Bills. Deadlines. Strife in the Middle East -- and family squabbles that make the Gaza strip look as serene as a Quaker meeting on a slow day. With all the stresses and strains of modern life, it's no wonder you've got a headache today. What's amazing is that there are days when you don't.
If you'd rather not pop a pill every time life's pressures go to your head, take matters into your own hands with this easy massage technique from Elliot Greene, past president of the American Massage Therapy Association.
Start by placing your fingertips on your scalp, one hand on each side of your head. Press down gently and move the scalp back and forth about half an inch. "Your fingers shouldn't slide across the skin," says Greene. "They should be moving the scalp itself." After a few seconds, move your fingertips farther back on the scalp and repeat. Continue until you've massaged your entire scalp from front to back, including the area above and around your ears.
Next, grasp a small amount of hair in one hand. Gently lift the hair away from your scalp and twist it slightly. That stimulates the scalp and helps relieve tension. Repeat until you've covered the whole scalp.
Now massage your temples and forehead, making small circles with your fingertips. Do this for several minutes or until you feel your headache subsiding. You can also rub the back of your neck, especially at the base of the skull.
Finish with a shoulder rub: Use your right hand to grasp the muscle on your left shoulder and squeeze lightly for several seconds. Release and squeeze several times. Then switch sides, with your left hand grasping your right shoulder. Breathing deeply and regularly during the entire massage will help you stay relaxed.
BEAT YOUR HEAD WITH A STICK
A peppermint stick, that is. If that sounds too painful, try adding some peppermint essential oil to your regular facial moisturizer, suggests Los Angeles aromatherapist Michael Scholes. Squeeze a dollop of unscented lotion into your hand, add a drop of peppermint essential oil and apply it under your nose and behind your ears. Drink a cup of hot chocolate afterward and you'll think you're eating a slice of grasshopper pie.
For times when you'd rather not rub your pain relief all over your face -- when you've just eaten fried chicken, for example -- you can also inhale the fragrance straight from the bottle.
A LITTLE JAVA, A LITTLE RELIEF
If the first sign of a headache sends you to the pain reliever aisle of the corner drugstore, you might consider a side trip to the lunch counter, donut shop or cappuccino bar. No, Prevention isn't suggesting a chocolate eclair or a couple of biscotti to soothe your aching head; instead, try washing down your aspirin with a hot cup of coffee. By constricting blood vessels, caffeine can help relieve congestive headaches, says Fred Sheftell, MD, codirector of the New England Center for Headache in Stamford, CT. In fact, studies show that a cup of coffee or tea can boost the effectiveness of aspirin and other pain relievers by about one-third.
PAIN AHEAD? TAKE A DETOUR
When your head starts pounding, try lavishing some tender, loving care on your ... feet. Crazy as it sounds, focusing a little attention on you hooves may be just what it takes to head off a three-alarm headache, says Tori Hudson, ND, a naturopathic physician in Portland, OR. Her bait-and-switch technique -- a classic hydrotherapy treatment for headaches -- uses a combination of heat and cold to reduce the pounding in your head, making it very effective for tension and sinus headaches. First, draw a nice hot bath for your feet and ankles only. This draws blood downward, away from your aching head. As you're soaking, hold an ice pack or cold cloth to your forehead and temples.
PUT HEADACHE PAIN TO BED
Instead of taking to your bed when a headache strikes, try visualizing the innards of your Sealy Posturepedic. Close your eyes and imagine that all the muscles in your head and neck are like the tightly coiled springs that put the bounce in your mattress, suggests Dennis Gersten, MD, a San Diego psychiatrist. Now imagine that all of those springs begin to loosen. As they do, the muscles become more relaxed, and your discomfort decreases. Do this for 30 seconds, every hour on the hour, to dramatically relax you and ease your headache, says Dr. Gersten.
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