Water
★★★★★
Your child may just be thirsty! The first thing I do when I feel a headache coming on (which is almost never as I eat well and stay very hydrated) is drink at least one huge glass of water. It may take several glasses to catch up. If your pee isn't clear you are dehydrated. Often after sleeping all night is when we are most dehydrated. Please try this. I hope it helps!
(Ca)
04/05/2018
★★★★★
Water
★★★★★
Almost without exception, if I have a headache and drink a couple large glasses of water it will get rid of my headache. Why? Because the extra water helps eliminate toxins in the bowels! I have been doing this for years and I rarely get headaches. If I do, I drink as much water as I need to go #2 and I almost always get instant relief. A naturepath friend of mine used to say: If you've got problems with your head, start with your tail! I believe in almost every instance headaches are caused from toxic buildup. At work I see many people gulping down otc pain meds when really they are just dehydrated and suffering from toxic overload!
(Portland, Oregon)
03/27/2009
★★★★★
This one is so simple, I often forget how well it works. I too, have had success with drinking lots of water upon getting a headache. I've also used it for general aches in the body, or stomachaches. I got the idea after reading about 'The Water Cure' which generally stated that almost any ailment can be helped by drinking lots and lots of water. So far when I've remembered to try this, it has worked.
I've also had some successes with doing just a little bit (5-10 minutes or so) of cardio exercise for getting rid of headaches, although it sure isn't tempting to do it when the pain is on! But you would be surprised. Do not, however, attempt this if you believe you may be coming down with a cold or other illness; in that case, let your body rest.
(Savannah, Georgia)
04/21/2011
★★★★★
White Willow Bark
★★★★★
White Willow Bark helped immensely when years ago I was getting intensely-amazing headaches, each afternoon, which I could not get rid of with even the strongest otc med: exedrin, and most certainly there was no end in sight. I was using so many otc headach pills that I developed gastrointestinal bleeding. This was the first time I consulted a health food store owner for natural remedies, and successfully was cured. She suggested White Willow Bark, and peppermint tea. The WWB didn't work immediately, but I believe within a few days that my headaches absolutely vanished, and never came back, at least in those circumstances.
Hi, I'm trying to get some information about white willow bark supplements. I had read a comment somewhere on EC that this remedy had a negative side effect but I can't remember what it specifically said. I was wondering if you could lead me to some idea about it for my own information.
I love your website and haven't contributed anything yet but have spent hours reading various pages. It's a wonderful site for people to use. Thank you so much! Mary
(Tennessee)
03/20/2015
★★★★★
Dear Mary,
I have used White Willow Bark over the years on and off. No one in my family has ever had a side effect. But of course, that does not mean there are no side effects. Everyone is different. Some cautions that I read about in my Herb reference books are the following:
Mark Penderson, author of Nutritional Herbology, reports of at least one instance of someone finding it to be too harsh for his stomach. At the same time, Philip Fritchey, in Practical Herbalism, explains why it is gentler on the stomach than aspirin.
Philip Fritchie, in his book, Practical Herbalism, cautions that anyone with an aspirin allergy should probably avoid White Willow because it contains Salicin, which is the precursor to acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin.)
Because of the risk of Reye's disease, aspirin is not recommended for children with the flu or chicken pox. For that reason, it may be wise to not give children white willow any time aspirin would not be recommended.
I would tend to think that because aspirin thins the blood and should not be taken prior to surgery, white willow could have the same effect. But I do not find any information that says it does. In fact, Philip Fritchey, in his book, Practical Herbalism, lists it as a remedy for internal bleeding. But I would tend to err on the side of caution and not use it a couple of weeks prior to surgery.
I hope all of that does not sound scary or intimidating. White Willow is considered very safe, and we have found it to be so. Humbart Santillo, author of Natural Healing with Herbs, offers no cautions in his description of White Willow.
~Mama to Many~