Whether they occur just once in a while or every day, headaches can be a real pain – pun intended. There are several reasons why someone might choose to use natural remedies rather than medication to combat headaches. Perhaps you are sensitive to pain medications. They may interact negatively with a prescription medication you take. Or, you may prefer home remedies simply because they are natural, safe, and effective.
Regardless of your reason for using natural remedies for headaches, this article will describe four types of headaches and list 15 natural remedies for headaches.
Headache Types
A dehydration headache happens when your body isn’t getting enough fluids. If you have a dehydration headache, you may be feeling other symptoms of dehydration as well, such as extreme thirst, dry mouth, and dizziness.
A tension headache is often caused by muscle tension and stress. This is the most common type of headache. Tension headaches are characterized by a steady ache as opposed to throbbing pain, and they usually affect both sides of your head.
A cluster headache is an intensely painful type of headache that commonly causes pain in or around one eye and on one side of your head. These headaches may even wake you up from a deep sleep because of their intensity. Clusters of frequent onsets can last weeks or months before a remission period in which you do not experience any headaches.
A migraine headache can cause severe throbbing pain or a pulsing feeling that usually happens on only one side of your head. During a migraine, you may have other symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light.
Now that we have discussed the different types of headaches, let’s get into the 15 best natural remedies.
Water
Drinking water is probably your first instinct when trying to relieve your headache pain when you are dehydrated. However, water has also proven effective against tension headaches and migraines since chronic dehydration can cause tension headaches and migraines. If you have a dehydration headache, you can expect relief within 30 minutes to three hours.
Caffeine
Drinking caffeinated beverages such as tea, coffee and soda may be helpful when you have a headache because caffeine has been known to improve mood, increase alertness and constrict blood vessels. Caffeine can also increase the effectiveness of over-the-counter medications that are often used to treat headaches, such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen.
However, caffeine withdrawal can also cause headaches if you are used to drinking large amounts of caffeine and suddenly stop. For this reason, you should keep track of your caffeine intake if you suffer from frequent headaches.
Ginger
Powdered ginger root can be taken as a capsule, or you can use ginger to make tea. Although ginger tea is not caffeinated, it has anti-inflammatory properties that can help ease headaches.
A study done on 100 people who have chronic migraines revealed that taking 250 mg of ginger powder matched the effectiveness of sumatriptan, a popular headache medication.
Magnesium
Magnesium is a mineral that is responsible for many functions throughout your body, including blood sugar control and nerve transmission.
Magnesium deficiency may be a partial cause of migraines, as studies have found that this is more common in people who get migraine headaches. It has been proven that taking a 600 mg oral magnesium citrate supplement each day can help reduce the frequency and severity of migraines.
However, it should be noted that taking magnesium supplements may cause digestive issues like diarrhea, so you may want to start with a smaller dose.
B-complex vitamins
B vitamins are a group of micronutrients that your body relies on to synthesize neurotransmitters and help turn food into energy.
Studies show that headache symptoms may be reduced by the B vitamins riboflavin (B2), folate, B12, and pyridoxine (B6).
B-complex vitamins contain all eight B-vitamins. B-complex vitamins are water-soluble, and any excess vitamins will be flushed out through your urine, so this makes them a safe and affordable way to treat headache pain.
Coenzyme Q10
Coenzyme Q10 (also known as CoQ10) is a powerful antioxidant produced by your body that helps turn food into energy.
A study of 80 people proved that taking 100 mg of CoQ10 supplements daily reduced migraines’ frequency, severity, and length.
In another study done on 42 people who frequently experience migraines, it was discovered that three 100-mg doses of CoQ10 throughout the day decreased both migraine frequency and nausea related to migraines.
Vitamin IV Therapy
Intravenous infusion (IV) vitamin therapy works by hydrating your body and delivering electrolytes and vitamins directly into your bloodstream. Because of this, IVs provide faster relief than oral remedies and medications.
IV therapy also soothes overactive nerve endings and treats related symptoms such as inflammation, pain, and nausea individually at the same time.
Herbal Remedy
The herbs feverfew and butterbur may help to reduce headache pain.
Feverfew is a flowering plant, and butterbur root comes from a perennial plant that is native to Germany. Both herbs have anti-inflammatory properties.
Some studies imply that taking 50-150 mg of feverfew supplements per day may lessen the frequency of headaches. However, other studies have not found a benefit. Feverfew is safe as long as you do not exceed the recommended doses.
A number of studies have found that taking 50-150 mg of butterbur extract can reduce the symptoms of a headache in adults and children. However, unpurified forms of butterbur root can cause liver damage. Additionally, the effects of long-term use of butterbur root are unknown.
Essential Oils
Essential oils are highly concentrated oils made from a variety of plants. Peppermint and lavender essential oils work well for headache relief.
You can rub peppermint oil on your temples when you have a tension headache to help ease the pain.
You may want to try applying lavender oil to your upper lip and inhaling it if you need to get rid of a migraine. It is very effective at relieving migraine pain, nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light.
Cold Compress
Putting a cold compress on the back of your neck, back of your head, or across your forehead can help alleviate headache pain. Using cold compresses helps get rid of your headache pain by decreasing inflammation, slowing down nerve conduction, and constricting blood vessels.
Exercise
Exercise can be a simple way to help your headache. Even if you just increase the amount of walking you do each day, this can help.
One study found that working out on an indoor exercise bike for 40 minutes three times a week was more effective than relaxation techniques in reducing the frequency of headaches.
A study that included over 92,000 people concluded that low levels of physical activity were linked with an increased risk of headaches.
Yoga
In addition to health benefits such as relieving stress, increasing flexibility, decreasing pain, and improving your overall quality of life, doing yoga can also reduce the frequency and intensity of your headaches.
A study found that people who practiced yoga for three months saw a significant reduction in the frequency and severity of their headaches and associated symptoms.
Avoid Strong Scents
Strong scents that come from things like perfume and cleaning products may cause you to get headaches.
A study of 400 people who suffered from either migraines or tension headaches showed that strong odors, such as perfume, often were a trigger for headaches.
The condition of being highly sensitive to odors is known as osmophobia. It is common in people who have frequent migraines.
If you are sensitive to intense odors, it is important to stay away from perfume, cigarette smoke, and foods with strong aromas, as these may cause headaches.
Stay Away From Nitrites and Nitrates
Nitrates and nitrites are popular preservatives found mostly in processed meats such as hot dogs. They are used to keep bacteria from growing in the food.
Foods that are high in these preservatives have been found to cause headaches in some people. Nitrites can cause headaches because they expand blood vessels.
Avoid Histamines
Histamine is a chemical in your body that is important for the proper function of your immune, digestive and nervous systems.
It is also contained in foods like aged cheese, smoked fish, cured meat, and beverages like beer and wine.
Some people are not able to rid their bodies of high amounts of histamines due to the impaired function of the enzymes that break down histamines. This may cause histamine sensitivity, which can increase your risk of frequent migraine headaches.
Conclusion
Now that you know more about what causes dehydration headaches, tension headaches, cluster headaches, and migraines, and ways to treat them naturally, you will be empowered to fight back when you have a headache. Give any of these 15 natural remedies for headaches a try the next time you’re dealing with a headache so you can see how well they work and choose your favorites as you learn what solutions work best for you.
Drip Hydration Can Help You Rehydrate In The Comfort Of Your Own Home
Drip Hydration is open from 8 AM to 8 PM, seven days a week. Our certified nurses are on call to come directly to your home to deliver any IV infusion of your choice. If you’re suffering from a hangover or have just done an intense workout, IV hydration is a great way to quickly recover and get back to your day-to-day.
Simply schedule an appointment, and we will come directly to you. Drip Hydration offers convenient services that will improve your health and can be worked around even the most hectic schedule.
