Natural Headache Relief

It's been a long day. You're sitting in front of the computer, and the next thing you know. You've got a pounding headache.

Headaches affect MILLIONS of Americans. Many patients come to my office wanting to work on their sleep or digestion, and when I ask about headaches, they say, "Oh, yeah, I have that too." It can happen so frequently and for so long that people think headaches are normal. You need to know you don't have to live with them and that they aren't normal. It's the body's way of signaling that there's something wrong. It's like the alarm system going off in a building; instead, it's not a building; it's your body, and the alarm is your head.

When you do have a headache, people feel that they have two choices: either pop an over-the-counter painkiller or push through it by either ignoring it or sleeping it off.

If you choose to pop a pill, the most common are Aspirin and Ibuprofen. But shockingly, these can lead to more problems in the long run. Multiple studies have shown that these so-called "fixes" wreak havoc on your gut and digestion. According to the Mayo Clinic, Aspirin and Ibuprofen can cause you to have more headaches down the line. These headaches are called "rebound headaches." And in many cases, they're MUCH worse than the original headache you set out to fix.

When you start feeling a headache, the first question you should ask yourself is, "Am I dehydrated?" Dehydration is a prevalent cause of headaches. Consider drinking 3 liters of water daily for the average person.

If you realize the headache could be due to stress, the fastest, most straightforward thing to do is stop everything and take three deep breaths. Breathing helps get the body out of stress mode by calming down the nervous system and preventing it from getting stuck in the 'fight or flight' mode. Coherent Breathing is an easy method to continue removing stress from the body.

Another way to soothe a headache is not in your breath but in the palm of your hand. It's called the L-Zone and acts as an "on/off switch" for headaches.

When you massage your L-zone (it's right above the knuckle of your thumb), this "signals" for increased blood flow to your head, neck, and shoulders. According to the renowned Cleveland Clinic, this technique has the power to soothe tense muscles and greatly relieve tension headaches.

Here's how you massage the L-Zone:

• Breathe in and out deeply for 10 seconds

• Take your right hand and make it into the shape of a gun or an "L."

• Using your left hand, find the middle of the "L" (the meaty "web" of your palm between your thumb and pointer)

• Then, apply moderate pressure to that spot with your thumb and pointer finger and massage for 20-30 seconds

• Repeat as needed to soothe headaches, as well as relieve neck and shoulder tension

• Bonus: For increased effectiveness, apply ice to the L-zone after massaging. Warning: Do not massage the L-zone if you are pregnant.

So, even though I hope you never have to deal with a headache in the first place, these simple tricks of drinking water, deep breathing, and massaging the L-zone can help!

All three tips are great preventative measures. So even if you don't have a headache, give your L-Zone a quick 20-second massage, be aware of breathing from your diaphragm, and make sure you drink enough water throughout the day.