Pain Relief for Headaches: Heat Therapy

This is Part I of my series on finding pain relief for headaches. There are so many causes of headaches, yet seemingly so few cures. In the spring when the weather changes, I have mild to severe headaches several times a week. They are mostly brought on by the hay fever that comes from living in the forest in the Sierra Nevada foothills.

I am leery of the risks associated with taking even mild over-the-counter pain killers, so I have sought out natural pain relief.

Heat therapy alleviates pain for mild to bad headaches.

Heat therapy reduces stress, loosens muscles, and relieves constricted blood vessels.

Mild to Bad Headaches are Caused By:

• Eye Strain
• Dehydration
• Food Allergies (like chocolate, red wine)
• Hay Fever
• Stress
• Over-Exertion
• Reactions to Medication
• Caffeine (or the lack of).

And Can Be Relieved By:

• Heating a Shoulder and Neck Heat Packs in the microwave. Place it on your shoulders and around your neck for instant relief. You can continue working or going about your daily routine.
• Drinking plenty of water.
• Drinking a mild caffeinated beverage like black or green tea. If you’re addicted to coffee or large amounts of caffeine and are having a caffeine-withdrawal headache, then you drink too much caffeine. If your headache’s preventing you from stopping coffee cold turkey, sipping a mild drink like tea will ease your pain.
• Reclining in a bath with several wash cloths packed around your shoulders and neck. I find this to be very soothing and effective relief.

For severe migraines, herbal or prescription medications are often required to achieve relief. See Part II of my series to learn about herbal remedies for severe headaches and Part III: Headache Avoidance, to learn about how to steer clear of headache triggers.

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