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The fever that can beat a bad headache
13th June 2008
Does anyone know why Friday the 13th is meant
to be so unlucky?
Whatever the reason, I thought it was all to do
with thunder and lightning and falling down open
manhole covers.
Or, in more extreme circumstances, being chased
by a maniac with a knife who's come back from
the grave to exact a terrible revenge on former
schoolmates.
Luckily, I haven't seen any halfrotted corpses
just yet, but my day does seem to be cursed...
So far I've:
Been attacked by my kids at six in the
morning. For no reason other than I was
happily sleeping, which for children under
five seems to be a crime of the highest order.
Stepped on my glasses.
Lost my car keys.
Been sent a bill from the builders that made
me want to extract my own horrible revenge.
And all before lunch time.
I bet if I look out of the window right now, I'll see
a meteorite hurtling towards our house.
Honestly, it's enough to give you a headache.
In fact, I HAVE got a headache, which is why
these little tips are going to come in so handy...
The natural way to beat a headache
without stuffing pills down your throat
As you probably know by now, I'm loathe to fill
my body full of manmade drugs to get rid of
pain, mainly because this usually only deadens the
symptoms without doing a thing to tackle the root
of the ailment itself.
But there's a remedy that could change the way
we tackle headaches especially aggressive sinus
headaches for good.
Next to migraines, sinus headaches really are the
baddest of the bunch.
They cause a dull, deep, or severe pain in the front
of your head and face that's impossible to ignore.
They are caused by an inflammation to the
network of passages that link your forehead,
cheeks, nose, and eyes.
When these passages are working fine, mucus can
drain and air can circulate freely, but if the sinuses
get inflammed, these areas get blocked and can
cause infection.
But as ever, a little digging around can reveal a
whole host of natural remedies that can relieve the
misery of sinus headaches.
Barberry (berberis vulgaris), echinacea or
eucalyptus all work wonders when it comes pain
relief plus they can enhance your immune
system, prevent colds, and reduce sinus
inflammation.
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And for a normal, everyday headache, try these
great remedies:
The fever that beats a headache...
- Feverfew is a traditional medicinal herb that
grows in many gardens (you more even have
some hiding in yours), that seems to work by
blocking the release of serotonin and
prostaglandins, which are thought to be the
main culprits behind migraines.
By preventing these two substances to do their
work, the blood vessels in your head don't get
inflammed.
Feverfew has been found to reduce both the
frequency and the severity of migraines - so
it's well worth a try (but as ever, only when
you get the ok from your doctor).
- Head off the start of a headache... feeling
stressed, or having kids leaping up and down
at you at the six in the morning, can trigger a
headache. So to help manage stress, try the
herbs skullcap and wood betony.
Both are used to calm the mind and relieve
tension, and should be taken throughout the
week (particularly if you know it's going to be
frantic and you suffer from headaches).
- Jamaican dogwood... this herb is a different
kettle of fish all together. If feverfew is like
taking a peashooter to the problem, Jamaican
dogwood is like using a cannon. From what
I've read, it seems to be very powerful and
effective - but it can be toxic in large doses.
So whatever you do, DON'T try using this on
your own.
- Peppermint oil... an old favourite - just
massage into your temples when it feels like
there's a Motorhead concert in your head, and
the pain should ease.
And if none of them do the trick, then I can
practically guarantee this will... |
Rub your pain away in minutes
I've talked about this before, but it's such a nifty
little gadget that I think everyone should have one
in the house.
It's called Pain Away, and it's a remarkable little
pen that literally zaps pain out of your body.
It works by sending electrical impulses that trick
your brain into thinking your body needs fast
help. (It seems this is one thing the scientists have
managed to figure out!).
So it jumps into action and sends a rush of
endorphins (the body's natural painkillers) to the
affected area.
It's an easy way to tackle headaches, arthritis,
back pain, osteoporosis and joint pain too.
This won't save your life or repel the undead on
Friday 13th, but it WILL bring you fast, noticeable
pain relief.
If you want to know more, take a look at this:
www.pain-away.co.uk
That's all for today. I'm torn between hiding
under the table, or going into town with Lara to
look at curtains.
Hmmmm... that table looks pretty inviting.
I'll be back again on Sunday, hopefully alive. |
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