Headaches are quite common; most people experience them a few times a week. However, some people experience them more frequently. They can be pretty unbearable, even to the point of being disruptive to your day’s routine.
Getting a remedy for your headache will prevent it from getting worse. Even though it’s easy to pop an aspirin for your headaches, there are other more natural remedies you should consider.
Headaches can vary significantly in their duration, intensity, and even the area of the head they affect. Some headaches are also more critical than others and might require urgent care. However, what most people experience frequently are tension headaches.
Luckily there are several ways to get rid of a headache with natural remedies. This article explains the causes of headaches, effective remedies, different types of headaches, and some tips to prevent headache onset.
17 Remedies For Treating Headaches
- Hydrate
Some studies have linked dehydration to headache onset. In fact, just a mild level of dehydration can cause your body to lose fluids and electrolytes to the point when you start to feel headache pains.
This is because a dehydrated body also means a “dehydrated brain,” which can result in headaches.
Dehydration can also come with other symptoms like fatigue and irritability, and a combination of these symptoms can make you feel much worse. To avoid dehydration headaches, ensure to drink lots of water throughout the day. Drinking water can cause a dehydration headache to subside within a few minutes to a few hours.
Also, explore adding water-rich foods and fruit and vegetable supplements to your daily diet.
- Try A Cold Compress
There’s some evidence that cold therapy could help relieve headache symptoms in many individuals. If you develop a migraine or a headache, try placing an ice pack on your head. You can put some ice cubes in a Ziploc bag and wrap the bag in a towel, or use frozen items from your fridge to do a cold compress.
Simply place the compress on your head for 10 to 15 minutes and take a 10 to 15-minute break. Place the compress also on your neck and upper back.
Cold compresses may have a numbing effect that might reduce inflammation and constrict your blood vessels, thus reducing headache pain. After taking a break, you can resume the cold compress if you need further relief.
- Get Adequate Sleep/Rest
Not getting enough shut-eye every night can result in headaches in some people, but that’s not the only way insufficient rest affects you. Sleep deprivation can have several adverse effects on your body and mind. In fact, some research links poor sleep quality and insomnia to the occurrence of headaches in some people.
Getting the right amount of sleep daily is, therefore, necessary to prevent headaches from occurring in the first place. Some sleep disorders can also trigger the onset of some types of headaches.
For example, sleep apnea can result in morning headaches, and conditions like insomnia can increase the frequency and worsen the severity of tension headaches in some people.
You can also experience a tension headache from stress induced by sleep deprivation. Too much sleep might also cause a mild to severe headache. To prevent headaches and other adverse effects of poor sleeping habits, aim for at least 7 hours of sleep every night.
- Try a Warm Compress
Warm compresses, like cold ones, are beneficial for treating some kinds of headaches. Unlike the numbing effect of cold compresses, hot compresses can help to relieve pain in those experiencing tension headaches.
Simply place the hot compress (like a heating pad) on your neck and your head. For sinus headaches, place the warm compress on the affected area of your head. Taking a warm bath might also help relieve headaches.
- Take Magnesium Supplements
Magnesium levels affect muscle contraction and relaxation and thus could play a role in reducing inflammation and headaches. People prone to migraines can consume 400 to 500 mg of magnesium oxide to prevent or treat headaches.
Some studies have linked using magnesium supplements to reduced frequency and severity of migraines. However, magnesium has some side effects even at safe dosing. Some people may experience digestive issues like diarrhea when supplementing with magnesium.
Thus, it’s best to start with lower doses of magnesium for your headaches before upping your dose.
- Get Active
Several lifestyle factors could affect your health and how frequently you experience headaches.
There might be some evidence that links physical activity to reduced headache occurrence. Therefore, people who get migraines often benefit from being physically active.
It may seem counterintuitive, but getting a light workout might actually relieve you of headache pains. Generally, staying fit has several benefits, including possibly avoiding headaches.
- Avoid Migraine-Triggering Foods
Some kinds of foods can trigger headaches or migraines in some people. Food intolerances can lead to several adverse reactions in some people, including gastrointestinal issues. However, some cases can lead to headaches and migraines.
Coffee, alcohol, and aged cheeses are common headache triggers for people prone to migraine attacks. If you notice a pattern in your diet in relation to headache occurrence, you may want to try an elimination diet.
This essentially involves removing the suspected trigger from your diet and monitoring your symptoms.
Also, alcohol has been found to be a headache trigger in about a third of people who typically experience frequent headaches, often causing cluster headaches or tension headaches. Limit your alcohol intake if you observe a link between it and your headaches.
- Try Some Caffeine
Caffeine could have some anti-inflammatory benefits for your body, and it improves mood and constricts blood vessels, both of which could alleviate headaches, especially tension-type headaches.
Caffeine pills could also aid the effectiveness of over-the-counter pain medications like ibuprofen and aspirin. Note, however, that too much caffeine and caffeine withdrawal can lead to several symptoms, including headaches.
- Consider Herbal Remedies
Several herbal remedies could relieve headache pain. Some studies have shown that herbs like chamomile can help offer headache relief in most people.
Lesser-known herbs like butterbur also have some anti-inflammatory properties that could relieve headache pain in people experiencing migraine headaches.
However, it is best to take herbal remedies under the advice of a healthcare professional. This is especially crucial if you are on prescription medicine, are pregnant/breastfeeding, or have some medical condition.
Even though many herbs are considered safe for consumption and are received well by many, it is best to seek medical advice before using them to treat headaches.
- Relieve Head/Scalp Pressure
External compression headaches occur when there’s pressure on your head or scalp. If you suddenly feel a headache, check that you’re not wearing a tight-fitting cap or hat.
Also, wearing a tight-fitting wig or putting your hair in a tight ponytail and other styles that apply pressure to your scalp can result in headaches.
- Reduce Bright Lights
Exposure to bright lights can trigger headaches in people sensitive to light. Some lights, like fluorescent lights, are common migraine triggers for people who frequently experience migraines.
Flickering lights and too-bright lights from your computer screen can also trigger migraine headaches. If you are prone to migraine attacks, consider installing anti-glare screens on your devices and using appropriate curtains to prevent too much light from entering your room.
- Try Ginger
The root of the ginger plant contains anti-inflammatory properties that make them great for pain relief. They were found in a 2021 review to reduce headache pains and secondary symptoms of severe headaches like nausea.
You can supplement your meals with ginger supplements or brew ginger root tea at home. Besides its anti-inflammatory properties, drinking ginger teas are also a great way to keep yourself hydrated.
- Take B Vitamins
Taking B vitamins might be an effective way to eliminate headaches. These vitamins are essential for several body functions and can help relieve headaches. Folate and riboflavin are two common vitamin B supplements that can help reduce headache pains.
Alternatively, you could use B-complex supplements as an inexpensive means to treat headaches.
- Stay Away from Strong Smells
Strong odors can cause several effects in some people, including nausea, vomiting, and throbbing pain in the head.
Strong smells like cleaning agents, perfumes, alcohol, or cigarettes can trigger migraines in people who experience migraines often. So, stay away from strong smells if they trigger your headaches.
- Try Essential Oils
Some studies have shown that inhaling oils like lavender essential oil is an effective headache remedy. Peppermint oil can also be effective in the acute treatment of tension headaches.
To know more about what are the krill oil benefits, click here.
- Try the Union Valley Pressure Points
The loose skin between your index finger and thumb is called the Union Valley pressure point and a headache pressure point. Massaging this point might help you relieve headaches.
To relieve headache pains, simply use the thumb and index finger of your left hand to massage the union valley of your other hand for some seconds. Then switch hands and repeat the same motions with your other hand.
- Use Pain Medication
Consider using the above home remedies as a first response. However, if you are experiencing frequent headaches, try using pain medication instead. Several over-the-counter medications are available for treating headaches.
However, it is best to take them moderately. Depending on the type of headache, the pain can dissipate in a few minutes to an hour. Several popular medicines, like aspirin and ibuprofen, are effective for headaches.
However, it’s best to follow basic precautions when self-medicating for headaches:
- Use pain relievers as soon as your headache begins to develop. Waiting until your headache becomes severe might require a higher dose of medication to be effective.
- People under 18 should not consume aspirin without a prescription.
- Opt for syrups over pills or capsules, as liquids have a faster absorption rate.
- Keep away from nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs if you have a heart or kidney condition.
Some Common Causes of Headaches
There are several causes of headaches. There are also different kinds of headaches, some named after their causes.
However, general headache pains are most likely a result of one of the following:
- Dehydration
- Poor sleeping habits or sleep disorders
- Ill-fitting or new Prescription glasses
- Caffeine withdrawal
- External scalp pressure
- Alcohol intake
- Nutrient deficiency
Some headaches might also have an underlying cause, such as complications from physical trauma. In some cases, headaches can also be a symptom of a more severe medical condition like brain injury or tumors.
When to See a Doctor
Even though headaches are common and can be treated with simple home remedies, it becomes crucial to see a doctor in some cases. For example, if taking pain medication worsens your headaches, seek medical attention immediately.
Also, if you start getting incessant headaches after physical trauma to the head, seek medical care.
Headaches that come with a fever might also indicate some underlying illness. Also, if you are experiencing frequent headaches that don’t get better with pain meds or home remedies, you should visit a doctor.
If you just got new prescription glasses and started experiencing regular headaches, it might be due to your eyes adjusting to the new prescription.
However, if this continues for too long, it may be that your glasses are of the wrong prescription or are poorly fitting. In such cases, you should see your doctor.
To Wrap Up: Can We Fix Headaches?
Headaches can occur as a result of several factors. However, you can fix most common headaches instantly with pain medication. This should, however, not always be your first response, as there are several natural remedies you can try.
Also, simple lifestyle changes like getting adequate rest, exercise, and drinking water more often can reduce your chances of headaches.
Wearing ill-fitting or wrong prescription glasses or contact lenses can also cause headaches. In some cases, not wearing your prescription glasses or contacts can also cause your eyes to strain and subsequent headaches.
Note that some people are more likely to have headache disorders if they have a family history of headaches. In the absence of the remedies listed above, try massaging your headache pressure points between your thumb and index finger for relief.
In severe cases where symptoms like slurred speech and dizziness accompany your headaches, or if you think your headaches are abnormal, ensure to seek medical help.
