The most popular and universally used pain killers are Aspirin, Paracetemol and Ibuprofen. These can be bought under a wide range of brand names. There is another name for these drugs. Ibuprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug and, like Aspirin,and Paracetemol it is its ability to reduce inflammation which makes it effective in treating headaches, because it is inflammation which helps to generate the nerve signals we perceive as pain.

There are others as well of course which may be more appropriate for a particular patient and circumstance. One such is Acetaminophen. Acetaminophen should not be used at the same time as ibuprofen for relief of fevers. Acetaminophen appears to not interfere with the antiplatelet effect of low dose aspirin, and FDA is unaware of any interference by narcotic analgesics. Acetaminophen and ibuprofen have been compared in many published evaluations. Their efficacy has been comparable when given at maximum dosages.

Turning away from the products of the big drug manufacturers, there are many other ways to obtain pain relief. In the paragraphs that follow we have described some of them.

Herbal extracts in capsules or tablets in an amount of say 250-500 mg three times per day can also be taken. Use of uva ursi should be limited to no more than fourteen days. Herbal remedies can be a safe and gentle alternative if you're careful to distinguish fact from fancy. Many herbal medicine guides rely on folklore and old wives tales that may be worthless at best and harmful at worst.

Peppermint oil is very effective at relieving sinus headaches if it is inhaled. It helps to break up the congestion that causes the sinus pressure and pain. So, peppermint is said to be a headache cure. Lavender is calming. Rosemary can get our personal energy flowing again and spearmint can be an aid in providing mental clarity. We can all benefit from these at some time or another.

Drinking lots of water can help avoid illness, reducing pain and cure hang-over headaches, and stop pesky dry mouth problems. Remember that it is a good thing to pee more than normal when you drink more water.

Drinking room temperature water is can help avoid painful teeth if sensitive when before and or after fillings you would otherwise experience tooth pain. Water that is too cold can temporarily give you even more of a headache.

Migraine attacks can be painful and induce headaches. Migraine attacks may include nausea and vomiting, photophobia (intolerance to light) and sometimes intolerance to noise. Migraines are usually recurrent and episodes can last anywhere between several hours to 3 days. Migraines occur more often in women than men, and cluster headaches, although uncommon, occur mostly in men. Some relief can often be achieved from taking an anti-inflammatory during a migraine attack.

Apples are also reported on web sites to have also been proven to be very beneficial at curing headache pain. If you are looking for a headache home remedy that is going to work, this would be a great choice.

Headaches for most of us are short-lived but you should of course immediately speak to your doctor if the pain becomes severe. Chronic pain affects an estimated 86 million American adults to some degree. Approximately 45 million Americans suffer from chronic headaches.

Chronic pain includes long-term (often defined as having persisted for at least 6 months), intense, and often throbbing sensations. It is often associated with medical diagnoses of cancer, multiple sclerosis or arthritis.

Muscle tone and balance work can ease pain as can proprioceptive training, exercise regimes, stretches, taping, aerobic fitness and advice on joint protection. These are all valuable to the patient with early degenerative change in the joints. There has been some recent emphasis on foot biomechanics and orthotics.

Muscle relaxers also work because they prevent muscles from contracting (but they can also cause your heart to stop in the event of overdose!). But both of these "pain remedies" actually address the symptoms - not the cause of the pain itself!