There's probably not one of us who can say we've never had a headache. But, there are headaches and then there are HEADACHES!!! Some can be relieved simply by closing our eyes and relaxing for a period of time. Others are a bit more persistent and require the aid of a mild pain reliever. And, then there are the headaches that can put a person out of commission for hours or even days.

In our fast-paced, stress-filled lives, tension headaches are pretty common. In fact, they're the most common type of headache. Most people describe the pain as anywhere from mild to moderate. Pain that feels like a band is being tightened around their head. With a tension headache, a person may also have pain that radiates down the back of the skull to the back of the neck. They have been known to last for anywhere from 30 minutes or non-stop for a week and can cause a number of different symptoms. Besides the head and neck pain, some people suffer tenderness of the scalp, neck and shoulder muscles. Difficulty sleeping, fatigue, irritability, loss of appetite, insomnia. and a lack of ability to concentrate have also been associated with the tension headache.

Although you may not feel like doing anything, tension headaches are not intensified by increased physical activity. If you feel a tension headache coming on, use a stress-buster inspirant in a calm, quiet atmosphere to eliminate the effects of the stress, thereby reducing the severity and length of the headache. Ingredients to look for are lavender, bergamot, orange, wild chamomile, neroli, and rose.

There are two types of headaches that are believed to be vascular in nature. One is the migraine. The pain associated with a migraine headache can cause a person to retreat to their dark bedroom for the duration. Sometimes the person is fore-warned that a headache is about to strike by a sensory warning, such as flashes of light or pins and needles in the arms or legs. Normally, migraines attack one side of the head, but some suffer the pain on both sides. The throbbing pain of a migraine is made worse by physical activity. While a person is experiencing the headache, they have a low tolerance to light and noise. Using a soothing, natural, herbal headache tea while resting in a quiet, dimly lit room will help relieve some of the pain associated with the migraine. A tea steeped from white willow bark, blue vervain, lavender, and peppermint.

There are many common triggers of the migraine headache. Changes in a woman's hormonal balance is one. Certain foods and medications can also bring on a migraine. Stress, both physical and emotional can trigger a migraine in some people. Sensitivity to bright light and strong smells can also be a trigger. Not being able to balance your sleep routine can also be a cause, either too much or too little sleep can both cause a migraine to develop. Ensure a healthy nights sleep by adding to your diet a natural plant formula that nourishes, strengthens, and regulates the nervous system. One that includes valerian root, kava kava, irish moss, mistletoe, catnip, hops, and oatstraw.

Another type of vascular headache is the cluster headache. It's much more rare than the migraine and ranks as one of the most painful types of headaches. The headaches come, as the name suggests, in clusters. They can occur many at a time for days, weeks, or even months in succession. Then there are periods of pain-free comfort that can last for any length of time before the next cluster hits. Cluster headaches generally occur on one side of the head and stay on that side throughout a cluster period and, frequently, for life. They can, however, change sides as often as each episode, but that's rare. The pain of a cluster headache is described as a stabbing pain, sometimes in the eye, sometimes burning.

There are two theories on the cause of the cluster headache. Some experts believe they are, as with the migraine, nerve related. Other experts believe that it's strictly vascular in nature. Take a natural pain reliever that contains plants rich in a safe anti-inflammatory. Trust only natural ingredients such as meadowsweet, white willow bark, feverfew, wood betony, woodruff, wild lettuce, black willow bark, lavender flower, and peppermint.

Suzanne VanDeGrift has developed this article on behalf of Dherbs.com
Dherbs offers a specially formulated safe, natural remedy for pain and inflammatory conditions.