath with relaxing oils such as chamomile or ylang ylang will also help to soothe and relieve pain.

BreathingIn order to learn how to relax and cope with headaches, you need to become familiar with your own breathing patterns and change them in ways that will help you relax. We tend to hold our breath when we are anxious, stressed, or in pain. Click the link below to find out about helpful breathing techniques.

**Please note that some of the food items mentioned, such as bananas, cacao, and nuts can actually trigger headaches in some individuals. If this happens to you, don’t give up. With a little research, you will definitely be able to find the remedy that works best for you.




Natural Way to Treat Head Ache during Busy Hours

Work Pressure and tension may trigger the Head ache during your busy office hours. Sunny day simple arouse the pain.

According to howstuffworks "A headache is a pain sensed in the nerves and muscles of the head and neck, as well as the meninges (the membranous coverings of the brain and spinal cord). Your brain itself cannot sense pain, so a headache has nothing to do with your brain hurting."
Head Ache during Busy Hours
Here is the 4 Simple and Comfort way to treat Head Ache which won't cost you anything.


Drink water, as water is the first source that relieves the pain when we take a pill.

Find a comfortable place and have a sit. Close your eyes and breath deeply.

Think that you are breathing fresh energy through your head. Breath down in the core of your body.

Breath out thinking about the flow of energy, flushing out and erasing the pain from the body. Follow the above steps 5 times.