As soon as a headache starts to make its way around your eyes and ears, you know you’re in for a battle, and the battle could knock you out all day. Not only do you want to have a dependency on strong pain killers, but your stomach can’t handle them. They’re harsh and toxic and can lead to serious illness. Instead, it’s important to treat the problem naturally as well as try to treat the root of the problem.

Migraines and headaches are most commonly the result of extreme tension in the neck, shoulders and back. They can also be the side effect of dietary or other allergic sensitivities and illnesses, so don’t rule those out if you haven’t already checked with your doctor. But since most are tension related, I want to share some ways to alleviate the pain quickly and naturally, as well as maintain your body to avoid more pain in the future.

First of all, remember that all the muscles, nerves and bones in your body are interconnected. If you’re having a headache on the left side of your head, it could be a result of tightness in the right hip, because the muscles cross over and intertwine all over the body. So when you start to feel a headache, begin to stretch from toe to head – yes, in that direction.

Start by standing tall and rolling your feet and ankles. Move to stretching your hamstrings and lower back by bending forward. Twist right and left a few times while bent over. Alternate arching your spine forward and outward and then roll back up into standing. From there, roll your shoulders backwards and stretch your arms up and out, while rotating your hands up, down, in and out. You should feel this in your forearms especially. Then move to your neck. First straighten your spine, imagining making your neck extra long. Once you’ve elongated your neck, lean it to the right, then to the left and then down with your chin to your chest.

From there, gently take your hand and add a little bit of pressure to your head in the direction of your stretch to take it a little further.

Take as much time as you need on each area of the body. Spend more time on areas that have more resistance or tension – but don’t force or strain anything.

To really get the most out of this, add a few sprays of our Lavender-Infused Eucalyptus Oil Shower Mist to your hot shower (with the bathroom door shut to trap the heat) or add it to a steam room or sauna, and then do the stretches. The heat will relax your muscles while the eucalyptus reduces the inflammation and increases circulation.

This method is incredibly beneficial and helpful. So if you are one that suffers from migraines, headaches, be sure to grab a bottle of our Lavender-Infused Eucalyptus Oil ShowerMist to experience calming, natural relief.