Headache is one of the common health problems that drive people crazy. This unbearable sensation affects your concentration level, stability, focus and can have a major impact on your personal as well as professional lives. Rather than depending on unwanted drugs and medications, it is always better to go for certain home remedies for headache.
Types of Headaches
Headaches can be basically classified into two types:
1. Primary headache
This is caused due to overactivity or dysfunction of muscles, nerves, blood vessels, brain chemicals or specific areas of the brain. It is not a symptom of any other underlying disease. These include:
- Tension headache
- Migraine
- Cluster headache
2. Secondary headache
This is caused due to any underlying medical condition such as a stroke, brain tumour, hypothyroidism, pregnancy, giant cell arteries, or an infection.
- Sinus headache
- Hormone headache
- Hypertension headache
- Rebound headache
- Hangover
It is very important to visit a doctor if you have secondary headaches as it can be the result of serious health problems. You can also consult a doctor online.
9 Best Home Remedies for Headaches for Quick Relief
Home remedies are the best ways to reduce symptoms of headaches. It allows you to cure the stubborn headaches that keeps you tossing and turning the whole night in a natural way.
Here are some effective and instant home remedies for headache. Read on.
1. Rest in a dark room
If you have a headache, take a break from whatever you are doing. Migraine attacks can increase your sensitivity to light and sound. Go to a calm and quiet room, switch off the lights, close your eyes and take good rest.
2. Give yourself a good massage
Massaging your neck and temples relieves muscle tension and helps you get rid of headaches. This therapy is an effective measure for reducing both tension headaches and migraine headaches.
3. Manage stress
When you are stressed, you are more likely to get headaches. Stress triggers migraine and tension headaches, and can even make them worse. To keep headaches at bay, try managing stress. Stay positive in every situation. If you think that things can’t be done, switch the gear, believe in yourself and say that ‘I will make it work’. Find time for yourself. Do something that you enjoy for at least 30 minutes a day. If you are stressed at work, take a break, do some stretches and renew your energy.
4. Stay hydrated
Dehydration is another trigger behind migraine headaches. Being dehydrated can even affect your concentration level and causes irritability making your headache seem even worse. So, make sure you drink at least eight glasses of water every day. This is one of the best remedies for headache.
5. Practice yoga regularly
Tight muscles often hold stress which triggers migraine. Yoga can help get rid of this by lessening the tension in the head, neck, and shoulders. Try doing yoga poses such as ‘Corpse Pose’, and ‘Child’s Pose’ for best results. It also helps in balancing your body, mind, and body, thereby calming your mind. Therefore, practice yoga for a healthy body. However, before you start doing yoga or any kind of physical activity, it is always recommended to consult a doctor.
6. Drink tea or coffee
Drinking tea, coffee, or any other caffeinated beverages prove to be one of the best home remedies for headache. It improves your mood, constricts blood vessels and has a positive effect on headache symptoms. However, you should be mindful of your caffeine intake because chances are there that you get addicted and can cause caffeine withdrawal headache.
7. Try herbs and spices
- Cloves
This grandma’s remedy, with its cooling and pain relieving properties, helps to get rid of headaches. Crush some cloves and put them in your handkerchief. Inhale the smell of this crushed cloves whenever you have a headache. You can also make a paste of 4 to 5 cloves and apply it on your forehead.
- Sandalwood
Sandalwood is one of the excellent home remedies for headache. Applying sandalwood paste on your forehead helps to cool down your nerves and relieves stress and anxiety during headache.
- Holy basil
This natural remedy has pain-relieving and decongestant properties. It helps to relieve headaches caused due to sinusitis, migraine, cold, and tension. Boil a few basil leaves in water and drink the mixture. You can also chew some basil leaves regularly to ease headache symptoms.
- Ginger
Due to its anti-inflammatory, antihistamine, and anti-nausea properties, ginger helps in easing headache. Apply a few drops of diluted ginger oil into your forehead, temples, and back of your neck when you experience a headache.
- Peppermint
Peppermint contains menthol that can relax your muscles and ease headache. It also helps in regulating the blood flow in your body. Apply diluted peppermint oil topically to relieve headache due to migraine. You can also make a herbal tea by adding a teaspoon of dried peppermint to two cups of boiling water.
Apart from these natural remedies for migraine headaches, you can also try using lavender oil. Inhaling lavender oil helps you ease migraine pain.
8. Drink green tea
Green tea proves effective in improving circulation, reducing inflammation, and easing tension headaches. It is an effective painkiller packed with effective antioxidants and nutrients.
9. Eat healthy and nutritious food
Your diet plays a major role in triggering the symptoms of headaches. Make sure to eat a nutritious, well-rounded diet and avoid processed foods. Include omega 3 fatty acids in your diet. Even though it is advised to take healthy foods, there are some among them that might trigger migraine. These include:
- Cultured dairy products
- Peanuts
- Citrus fruits
Along with them, avoid artificial sweeteners, processed meats that contain nitrates, chocolates, aged cheeses and red wine.
Try the above mentioned home remedies for headache. If you think your headache persists even after following them, talk to a doctor immediately.
