How to reduce intracranial pressure at home

Headache is an insidious symptom. It may indicate a slight load on the body and be a bell for more serious diseases. A frequent, prolonged headache, which is aggravated by lowering the head, may indicate that you have increased intracranial pressure (ICP).

What is ICP

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

Causes of increased ICP

1. Hydrocephalus (dropsy of the brain), when the outflow of cerebrospinal fluid deteriorates due to the narrowing or blockage of the outflow channels.
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 the wrong passage of the fetus through the birth canal.
4. Congenital abnormalities can also cause increased content of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles of the brain.
5. With severe poisoning with food, drugs or chemical compositions of ICP may increase.
6. Overweight is another cause of ICP.
7. Increased ICP is often the result of a stroke.
8. A tumor of any nature (benign or malignant) may be the cause of increased ICP.

How to recognize ICP

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

1. When ICP headache has a certain color. The head often hurts completely, the pain is not localized in certain areas. The pain intensifies when lowering the head, when sneezing, coughing, screaming.The pain often overtakes a person in the morning when he is in a horizontal position. In such a state, the cerebrospinal fluid flows more to the head and the pain increases.
2. Nausea, vomiting, which are not caused by poisoning or toxicosis.
3. Various vision problems - blindness, deterioration of visibility, blurred. Also, with high ICP, the eyes may hurt, the pupils become red and swollen. The person feels that the eyeballs “stick out”. With a long examination of the subject, the vision can "split in two."
4. ICP brings and symptoms of general malaise - shortness of breath, sweating, weakness, irritability. The patient looks broken, he has pronounced bags under his eyes.
5. The pain can be given in the back.
6. ICP is often accompanied by an increase in blood pressure, increased heartbeat, with high rates of fainting may occur.
7. ICP may be in newborns. Recognize the disease in infants by the following symptoms. The child becomes restless, cries a lot, constantly belches (not only after eating). When the ICP is pronounced, his skull increases, strabismus and other vision problems may appear.When ICP at the baby inflated spring. Late 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. A child older than three to five years of ICP can manifest restlessness, inability to perceive new material in school. The child often becomes apathetic, lethargic, nervous. He has a headache, he is sick and vomiting. In some cases, bright flashes may appear before your eyes.

Methods for diagnosing ICP

If you are suspicious of ICP, you see a doctor, he may order 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 the patient enters the needle into the channel with the spinal fluid. Then the needle is filled with fluid in proportion to the pressure. The level of fullness of the needle can be judged on the pressure of the liquor.

ICP is also performed with MRI. The pictures clearly show in which area the liquid accumulates, which helps to establish the exact cause of the violation. Another method of diagnosis is the determination of bioelectric brain impulses. ICP can be detected by an ophthalmologist.A careful examination of the fundus can detect swelling of the optic nerve.

ICP treatment

Treatment of ICP is to improve the flow of fluid from the ventricles of the brain. Often, patients with severe pain are prescribed diuretics, for example, furasemide. Medicines of this nature remove the edema, remove excess fluid from the body, leading to relief of symptoms. However, the cause of the disease does not solve it. Albumin plasma replacement is prescribed to improve the microcirculation between the plasma and brain tissue. Magnesium sulfate has a diuretic effect, and also dilates peripheral vessels. In severe cases, dexamethasone and prednisone are prescribed by a doctor at risk of cerebral edema. 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 crushed mulberry branches pour a liter of boiling water and put to languish in a water bath. Then pour the entire composition into a thermos and tightly cover with a lid.Let it stand for about three hours. Then strain the broth, diluted in half with water and drink half a glass 3-5 times a day.
2. Poplar buds. This is a good means of expanding blood vessels. Young poplar buds are collected in the spring and dried for the future, so that this medicine will last for the whole year. Dry the poplar buds on the newspaper and fold into a canvas bag. Store in a dry place. If necessary, pour 5 tablespoons of fresh or dried buds with a liter of boiling water and boil for 5-7 minutes. Then cover the container with a lid so that the kidneys are steaming and give their useful properties to the broth. Then strain the composition and drink 200 ml twice a day on an empty stomach.
3. Tincture of alcohol and camphor oil. If necessary, urgent relief of pain, prepare the next compress. Take in equal parts camphor oil and 70% alcohol. Mix the liquids and heat them on the fire. Moisten gauze or a clean cloth with liquid and apply it to the head (in the hair area). Keep the compress until the pain decreases. Camphor oil perfectly relieves swelling, promotes the outflow of fluid. Alcohol cools gently, blocking pain.
4. Laurel inhalation. To quickly get rid of severe headaches, it is necessary to prepare a strong decoction of bay leaves. Then you need to cover yourself with a towel over a basin or cup and inhale steam with a full breast. Within 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 crushed with a grater or meat grinder. Pour the garlic with half a glass of milk and boil the mixture for five minutes. Then cooked means must be cooled and filtered. Instill 2-3 drops in each ear. After 30 seconds, tilt your head to let the liquid flow out.
6. Herbal collection. 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 several herbs prepare strong, saturated broth. Drink it in half a glass several times a day. For sweetness and additional benefits, honey can be added to the decoction.
7. Clover tincture. This is a very effective remedy for removing headaches due to increased ICP.If you are often plagued by headaches of a similar nature, such tincture should be constantly in your refrigerator. Fill the glass opaque bottle with dry or fresh clover blossoms. Fill the flowers with alcohol and put in a dark cool place for a couple of weeks. Then tincture can be filtered and diluted in half with water. If you have severe pain, drink 100 ml of tincture. Cooked 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. Chop a couple of bunches of parsley, a handful of bearberry and oregano. Mix herbs and fill them with boiling water. It is better to brew the composition at night in a thermos. Drink this remedy half a cup of fasting every morning. The course of treatment is two months. After a couple of weeks of regular use of this broth, you will notice that the headache attacks have become less intense and frequent.

To cope with attacks of increasing intracranial pressure, you need to follow a salt-free diet, because salt retains excess fluid in the body. Garlic and lemon can help reduce ICP as an emergency aid for an unbearable headache.It is also necessary to use more often products containing a lot of potassium in their composition - for example, potatoes, dried apricots. If the pain has caught you out, keep lavender essential oil with you. Apply it on temples to relieve pain and nausea. Take care of your health, consult a doctor in time and then the body will say “thank you” to you!

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