Herbal Headache Cure

An abundance of herbal remedies exist to treat headaches that can be triggered by your environment, stress, chemicals or medications. Whatever the cause of the headache, feverfew and valerian are two popular herbal remedies noted for providing headache relief. Bboth herbs tend to interact with medications, so it's best to check with your doctor before using either feverfew or valerian.

Feverfew

• For centuries, feverfew has been a folk remedy for headaches and fevers. According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, feverfew is now becoming a popular remedy to treat migraine headaches and rheumatoid arthritis. All parts of the plant are beneficial for medicinal purposes. Most feverfew products are made using the dried leaves. The herb is also used to make supplements such as liquid extracts, tablets and capsules.

  The dried leaves are best for preparing feverfew tea to relief a headache. Steep 1 tsp. dried leaves in 8 oz. of boiled water for 10 minutes. Strain the liquid and drink.

  For a migraine headache, the University of Maryland Medical Center suggests you take between 100 and 300 mg of feverfew capsules or tablets up to four times daily. Rx List recommends taking between 50 and 100 mg of feverfew extract each day to relieve migraine headaches.

  The University of Maryland Medical Center warns that feverfew has the ability to induce bleeding, so you should not take feverfew if you have a blood disorder or if you're taking blood-thinning medications. Also, women who are pregnant or nursing should not use feverfew.

Valerian

• People in ncient Greece and Rome were aware of valerian's medicinal properties to treat insomnia and anxiety, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. But it's also used to treat headaches. The University of Maryland Medical Center states that valerian is a safe herb, but it should only be used for short durations of between four and six weeks.

  Put 1 tsp. of dried valerian root into a cup and add boiled water. Allow it to steep between 5 and 10 minutes before straining to drink. Valerian can also be used with other herbs, such as chamomile, to make tea.

  Only drink valerian when you have a headache. The herb causes drowsiness, which is why it's also effective for insomnia. The University of Maryland Medical Center says women who are pregnant or nursing should not use valerian. You should never use valerian while driving or operating machinery.