I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I know I did. However, I did have a flare up of my TMJ.
So today I thought we'd talk about one of the biggest annoyances in our day to day health.
And that would be a headache!!!
Why do we get them? And how do we relieve them without taking conventional pain relievers?
Well . . . first let's break it down . . .
What can cause a headache?
Well . . . it could be an infection in your sinuses, a nerve cluster, neck issue, stress and tension in your life, a migraine which is due to a wave of activity by groups of excitable brain cells, or TJM, a jaw issue.
But . . . whatever our pain is from . . . WE NEED RELIEVE!
So . . . a headache is really just a chemical activity in the brain, the nerves or blood vessels that surround the skull, or muscles of the head and neck. And they all play a significant role in a primary headache.
Okay . . . so what are some of the elements that cause this chemical activity???
Well . . . having a cold or the flu, stress, drinking too much alcohol, bad posture, eyesight problems, not eating regular meals, not drinking enough water (dehydration) and taking "too many painkillers"
You see . . . while headache pain is caused by "vasoconstriction" which is the narrowing of the blood vessels . . . "inflammation" of the tissue surrounding the brain actually exacerbates the pain.
So how do we fix this problem of narrowing blood vessels and inflammation . . . other than taking conventional "pain relievers"?
You see . . . the problem with these synthetic drugs . . . is that they alter our stomach acid level, causing stomach pain, irritation to the lining of the stomach and can lead to heartburn or even acid reflux.
And in severe cases . . . they can cause "kidney" problems. The National Kidney Foundation states that 3 - 5 % of new cases of chronic kidney failure each year may be caused by the overuse of these painkillers.
Okay . . . pain relievers work with cells, the body's nerve endings, the nervous system and the brain to keep the body from "feeling" the "pain". They don't actually stop the pain . . . they simply just "mask" it. And this is why over 2 billion dollars are spent each year on everything from Advil to Tylenol to Ibuprofen.
They just "mask" the problem . . . not fix it.
So the question still remains . . . how can we naturally relieve a headache???
I've spoken about "magnesium" in many Health tips. Well . . . here's just one more reason this important mineral that helps to keep blood pressure normal, bones strong and the heart rhythm steady . . . can help again.
Science states that individuals with migraines, clusters, etc. have a reduced level of "magnesium" in the body. And that magnesium blocks signals in the brain that lead to headaches. And "magnesium" can stop the specific chemicals in the brain that "cause" pain.
Another element would be . . . one of my favorite little spices called "ginger"
Yes, that's right . . . "ginger"!
While "ginger" is best known as a calming remedy for indigestion, nausea and upset stomach . . . this little spice can also be used to relieve headaches.
Remember how I just told you that it's actually the "inflammation" in the body that causes the "pain" of a headache???
Well . . . "ginger" has a natural oil which contains chemical compounds that can treat and relieve "inflammation". Ginger can also increase the level of serotonin, which acts as a chemical messenger during migraine attacks. Increasing serotonin can help relieve a headache and yes, even a migraine by reducing inflammation and the constriction of blood vessels.
So when you have any kind of heachache . . . try increasing your magnesium intake and take some fresh or ground organic "ginger".
This is what I do . . . The last time I took a conventional "pain reliever" was over about 20 years ago. I always have some "ginger" on hand.
As always, feel free to contact me here