June 19, 2010

Hello,

If you have headaches regularly, you know how much they can affect your mood and life. Here are a few tips for headache relief that might help.

Carol

Self-Care for Headaches

Chronic headaches usually result from multiple factors. You can potentially decrease your headaches by reducing factors such as tension in your neck and shoulders, excess life stress, hormonal imbalances, unexpressed emotions, or toxic reactions to medications or alcohol. Some people find keeping a headache "log" helps them find and deal with patterns contributing to their headaches.

Note: If you ever experience a sudden severe headache unlike anything you’ve experienced before, seek medical attention immediately.

Here are some other suggestions:

• Muscle tension is often the culprit in chronic headaches. Massage is one of the most effective methods of relaxing muscles.
• Frequent, gentle stretching of the neck and shoulders helps some people relieve muscle tension. Or, go for the approach of Hanna Somatic Education.
• Exercise, whether aerobic, yoga, tai chi, or some other activity may help reduce your stress and tension.
• Drinking plenty of water and eating a balanced diet can help keep your system in balance.
• If you work at a desk, make sure your computer is set up correctly to prevent eyestrain and strain on your neck muscles. Get help from your company's ergonomics department or see these computer ergonomics tips.
• Stress counseling may help you learn to relax and let go of things you can’t control.

Your massage therapist may be able to refer you to qualified and experienced exercise and yoga instructors, nutritionists, naturopaths, and stress counselors.

What finally relieved my headaches: I had chronic headaches for more than ten years. Nothing seemed to get rid of them for more than a few weeks or months at a time. Then, I discovered peppermint essential oil.

Every time I got a headache, I rubbed one drop of peppermint essential oil into the palms of my hands, then inhaled the scent for up to five minutes (being careful to keep my hands away from my eyes, because peppermint will make eyes sting). The headache usually went away within the hour. After a few months of doing this, I stopped having headaches, and have not had chronic headaches for almost two years.

Will peppermint work for everyone? Probably not, because we are all different with different underlying headache causes. So, if one approach doesn't work for you (give it some time), keep trying. If you meditate, you might try going inward during meditation and asking your body what it needs to let go of the headaches.

Visit my aromatherapy blog for lots of information about essential oils. I recommend Young Living Essential Oils.

Imagine breathing differently for just a few minutes each day - and enjoying truly awesome results:

• Rocket your brain power and focus
• Enjoy greater relaxation and stress-relief
• Seriously improve your immune system
• Become happier and enhance your moods
• Turbo-charge your memory, creativity, energy
• And much, much more...

These life-enhancing benefits are YOURS - when you discover how to breathe "properly" for JUST 10 MINUTES a DAY.

Want to learn more? It's all explained at the Power of Breathing website.

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The information in this newsletter is for educational purposes only. Consult a professional healthcare practitioner as appropriate.

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