Dealing With Headaches

I’m going to be up front with you, Gentle Readers, and admit that I haven’t tried all of the folk remedies listed here for headaches. However, these folk and alternative remedies have a large following. I plan on trying these soon…well, most of them, anyway.

Warm Foot Bath

I like to take a warm bath (if I’m not too dizzy) and soak my whole body in the tub while waiting for the Excedrin to kick in. A folk remedy for colds, chills and general relaxation can also work for some people on their headaches. You simply soak your feet in water as warm as you can stand it. The goal is not to burn the outer layers of your feet, though. You can just have warm water, or add aromatherapy oils like lavender or peppermint. A few drops is all you need.

Another variation is to put a teaspoon of mustard powder (repeat — POWDER) or ground ginger into a gallon of very warm water and then pop your feet in. This can help if you can have a cold compress on your neck (for a tension headache) or on your head (for basically any other kind of headache).

Accupressure Point in Your Hand

Accupressure has been around as long as it’s better known twin, acupuncture. However, no needles are invloved with accupressure. In this accupressure treatment which you can do yourself, you are stimulating a point called hoku, which isn’t hokey.

Look at your hand. Locate where the thumb and forfinger meets. There’s that fleshy bit in between that kind of looks a little like webbing. Squeeze it. Don’t rip it off, just squeeze it. Supposedly, after a few minutes your headache will ease. There are actually clamps sold that do the squezing for you. Personally, I can’t do this when I have a headache because I have trouble coordinating my hands when my head is in pain. But it might work for you. It’s better than doing nothing, isn’t it?

Irish Pototo Headache Cure

I’m not sure if the potato has to be Irish, but this cure is from Ireland. You use think slices of raw potato as part a compress. You place the potato slices where the pain is throbbing the worst, tie a bandana or bandage around it to keep them in place, then lie down in a quiet place for an hour. Moaning is optional. After an hour, you should feel better. I wouldn’t recommend eating the slices. You know where they’ve been.

When You Gotta Go…

Another folk remedy is to induce a bowel movement whenever you feel a headache coming on. Presumably, you will be in the bathroom when the need to go becomes pressing. I really do not recommend this, but am including it for laughs. Sometimes tensing up and relaxing can give you some headache relief!

Hope these help.