Home Headache Remedies

The cause of your headache often determines what type of remedy or treatment will help alleviate it. For instance, tension headaches should be treated differently than headaches caused by temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD), which is characterized by excessive stress on the temporomandibular joint, or TMJ. The best way to formulate an effective treatment plan is to schedule an appointment with a medical professional, such as West Orange TMJ dentist Dr. Ivan F. Stein of Headache and TMJ Center of New Jersey. In the meantime, however, here are some headache remedies that you can try at home.

Tension Headache Remedies

If it feels like a vice is squeezing your noggin, you may have a tension headache, which may be caused by lack of sleep or stress. Try one of these home remedies:

• Apply peppermint oil to your hairline to create a cooling feeling and relax the muscles in the area.
• Drink ginger tea made with fresh ginger. The ginger root helps reduce inflammation that may be causing your headache.

Cluster Headache Remedy

If you are experiencing a stabbing feeling in a localized area of your head, you may have a cluster headache, which earned its name due to the fact that this type of headache may occur in a cluster of days over a given period of time. This type of headache is commonly caused by temperature changes, allergies or sinus conditions. You can try applying a small amount of capsaicin cream to the inside of your nose, on the side of your head that has the ache. You should be able to find this cayenne pepper-based cream at your local health food store.

Migraine Headache Remedies

Migraine headaches are much more severe than other types of headaches and can be accompanied by debilitating symptoms such as vomiting or light sensitivity. Feverfew, a supplement derived from the sunflower family, reduces inflammation and can help prevent migraines in addition to treating them. Acupressure massage may also provide effective relief.

However, if your migraines persist, they may indicate a larger problem such as TMJ disorder. If these remedies do not help alleviate your migraine symptoms — especially if your migraines are accompanied by pain in the face, a popping sound in your jaw while you eat, dizziness or other symptoms — consider contacting a TMJ specialist to diagnose or rule out TMD.

If you do suffer from TMD, a New Jersey TMJ dentist such as Dr. Stein can provide alternative treatment options, including oral appliance therapy, ultrasound therapy, micro-current treatment or low-level laser treatment.

To arrange a complimentary consultation with a TMJ specialist, please contact Headache and TMJ Center of New Jersey by calling (855) 865-3627.