Saturday, March 20, 2010

Frugal Tips for Getting Rid of Headaches

Anhydrous magnesium sulfateImage via Wikipedia

Being a migraine sufferer for decades, I know firsthand the agony of a headache! Medicines to treat them can be horribly expensive, or have dangerous side effects.

Here are a few tricks I have learned to prevent a headache, or shorten the duration of the misery.

Dehydration is a big contributing factor in headaches of all kinds, so be sure to drink plenty of water. Low levels of magnesium and depleted electrolytes can also be the culprit. In hospital ERs it is customary to start a migraine patient on a magnesium IV.

If you have a headache try these frugal tips:

Make an electrolyte replenishing drink by adding 1 tablespoon of sugar, 1/4 teaspoon of salt and the juice of half a lime to 2 cups of water and sip on it slowly.

Eat a cucumber! They contain a certain combination of sugar, electrolytes and B vitamins to restore your body's balance. Plus they are hydrating and light on the stomach.

Eat dark green leafy lettuce and spinach salads. They are loaded with magnesium!

Rub lavender essential oil on your temples, neck and scalp. It is a natural pain killer and tension tamer, and it helps you get to sleep.

Take a steamy hot bath with Epsom salts. A 15 minute soak relaxes tense muscles, rids the body of toxins and makes you feel calm. While the tub is filling, put your hands under the faucet for a few minutes. Make the water as hot as you can tolerate. The blood will rush from your head to your hands and relieve a lot of the pain.


Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making.
Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com
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I am a freelance writer, Reiki master, and educator, with diplomas in teacher's aide and child psychology, and numerous writing courses. I home schooled my son, who was born 10 weeks early and was expected to have developmental and learning lags. In 6th grade, he took an 8th grade standardized achievement test, and scored as a college sophomore in math and English. It inspired me to write a book, which I have given away for free! It is called Make your Kid a Genius, and can be downloaded at my website http://www.irenehelenzundel.com I am passionate about alternative healing methods; especially Reiki, aromatherapy, acupressure, therapeutic massage and music and sound therapy.