Natural Remedies for Sinus Migraines and Headaches
It's that time of the year again where seasonal allergies and sinus infections are in full swing. Sinus pressure causes inflammation of the sinuses that can ultimately lead to migraines and headaches for many people.
If you are one of the 39 million people who suffer from migraines, you are all too familiar with the pain and frustration that can come from this condition. Sinus migraines and headaches can result in issues including severe pain, nausea, vomiting, extreme sensitivity to light, and visual problems. Many people seek effective treatments to help relieve the pain of migraines. Fortunately, there are a number of all natural remedies for sinus migraines and headaches. Let’s take a look at some of the most effective.
Acupressure
You’ve likely heard of acupuncture before, an ancient technique that involves targeting areas with small needles. Acupressure is fairly similar only without the needles, something that many people will be relieved to here. Acupressure is a traditional wellness technique that is based upon the concept of life energy that flows through the body’s meridians.
With acupressure, there are a number of pressure points that can provide relief for a wide array of symptoms and pains. There are actually many acupressure points that can provide relief from sinus pain and head pain including helping with things as severe as migraines. The LI-4 acupressure point on the hand and GB20 acupressure point on the neck are particularly good for relieving pain from sinus problems, migraines, and headaches.
Acupressure typically involves using your fingers to apply gentle but firm pressure to specific areas. Doing this can have various physiological effects that ultimately improve your symptoms. Acupressure’s effectiveness has actually been illustrated in a number of studies.
Essential Oils
Chances are you’ve probably heard about essential oils. You probably even have a friend or two that swears by them. There is good reason for this as they can serve as a natural remedy to help with a number of issues. Essential oil is a general term for a compound extracted from plants. These oils capture the flavor and scent of the plant and can be used for natural healing.
There are lots of different types of essential oils. In fact, there are over 90 different ones. These have been used for thousands of years to treat different conditions and different oils are effective for helping with a variety of different things. When using essential oils, you can apply them to your skin using a carrier oil. Massaging them on your temple is a good method for addressing headaches or sinus migraines. You can also use them in aromatherapy using a diffuser.
There are several types of essential oils that have shown to be effective in treating sinus migraines and other headaches. Peppermint oil is one of the most effective for migraines. Another one that is frequently used is lavender oil. Both of these are great options for helping to relieve symptoms.
Cold Compresses
One method of relieving the symptoms of sinus migraines and headaches that many people use is simply to apply a cold compress. There are many ways to do this. Ideally, you can have a cold compress that you place in the freezer, wrap in a towel, and hold to your head. However, you can make your own with ice and a towel or even by wetting a washcloth and placing it in the refrigerator for a little while. Some people find that applying this while lying in a cold, dark room is particularly helpful for migraines.
Cold compresses work by accomplishing a number of different things. First, they help to decrease any inflammation that is being experienced which can relieve pressure and pain. Additionally, they constrict blood vessels and reduce the conduction of nerve impulses, both things that help to reduce headache pain. Research has found that cold compresses resulted in significant reduction of pain experienced from migraines. Another option involves alternating hot and cold compresses.
Try our Aculief Headache and Migraine Relief Hat. It's a wearable cooling cap that utilizes cold to relax and relieve headaches and tension.
Yoga
When you think about having a migraine, one of the last things you probably think about is yoga. However, yoga has been proven to help relieve symptoms of sinus migraines and headaches by helping leverage some of your body’s own mechanisms.
Research found that people who supplemented other treatments with yoga had greater reductions in the pain experienced from migraines. This is because yoga helps to get your body to relax, which in turn reduces muscle tension and improves blood flow. Both of these things are thought to reduce the severity of migraines, something studies have confirmed.
Performing yoga while experiencing symptoms may be difficult for those experiencing severe symptoms. However, for people who have chronic issues with sinus headaches, performing regular yoga when feeling well can extend the benefits as well.
Ginger
Ginger root is a widely used spice in cooking but is also quite effective for sinus migraine and headache relief. In fact, ginger has been used as a folk medicine for thousands of years in some cultures. If you’ve never had ginger before, it has a slightly peppery, sweet flavor and a quite pungent smell.
Consuming ginger can help to reduce the pain experienced form headaches and migraines. While this may seem like a folk tale, it has actually been confirmed in a peer-reviewed study. This study compared migraine treatment by ingesting ginger powder to migraine treatment using the prescription drug sumatriptan. The results revealed that people who took the ginger powder experienced equal levels of reductions in severity and duration as those who took the drug.
Final Thoughts
Sinus migraines and headaches can significantly impact your quality of life. Fortunately, there are many natural remedies that have shown to be effective in reducing symptoms. At Aculief, we were founded with the goal of helping advance medication free, all-natural healing. From a wearable headache relief hat to various essential oil blends, you can find a number of natural options to help reduce the symptoms of headaches and migraines without needing to take OTC mediations.
Additionally, Aculief’s Wellness Journal provides you with a wealth of information about natural healing and wellness practices. Visit us today to improve your knowledge and learn about our family of products.