How to reduce intracranial pressure at home

Headache is an insidious symptom. It may indicate minor stresses on the body and be a bell in case of more serious diseases. A frequent, prolonged headache that worsens when the head is lowered may indicate that you have increased intracranial pressure (ICP).

What is ICP

Intracranial pressure is created by cerebrospinal fluid, which is also called cerebrospinal fluid. When the amount of cerebrospinal fluid increases, the fluid presses on the ventricles of the brain, because of which we experience severe headaches. An increase in the number of cerebrospinal fluid can be caused by various reasons.

Causes of High ICP

1. Hydrocephalus (dropsy of the brain), when the outflow of cerebrospinal fluid worsens due to narrowing or blockage of the excretory canals.
2. ICP may increase due to infectious and inflammatory diseases - meningitis, bronchitis, otitis media, malaria.
3. If there were head injuries that were accompanied by oxygen starvation of the brain, this could lead to an increase in ICP. An example of such an injury can be found with incorrect passage of the fetus through the birth canal.
4. Congenital pathologies can also cause increased cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles of the brain.
5. With severe poisoning by food, drugs or chemicals, ICP may increase.
6. Being overweight is another reason for ICP.
7. Increased ICP is often the result of a stroke.
8. A tumor of any nature (benign or malignant) can cause increased ICP.

How to recognize ICP

As said, a headache is a symptom of many diseases. Recognized increased intracranial pressure can be associated with the characteristic symptoms.

1. With ICP, the headache has a certain color. The head often hurts completely, the pain is not localized in separate areas. The pain intensifies when the head is lowered, when sneezing, coughing, screaming. Pain often overtakes a person in the morning when he is in a horizontal position. In this state, the cerebrospinal fluid rushes to the head and the pain intensifies.
2. Nausea, vomiting that is not caused by poisoning or toxicosis.
3. Various vision problems - blindness, decreased visibility, blurred vision. Also, with high ICP, eyes may hurt, the pupils become red and swollen. A person feels that the eyeballs are as if “bulging”. With a long examination of the subject, vision may “bifurcate”.
4. ICP also brings symptoms of general malaise - shortness of breath, sweating, weakness, irritability. The patient looks broken, he has pronounced bags under the eyes.
5. Pain may be given in the back.
6. ICP is often accompanied by an increase in blood pressure, increased heart rate, and at high rates, fainting may occur.
7. ICP can also be in newborns. The following symptoms can be recognized in an infant. The child becomes restless, cries a lot, constantly spits up (not only after eating). With severe ICP, his skull enlarges, strabismus and other vision problems may appear. With ICP, the fontanel is inflated in the baby. Untimely response to these symptoms can lead to serious consequences, so it is very important to show the child to a specialist as soon as possible.
8. In a child older than three to five years, ICP can be manifested by restlessness, inability to perceive new material in school. The child often becomes apathetic, lethargic, nervous. He has a headache, he is sick and vomits.In some cases, bright flashes may appear in front of the eyes.

Methods for diagnosing ICP

If you see a doctor with suspected ICP, he may prescribe additional diagnostic measures to confirm or refute the diagnosis. One of the most reliable diagnostic methods is the introduction of puncture. The principle of the procedure is that a needle is inserted into the patient’s canal with spinal fluid. Then the needle is filled with liquid in proportion to pressure. By the level of needle filling, one can judge the pressure of the cerebrospinal fluid.

ICP is also performed using MRI. The pictures clearly show in which area the liquid accumulates, which helps to establish the exact cause of the violation. Another diagnostic method is the determination of bioelectric brain impulses. ICP can also be detected by an ophthalmologist. With a thorough examination of the fundus, it is possible to detect swelling of the optic nerve.

ICP treatment

ICP treatment is to improve fluid outflow from the ventricles of the brain. Often, patients with severe pain are prescribed diuretics, for example, Furasemide. Medicines of this nature of action relieve edema, remove excess fluid from the body, which leads to relief of symptoms. However, this does not solve the cause of the disease. Plasma substitute Albumin is prescribed to improve microcirculation between plasma and brain tissue. Magnesium sulfate has a diuretic effect and also dilates peripheral vessels. In serious cases, with a risk of cerebral edema, the doctor prescribes Dexamethasone and Prednisolone. In general, it is necessary to deal with the cause of ICP, and not its consequences.

How to reduce ICP at home

There are proven folk remedies that will help in the fight against increased intracranial pressure.

1. Mulberry branches. Four tablespoons of chopped mulberry branches pour a liter of boiling water and put to simmer in a water bath. Then pour the whole composition into a thermos and cover tightly. Let it brew for about three hours. Then strain the broth, dilute in half with water and drink half a glass 3-5 times a day.
2. Poplar buds. It is a good vasodilator. Young poplar buds are collected in the spring and dried for the future, so that this medicine is enough for the whole year. Dry the poplar buds on a newspaper and put them in a canvas bag. Store in a dry place. If necessary, pour 5 tablespoons of fresh or dried kidneys with a liter of boiling water and boil for 5-7 minutes. Then cover the container with a lid so that the kidneys are steamed and give the broth their useful properties. Then strain the composition and drink 200 ml twice a day on an empty stomach.
3. Tincture of alcohol and camphor oil. If you need urgent pain relief, prepare the next compress. Take camphor oil and 70% alcohol in equal parts. Mix the liquids and heat them over the fire. Moisten gauze or a clean cloth in the liquid and attach to the head (in the hair area). Hold the compress until pain is reduced. Camphor oil perfectly removes swelling, contributes to the outflow of fluid. And alcohol gently cools, blocking pain.
4. Laurel inhalation. To quickly get rid of severe headaches, you need to prepare a strong decoction of bay leaves. Then you need to cover yourself with a towel over the basin or cup and inhale the steam with full breasts. Already 10 minutes after the start of inhalation, you will feel relief.
5. Ear drops of garlic and milk. 6-8 large cloves of garlic must be chopped with a grater or meat grinder. Pour the garlic in half a glass of milk and boil the mixture for five minutes. Then the prepared product must be cooled and filtered. Instill 2-3 drops in each ear. After 30 seconds, tilt your head to let the fluid flow out.
6. Herbal harvest. Various herbs have anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties.To reduce ICP, you can take valerian, sage, St. John's wort, motherwort, horsetail, mint, eucalyptus, lavender. From one or more herbs, prepare a strong, saturated broth. Drink it in half a glass several times a day. For sweetness and added value, honey can be added to the broth.
7. Clover tincture. This is a very effective remedy for relieving headaches due to increased intracranial pressure. If you often suffer from headaches of this nature, such a tincture should be in your refrigerator all the time. With dry or fresh clover inflorescences, fill a glass opaque bottle. Fill the flowers with alcohol and put in a cool dark place for a couple of weeks. Then the tincture can be filtered and diluted in half with water. When severe pain occurs, drink 100 ml of tincture. The prepared medicine can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two months.
8. Parsley, bearberry, oregano. This tool will help get rid of persistent headaches from increased ICP. If you drink it regularly, you can forget about ICP for a while completely. Grind a couple of bundles of parsley, a handful of bearberry and oregano. Mix herbs and pour boiling water over them. It is better to brew the composition overnight in a thermos. Drink this drug in half a glass on an empty stomach every morning. The course of treatment is two months. After a couple of weeks of regular use of this decoction, you will notice that headache attacks have become not so intense and frequent.

To cope with attacks of increased intracranial pressure, you must follow a salt-free diet, because salt retains excess fluid in the body. Garlic and lemon will help reduce ICP - as an emergency aid for an unbearable headache. It is also necessary to use foods that contain a lot of potassium - for example, potatoes, dried apricots. If pain has caught you outside the house, always have lavender essential oil with you. Apply it to the temples to relieve an attack of pain and nausea. Take care of your health, consult a doctor on time and then the body will say “thank you”!

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