headache

I never really had bad headaches until I got pregnant which seems to be pretty common with many women. Unfortunately, my headaches continued past my pregnancies and now I have a two-year-old and am still getting headaches regularly. Like many naturally-minded moms I hate taking pain killers unless I absolutely have to. So I've come up with a few things that seem to help alleviate the pain a good percentage of the time.

Essential Oils

I've tried quite a few different essential oils and the one I like the most is PastTense, which is a roll on oil blend by doTERRA which includes: essential oils of wintergreen, lavender, peppermint, frankincense, cilantro, marjoram, Roman chamomile, basil and rosemary. I am by no means an essential oil expert and probably couldn't tell the difference between basil and marjoram oils in a smell-off contest, but if they help ease even a little bit of my headache pain, I'm on board! And the roll-on form of PastTense makes it super easy to carry with me all the time.

Arnica Montana

Arnica is said to relieve pain from joint & muscle soreness, bruising, swelling, stiffness, back ache, fatigue and inflammation. When you think about it, all of those things can cause headaches, so by taking Arnica you are dealing with the problem at the source. You just put 3-4 tablets under your tongue and try to avoid doing anything that would compromise the effect (like brushing your teeth) for at least 30 minutes after taking them. Also, the bottle says not to take it if pregnant or breastfeeding but it was prescribed to me by my very knowledgeable midwife and she said they just have to put that because, as with most naturopathic remedies, they aren't regulated by the FDA. It's always a good idea to check with your doctor or midwife though.

Electrolytes

Another thing that happened as a result of being pregnant and breastfeeding is that I turned into a camel. Seriously I drink water all the time. In fact, I get a little panicky when I don't have my water bottle with me and start wondering where I'll get my next water fix. Since I know I drink more than enough water daily, I was surprised when my chiropractor told me that my body was showing signs of dehydration. She was well aware of how much water I was drinking so she suggested that I add electrolytes to my water. Apparently sometimes your body can be getting plenty of water without really hydrating due to a lack of electrolytes. I've noticed that if I add an Emergen-C packet to my water when I feel a headache coming on, I can often nip it in the bud.

Massage

This is one of the most effective ways of dealing with headaches (and really dealing with anything, right?!) but for me massages are a rare treat that I only turn to when I really need some extra help. My husband tries his best but he is definitely no massage therapist. I know they can be expensive but you really should try to budget them in when you can.