A cluster headache is one of the most painful afflictions known to mankind. Sufferers have described cluster headaches as a hot dagger being poked through the eye and into the brain. Women have even compared cluster headache pain to be equivalent to labor pain, while men express that it’s the worst pain they’ve ever felt.

Cluster headaches involve intense and relentless pain in or around one eye on one side of the head. The symptoms can sometimes be confused with a migraine, but there is one major difference. This type of headache occurs in patterns, and it arises in cluster periods — or outbursts of frequent attacks that generally last from six to 12 weeks. A cluster period usually ends in remission, when there are no symptoms for months or even years. (1)

Although the pain can be intense, cluster headaches are rare and the symptoms can be reduced or relieved with a mix of conventional and natural headache remedies. (2) Let’s explore my most effective natural treatments, along with the symptoms of cluster headaches and how they differ from a migraine or tension headache.

Get Outdoors

People with cluster headaches experience a relief of symptoms after receiving oxygen during an attack. This can be done naturally by getting outdoors and taking deep breathes of fresh air.

Exercise

Daily exercise can reduce stress and boost blood circulation. In between headache attacks and when in remission, take a long hike, attend a yoga class or practice interval training. It’s been proven to help relieve headache symptoms, adding cluster headache relief to the long list of the benefits of exercise. (10)

Breathing Exercises

Deep, rhythmic breathing allows more oxygen into the brain, relieving the pain during headache attacks and leaving the body at ease. That’s what makes yoga such a great activity for headache suffers. Its physical exercise combined with breathing exercises have been found to alleviated headache symptoms. (11)

Stick to a Regular Sleep Schedule

It’s important that people who experience cluster headaches stick to a regular sleep schedule. Cluster periods may actually begin when there are changes in your normal sleep routine, so it helps to stay consistent. (12) If you can’t sleep, that could also trigger cluster headaches, so do everything you can to ensure a regular, quality sleep schedule.

Use Peppermint Essential Oil

Peppermint oil is known to relieve headaches, boost energy, release tight muscles and improve mental focus. Before and during a cluster headache attack, apply two to three drops of peppermint oil topically to the temples, back of neck and bottoms of the feet. (13)

Drink Ginger Tea

A bioactive ingredient in ginger, called gingerol, has therapeutic benefits. It acts as a highly potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. It also reduces pain by acting on vanilloid receptors and relieves nausea, which can be a symptom of intense cluster headache attacks. Drink ginger tea one to two times daily to relieve the symptoms of cluster headaches. (14)

Avoid Alcohol and Tobacco

Alcohol and tobacco use can increase the frequency of cluster headache attacks and make the pain even worse. (15) If you suffer from cluster headaches, avoid alcohol and tobacco, especially during a cluster period.

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