A review of 22 studies including more than 4, people found that acupuncture was as effective as common migraine medications Another study found that acupuncture was more effective and safer than topiramate, an anticonvulsant drug used to treat chronic migraines Practicing yoga is an excellent way to relieve stress, increase flexibility, decrease pain and improve your overall quality of life One study investigated the effects of yoga therapy on 60 people with chronic migraines.
Headache frequency and intensity were reduced more in those receiving both yoga therapy and conventional care, compared to those receiving conventional care alone Another study found that people who practiced yoga for three months had a significant reduction in headache frequency, severity and associated symptoms, compared to those who did not practice yoga Strong odors like those from perfumes and cleaning products can cause certain individuals to develop headaches.
A study that involved people who experienced either migraine or tension headaches found that strong odors, especially perfumes, often triggered headaches This hypersensitivity to odors is called osmophobia and common in those with chronic migraines If you think you may be sensitive to smells, avoiding perfumes, cigarette smoke and strongly scented foods may help decrease your chance of getting a migraine Some studies suggest that taking feverfew supplements in doses of 50— mg per day may reduce headache frequency.
However, other studies have failed to find a benefit Butterbur root comes from a perennial shrub native to Germany and, like feverfew, has anti-inflammatory effects. Several studies have shown that taking butterbur extract in doses of 50— mg reduces headache symptoms in both adults and children Feverfew is generally considered safe if taken in recommended amounts.
However, butterbur should be treated with caution, as unpurified forms can cause liver damage, and the effects of its long-term use are unknown 45 , Feverfew is available online. Nitrates and nitrites are common food preservatives added to items like hot dogs, sausages and bacon to keep them fresh by preventing bacterial growth. Nitrites may trigger headaches by causing the expansion of blood vessels In order to minimize your exposure to nitrites, limit the amount of processed meats in your diet and choose nitrate-free products whenever possible.
Ginger root contains many beneficial compounds, including antioxidants and anti-inflammatory substances One study in people with chronic migraines found that mg of ginger powder was as effective as the conventional headache medication sumatriptan at reducing migraine pain You can take ginger powder in capsule form or make a powerful tea with fresh ginger root.
One of the simplest ways to reduce headache frequency and severity is to engage in physical activity. For example, one study in 91 people found 40 minutes of indoor cycling three times per week was more effective than relaxation techniques at reducing headache frequency Another large study including more than 92, people showed that a low level of physical activity was clearly associated with an increased risk of headaches There are many ways to increase your activity level, but one of the easiest methods is to simply increase the amount of steps you take throughout the day.
Many people are negatively impacted by frequent headaches, making it important to find natural and effective treatment options. Yoga, supplements, essential oils and dietary modifications are all natural, safe and effective ways to reduce headache symptoms. Read this article in Spanish. Although most people experience occasional headaches, the cause, duration, and intensity of pain can vary by type. Here's what you need to know to…. A tension headache is the most common type of headache.
It can cause pain behind your eyes and in your head and neck. Home remedies may help relieve…. If you're suffering from pain in the head, you may be suffering from a primary or secondary headache, or a migraine. Discover basic differences. In women, fluctuating hormone levels are a major contributing factor in chronic headaches and menstrual migraines. Learn about causes, treatment, and…. Is there a link between low testosterone levels and headaches in men and women? Find out what's known about the causes of….
An elimination diet is a great way to identify food intolerances, sensitivities and allergies. Luckily, the solution is rather simple: increase your water intake.
Drinking more water may help to alleviate a headache as well as prevent other ones in the future. Most people will find relief from a dehydration headache within 30 minutes to three hours of drinking water. Peppermint and lavender oils seem to be the most helpful for headache relief.
They both have relaxing properties that have also been known to assist with pain relief. Applying a small amount of peppermint oil to the temples has been shown to relieve headache pain. Just be sure not to apply any oil near your eyes. Practicing aromatherapy using lavender oil can be an effective and safe way to ease the pain of migraine headaches.
Consider diffusing it in an essential oil diffuser or apply a tiny amount into your palms, then rub your hands together and inhale the scent. Applying a cold compress to your forehead is a safe and inexpensive way to help reduce inflammation and constrict blood vessels that may ease the pain from a headache.
Use either a cold, wet washcloth or fill a small bag with ice and wrap it in a soft towel or cloth. The cold compress may have a numbing effect on the area, which can help dull and soothe headache pain. Consider adding a drop of lavender essential oil to the cold washcloth and relax to the soothing scent.
Related: 6 Natural Remedies for Heartburn. Treating headaches might just be as simple as applying pressure to certain pressure points on your body. For example, to relieve headaches in your temples, apply pressure to your temples and rub in a circular motion—many people tend to do this naturally when feeling stressed.
To ease headache pain caused by eyestrain , use the tips of your index fingers and apply pressure at the midpoint of your eyebrows and release, or apply pressure in small circles for a minute and release.
Massaging certain pressure points may help relieve tension in the head and reduce a headache. Many people do this instinctively, such as rubbing the back of the neck or pinching the top of the nose when they feel stressed. There may be some truth to these instincts.
Many people find that massaging the temples, jaw, or neck may help relieve tension and reduce a tension headache that comes from being too stressed. Some other areas to try massaging include the area between the eyebrows and the two spots at the base of the eyebrows on either side of the bridge of the nose. These spots may hold tension from the eyes or head, and massaging them could help relieve this tension. Again, the review in Children notes that relaxation training and techniques may help many people with their headache symptoms while also reducing stress and anxiety.
Relaxation techniques include practices such as deep-belly breathing, guided meditations, and actively focusing on relaxing the muscles.
Drinking a beverage with caffeine, such as coffee , tea, or soda, may sometimes help ease a headache. Some pain medications designed for headaches include caffeine, as the compound may improve their effectiveness.
As a review published in the Journal of Headache and Pain notes, caffeine by itself may help reduce symptoms of a tension headache or migraine. Caffeine tends to relax the blood vessels, which may support circulation and ease tension. Aromatherapy that uses some essential oils may also relieve symptoms of a headache.
The review in Children noted that inhaling lavender essential oil for 15 minutes reduced the severity of headaches, according to one study. A separate study posted to the journal Pain suggested that peppermint oil is more effective at reducing tension headaches than a placebo. The smells of essential oils may bother some people, and experimenting with different oils that individuals find relaxing may be a way to ease headache symptoms.
A review published in the journal Nutrients suggests that people who regularly experience cluster headaches or migraines may be more likely to have low magnesium levels. Adding magnesium to the diet, as a supplement, may help reduce headaches or prevent them in these cases. Some B vitamins may help protect against headaches or reduce them. One review in Biomed Research International noted that vitamins, including folate and the vitamins B-6 and B, may all play a role in preventing migraine headaches or reducing headache symptoms.
The B vitamins are readily available as supplements with several brands that people can buy online. Vitamin E may also play a role in headache symptoms. A review of vitamin supplementation noted that vitamin E might relieve headache pain and migraine symptoms from menstrual migraines with a low risk of side effects. This may be valuable for women who experience migraines during their menstrual cycle, as vitamin E may help keep their hormones balanced to prevent symptoms.
Some people may not respond well to drinking too much alcohol. A headache is one of the more common side effects of a hangover. This may be because alcohol acts as a diuretic, making the body release more water via the urine. These kinds of headaches do not only occur with bouts of heavy drinking. Even with light or moderate drinking, alcohol may lead to mild dehydration symptoms in some people or make headaches worse.
Anyone who is uncertain if alcohol affects them in this way could try limiting their drinking and seeing if it changes or prevents their symptoms.
For people who often experience migraines, avoiding strong smells may be a wise step to take when trying to prevent them. One study found that odors from sources such as perfumes or other strong-smelling chemicals may trigger migraines after just a few minutes of exposure. It may help if people avoid sources of these smells, such as department stores, others who wear a lot of perfume, or chemical smells from cleaning products.
There are many different types of headache, and one natural remedy may be more suitable than another to ease a specific kind. Some common headache types include:. There are several natural and home remedies that people can try to get rid of a headache without using medication.
Some of these may work better with different types of headache. In the end, some headaches may still not respond to these methods, and taking an over-the-counter drug, such as ibuprofen Advil , acetaminophen Tylenol , or naproxen Aleve , may bring relief. It is essential not to ignore a persistent headache.
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