No, put down that Red Bull--instead, try some of these natural remedies:
"Feeling like you need a boost? Here are 7 pick-me-up tricks that will have you re-energized in no time.
1. Get a Whiff of CitrusThe smells of oranges, lemons, and grapefruits have been shown to be energizing, so simply add a slice or two of your favorite to a glass of water.
Or introduce citrusy scents into your morning routine, since several major beauty brands—Suave, Dove, and Dial, to name a few—now offer citrus-infused, wake-up-the-body washes. For a quick midday refresher, moisten a cotton ball with a few drops of citrusy bergamot oil and inhale.
2. Pull Your HairNo, really. “If you gently take handfuls of hair and pull the skin away from your scalp to get blood flowing to that area of the head, you can relieve a lot of potentially tiring tension,” says Marlene Merritt, a doctor of Oriental medicine and a nutritionist at the Merritt Wellness Center, in Austin, Texas.
3. ExhaleFlushing out toxins helps the body run more efficiently, which also means you’ll have more energy. Simply lie in bed for two extra minutes in the morning and focus on taking deep breaths, since “many of our toxins are expelled by breathing,” says Karas."
Read the whole thing--some good ideas there...
MEANWHILE, GOT A HEADACHE?
No, put down that fistfull of aspirin--instead, try yet more natural remedies:
"Head hurts? Try one of these doctor-approved pain relievers.
Relaxation techniques
Best for: Soothing stress before a headache starts.
How they work: Simple deep breathing and stretching (neck and shoulder rolls, in particular) relax tense muscles that trigger headaches, says Sheena Aurora, M.D., the director of the Swedish Headache Center, in Seattle.
A pulse-point balm with aromatherapeutic ingredients, like peppermint, can help, too. Try Bath by Bettijo Relief Organic Stick ($18.50, bathbybettijo.com). Roll it onto your temples and the back of your neck.
Keep in mind: Stretching also improves poor posture, another possible cause of headaches.
Cold or heat therapy
Best for: Medicine-free relief from minor tension headaches (which, unlike migraines, aren't debilitating).
How it works: Experts aren't sure precisely why each therapy is effective, but cold slows blood flow and reduces inflammation, and heat increases blood flow; both of these may ease pain.
"Go with your personal preference," says Jason Rosenberg, M.D., the director of the Johns Hopkins Headache Center at Bayview, in Baltimore.
Apply a cold compress (a fabric-wrapped cold pack stays cooler longer) or a heating pad wherever you hurt; limit treatment to 15 minutes at a time.
Keep in mind: You can also alternate the two in five-minute increments. Start with cold, then switch to heat.
Caffeine
Best for: Mild tension headaches.
How it works: "One way that caffeine may help is by blocking brain receptors to adenosine, a neurotransmitter that can cause blood vessels to dilate and create pressure," says Rosenberg.
Consuming caffeine constricts those vessels, relieving pain. Sip a cup of coffee at the first sign of a headache.
Keep in mind: This method is effective only if you typically consume less than 150 milligrams of caffeine a day. (That's about one cup of coffee.) If you usually drink more, your blood vessels won't be as responsive."
Again, read the whole thing...
"By three methods we may learn wisdom: first by reflection,
which is noblest; second, by imitation, which is easiest;
and third, by experience, which is the most bitter."
-Confucius
MEANWHILE, GOT A HEADACHE?
No, put down that fistfull of aspirin--instead, try yet more natural remedies:
"Head hurts? Try one of these doctor-approved pain relievers.
Relaxation techniques
Best for: Soothing stress before a headache starts.
How they work: Simple deep breathing and stretching (neck and shoulder rolls, in particular) relax tense muscles that trigger headaches, says Sheena Aurora, M.D., the director of the Swedish Headache Center, in Seattle.
A pulse-point balm with aromatherapeutic ingredients, like peppermint, can help, too. Try Bath by Bettijo Relief Organic Stick ($18.50, bathbybettijo.com). Roll it onto your temples and the back of your neck.
Keep in mind: Stretching also improves poor posture, another possible cause of headaches.
Cold or heat therapy
Best for: Medicine-free relief from minor tension headaches (which, unlike migraines, aren't debilitating).
How it works: Experts aren't sure precisely why each therapy is effective, but cold slows blood flow and reduces inflammation, and heat increases blood flow; both of these may ease pain.
"Go with your personal preference," says Jason Rosenberg, M.D., the director of the Johns Hopkins Headache Center at Bayview, in Baltimore.
Apply a cold compress (a fabric-wrapped cold pack stays cooler longer) or a heating pad wherever you hurt; limit treatment to 15 minutes at a time.
Keep in mind: You can also alternate the two in five-minute increments. Start with cold, then switch to heat.
Caffeine
Best for: Mild tension headaches.
How it works: "One way that caffeine may help is by blocking brain receptors to adenosine, a neurotransmitter that can cause blood vessels to dilate and create pressure," says Rosenberg.
Consuming caffeine constricts those vessels, relieving pain. Sip a cup of coffee at the first sign of a headache.
Keep in mind: This method is effective only if you typically consume less than 150 milligrams of caffeine a day. (That's about one cup of coffee.) If you usually drink more, your blood vessels won't be as responsive."
Again, read the whole thing...
"By three methods we may learn wisdom: first by reflection,
which is noblest; second, by imitation, which is easiest;
and third, by experience, which is the most bitter."
-Confucius
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