Stress Giving You Headaches? Three Natural Remedies To Explore

Stress: it's a part of most every adult's life, and it's one of the largest contributors to headaches. If ongoing stress has you sitting on the couch, resting your aching head on a pillow once a week or more, it's time to explore some treatment options. Here are three natural remedies that will help fight stress and the headaches it causes.

Chiropractic Care

You may not think of going to the chiropractor unless your back hurts, but as it turns out, misalignments in the spine can be big contributors to both stress and headaches. If your spine is out of alignment, one or more of your vertebrae may be pinching nerves related to the stress response. Alleviating this pressure may make it easier for you to relax, reducing the frequency of your headaches. Spinal misalignment can also cause muscles in your neck to tighten, which in turn makes them more reactive to stress. When these muscles tighten, they can lead to headaches or make headaches worse.

In most cases, seeing the chiropractor once a month should be sufficient to keep stress and its related headaches at bay. However, your chiropractor may recommend visiting more often at first until your symptoms are brought under control.

Essential Oils

There are a number of essential oils that are great for alleviating stress and promoting relaxation. If you inhale these essential oils when you feel a headache coming on, they may stop it in its tracks. Some oils to try include lavender, lemon, and chamomile. Try buying one bottle of each, and experiment with them to see which is most effective for you. The easiest way to use them is to add a drop or two to a diffuser, and let the scent fill the room. You can also dilute one drop of essential oil with two or three drops of olive oil, and then rub the mixture on your temples.

Exercise

Going for a walk may not be what you feel like doing when you have a headache, but if you can convince yourself to get out there, you'll feel so much better. Exercise -- even light exercise like walking -- causes your body to release endorphins, which are natural stress-fighting hormones. Plus, walking gets your blood pumping, which can help alleviate your headache. Start incorporating more exercise, like walks and light jogs, into your daily routine, and you'll likely notice that headaches don't appear as often.

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