13 Soothing Solutions For Pain

Begin with the alarm not going off, add a frantic commute, sprinkle liberally throughout the day with deadlines and meetings, and top with screaming children and a stack of bills. If this sounds like a recipe, it is—for a headache. Headaches often come on quite suddenly. So can other painful conditions such as earaches or toothaches. When something hurts, our first instinct is often to reach for over-the-counter (OTC) painkillers. Although these handy pills do effectively kill pain, they may not always be the best choices for the job. Aspirin, acetaminophen, and naproxen, the most common OTC options, all have potentially serious side effects. The alternative? Natural remedies may quell pain as well as, or even better than, these medicine cabinet staples.

Headache 

Headaches come in different sizes and intensities, but there are two common types. Tension headaches typically begin as a constant dull ache at the back of the head or in the forehead. At their worst, they spread into a sensation that your head is being squeezed in a vise. Tension headaches can be brought on by stress, anxiety, eyestrain, or lack of sleep. Migraine headaches are often characterized by a throbbing, stabbing, or aching pain in one part of the head that may be coupled with nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound. The triggers for migraines may include foods, hormones, stress— even a change in the weather. If you have chronic headaches or excruciating pain, see your doctor immediately. But for the typical headache after a hard day, try the following approaches.

Head Off a Headache

1 Grab an Ice Pack When your head is pounding, using an ice pack may bring relatively speedy relief. You can use a frozen gel pack, a bag of frozen peas or corn, or a do-ityourself pack made by placing a few ice cubes with a little water in a zip-top bag. Cover your ice pack with a paper towel or a thin dish towel and apply it to the part of your head that hurts for 10 minutes every hour.

2 Combine Heat and Cold If ice doesn’t ease the pain of a headache, try heat. Heat can help relax tight muscles, which can contribute to tension headaches. Try putting a warm, moist compress on the back of your head, neck, or wherever the pain seems to be concentrated. Repeat as needed.

3 Apply Acupressure Several acupressure points, when activated, can ease headache pain. Here’s one to try: With the thumb and index finger of one hand, grip the meaty webbing between the thumb and index finger of the other hand. Apply firm, squeezing pressure for several seconds, release gently, and then squeeze again. Repeat this massaging action for about a minute, and then switch hands.

4 Use Essential Oils Massaging your temples with a diluted aromatic essential oil may bring headache relief. Mix a drop of either peppermint or lavender oil with a teaspoon of a neutral carrier oil, such as sweet almond oil. Wet your fingertips with this mix and rub your temples gently using small circular motions. Be careful not to get the oil in your eyes.

5 Try a Scalp Massage Use your fingertips to massage the skin all over the head and neck, but focus mostly on the sides of the head above and around the ears. Ideally, ask someone to do this for you, so you can more completely relax.

Earache 

Earaches caused by infections of the middle ear (otitis media) are one of the most common ailments of childhood, especially in children younger than three. But this type of earache can strike adults, too. The problem often begins following a cold or a bout of sinusitis. Bacteria or viruses migrate into the middle ear via the Eustachian tube—the tubular structure that connects the middle ear to the back of the throat —where they cause inflammation and swelling. Swelling may block the Eustachian tube, trapping accumulating fluids and microbes and causing a painful throbbing along with a feeling of fullness. Consult your health care provider to rule out medical problems such as a perforated eardrum, then consider home remedies to ease the discomfort.

Ease an Earache 

6 Try Heat Make a warm compress by soaking a hand towel in hot water (not hot enough to burn skin); wring out the excess. Fold the towel in thirds the long way and position it under your chin, wrapping the ends up alongside the jaw line and continuing up to your ears. Hold it there until the compress cools, then rewarm the towel in hot water and repeat. Do this two or three times a day.

7 Ease Pain With Oil Pierce a garlic oil capsule (available at health food stores). Squeeze a few drops of the garlic oil onto a small cotton ball and place the oil-dampened portion gently inside your ear (leave enough sticking out to make it easy to remove); leave it in for several hours. Recent studies have shown that warm olive oil, applied in the same manner, can also relieve earache pain. (CAUTION: Avoid applying oil to ears shortly before seeing your health care provider, as the presence of the oil may interfere with an ear examination.)

8 Massage à la Qigong Qigong (pronounced chee-gung) is an ancient Chinese form of healing movement therapy. To encourage circulation and drainage of fluid trapped in the ear canal, try a qigong-inspired massage. Place your middle and index fingers on either side of your ear (middle finger in front, index 􀉹nger behind). Starting near the earlobe, press firmly while moving your fingers (maintained in a V shape) upward alongside the ear. Release the pressure when you reach the top of the ear. Return to the starting position and repeat about two dozen times. Try this twice a day.

9 Drink and Gargle Make sure you’re drinking lots of fluids. The act of swallowing tends to stimulate the muscles surrounding the Eustachian tube to contract, which may help trapped fluid to drain. Gargling with warm water can have a similar effect.

Toothache 

Toothache can be caused by untreated tooth decay or gum disease, a broken or cracked tooth, a missing cap, or a lost filling. Professional care is required as soon as possible, either from your dentist or a medical doctor. But if toothache strikes late at night or over a weekend and you can’t get an appointment right away, these simple steps can help ease the pain temporarily.

Contain the Pain Use 

10 Salt and Cloves Add ¼ teaspoon salt and 3 drops pure c l o v e essential oil to about 6 ounces of warm water in a glass. Stir until the salt dissolves. Swish small mouthfuls of this mixture around the painful tooth. Spit; don’t swallow. Repeat as needed. (CAUTION: Rare allergic reactions to clove oil have been documented in a few people. This clove oil– containing mouth rinse is very dilute, but use it for no more than three days. If you experience any sign of irritation on your gums or the lining of your mouth, stop using it immediately.)

11 Apply a Spicy Paste Mix about a teaspoon each of powdered ginger and cayenne pepper in a small dish. Add enough water to make a paste. Scoop up some of the paste onto a cotton swab and hold it on the tooth for several minutes. Be careful not to get this mixture on your gums, your tongue, or the lining of your mouth, as it could cause irritation.

12 Mix a Peppermint Mouthwash Make a cup of peppermint tea. Swish small mouthfuls of the liquid gently around the affected tooth.

13 Ice It Place an ice pack on your cheek (with a paper towel or thin, soft cloth in between to protect your skin) over the painful tooth. Apply for 5 minutes every hour.