How to get rid of a headache without medication

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Over-the-counter painkillers can often relieve a headache, but a wide range of natural methods may also help. Examples include drinking more water, applying compresses, taking nutritional supplements, getting some extra sleep, and many more.

In this article, we look at a range of home and natural remedies for headaches. People can try many of these remedies right away, and some of them might help to prevent headaches in the future.

Drinking enough water may help prevent headaches or reduce their severity.

Dehydration can be an underlying cause of many simple headaches. It may also alter how a person feels, acts, or thinks.

As a study in the journal Antioxidants notes, even slight dehydration may alter how people think and function, making them feel worse, with or without a headache.

Water may help make someone in this situation feel better, although some studies are more cautious.

A critical reading of one study published in the Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice noted that drinking water did not reduce how long people had their headaches, but it did make them subjectively feel better.

Staying hydrated may be as simple as carrying a water bottle around and sipping on it throughout the day. Eating foods high in liquid, such as fruits, smoothies, or soups, may also improve hydration.

A cold compress may be a simple headache solution that many people have on hand. Applying an ice pack or another cold item to the head or neck may help constrict the blood vessels and reduce inflammation in the area. Doing so could temporarily relieve headache pain.

A study in Hawai’i Journal of Medicine & Public Health found that applying ice packs to the neck for 30 minutes significantly reduced pain in people with migraines.

In other cases, such as with a tension headache where the muscles are too tight, a warm compress may help relax these muscles and bring relief.

A warm compress could be as simple as a heated towel. People may be able to get the same effect from a tepid shower or bath.

In some cases, there is a physical reason for a headache. Check for anything that is putting too much pressure on the head. This may be a ponytail or bun that is too tight or a hat or headband that has been on too long.

Some people who get headaches become sensitive to light. Bright office lights or even the bright light from a smartphone may make symptoms worse.

It may help to rest in a dark or dimly lit room while recovering from a headache.

Herbal tea may be a useful way to add water to the diet while also enjoying the benefits of other natural compounds.

For instance, ginger tea may help with a migraine. One 2013 study found that ginger powder had similar effects to a common medication for reducing migraines. A simple tea of warm water and ginger powder may help with symptoms.

Other potentially calming teas include herbs such as peppermint, chamomile, and lavender.

Exercise may help keep the body healthy and promote better circulation, which might reduce the chances of a headache showing up.

One 2018 review of research published in the journal Children noted that too little exercise may actually influence headaches among adolescents. Regular, moderate exercise may help, such as briskly walking or riding a bike for 30 minutes a day.

Sometimes food intolerances may be the underlying cause of symptoms such as a headache.

If a headache seems to show up after meals, it may be helpful for people to keep a food journal of everything they eat each day. This may enable them to identify and avoid any foods that could trigger a headache.

Share on PinterestGetting too little sleep may cause a headache.

Different issues may lead to headaches, and sleep problems are among the more common ones.

Getting too much or too little sleep or not sleeping soundly may influence a headache in some people, as they have not fully rested their body.

As one paper in the journal Sleep notes, adults should try to get between 7 and 9 hours of sleep each night.

Acupuncture is part of traditional Chinese medicine, where practitioners place small needles into the surface of the skin. The aim is not to cause pain but to stimulate the body’s own energy.

The review published in Children notes that research has shown acupuncture to be an effective way to prevent migraines and tension headaches or reduce their frequency.

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.

Massaging the neck near the base of the skull may also help release 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.

Share on PinterestUsing essential oils may relieve headache symptoms.

Aromatherapy that uses some essential oils may also relieve symptoms of a headache. The 2018 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 2015 review published in the journal Nutrientssuggests 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 2015 review in Biomed Research International noted that vitamins, including folate and the vitamins B-6 and B-12, 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 2015 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.

The review did call for larger studies before making any claims about the vitamin, however.

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 2013 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:

• Tension headaches. The most common headache, these often occur after a person has become overstressed and their muscles have tensed. Pain appears in the middle and top of the head, which may feel as if it has a tight rubber band around it.
• Sinus headaches. This type involves pain behind the eyes and nose and a general congested feeling in the head. A similar headache occurs when a person has a hangover.
• Cluster headaches. These headaches may appear throughout the day, causing a stabbing, sharp pain that occurs in one spot of the head.
• Migraines. Migraines usually cause a throbbing pain behind the eyes that grows and pulses throughout the head. The person may also become very sensitive to light, activity, or movement.

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. An ongoing symptom may be a sign of an underlying issue. People may want to discuss a persistent or particularly severe headache along with other symptoms with a doctor to find and resolve a problem.

How to get rid of a headache without medication

We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission Here’s our process.

Medical News Today only shows you brands and products that we stand behind.

Our team thoroughly researches and evaluates the recommendations we make on our site. To establish that the product manufacturers addressed safety and efficacy standards, we:

• Evaluate ingredients and composition: Do they have the potential to cause harm?
• Fact-check all health claims: Do they align with the current body of scientific evidence?
• Assess the brand: Does it operate with integrity and adhere to industry best practices?

We do the research so you can find trusted products for your health and wellness.

Read more about our vetting process.

Was this helpful?

Over-the-counter painkillers can often relieve a headache, but a wide range of natural methods may also help. Examples include drinking more water, applying compresses, taking nutritional supplements, getting some extra sleep, and many more.

In this article, we look at a range of home and natural remedies for headaches. People can try many of these remedies right away, and some of them might help to prevent headaches in the future.

Drinking enough water may help prevent headaches or reduce their severity.

Dehydration can be an underlying cause of many simple headaches. It may also alter how a person feels, acts, or thinks.

As a study in the journal Antioxidants notes, even slight dehydration may alter how people think and function, making them feel worse, with or without a headache.

Water may help make someone in this situation feel better, although some studies are more cautious.

A critical reading of one study published in the Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice noted that drinking water did not reduce how long people had their headaches, but it did make them subjectively feel better.

Staying hydrated may be as simple as carrying a water bottle around and sipping on it throughout the day. Eating foods high in liquid, such as fruits, smoothies, or soups, may also improve hydration.

A cold compress may be a simple headache solution that many people have on hand. Applying an ice pack or another cold item to the head or neck may help constrict the blood vessels and reduce inflammation in the area. Doing so could temporarily relieve headache pain.

A study in Hawai’i Journal of Medicine & Public Health found that applying ice packs to the neck for 30 minutes significantly reduced pain in people with migraines.

In other cases, such as with a tension headache where the muscles are too tight, a warm compress may help relax these muscles and bring relief.

A warm compress could be as simple as a heated towel. People may be able to get the same effect from a tepid shower or bath.

In some cases, there is a physical reason for a headache. Check for anything that is putting too much pressure on the head. This may be a ponytail or bun that is too tight or a hat or headband that has been on too long.

Some people who get headaches become sensitive to light. Bright office lights or even the bright light from a smartphone may make symptoms worse.

It may help to rest in a dark or dimly lit room while recovering from a headache.

Herbal tea may be a useful way to add water to the diet while also enjoying the benefits of other natural compounds.

For instance, ginger tea may help with a migraine. One 2013 study found that ginger powder had similar effects to a common medication for reducing migraines. A simple tea of warm water and ginger powder may help with symptoms.

Other potentially calming teas include herbs such as peppermint, chamomile, and lavender.

Exercise may help keep the body healthy and promote better circulation, which might reduce the chances of a headache showing up.

One 2018 review of research published in the journal Children noted that too little exercise may actually influence headaches among adolescents. Regular, moderate exercise may help, such as briskly walking or riding a bike for 30 minutes a day.

Sometimes food intolerances may be the underlying cause of symptoms such as a headache.

If a headache seems to show up after meals, it may be helpful for people to keep a food journal of everything they eat each day. This may enable them to identify and avoid any foods that could trigger a headache.

Share on PinterestGetting too little sleep may cause a headache.

Different issues may lead to headaches, and sleep problems are among the more common ones.

Getting too much or too little sleep or not sleeping soundly may influence a headache in some people, as they have not fully rested their body.

As one paper in the journal Sleep notes, adults should try to get between 7 and 9 hours of sleep each night.

Acupuncture is part of traditional Chinese medicine, where practitioners place small needles into the surface of the skin. The aim is not to cause pain but to stimulate the body’s own energy.

The review published in Children notes that research has shown acupuncture to be an effective way to prevent migraines and tension headaches or reduce their frequency.

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.

Massaging the neck near the base of the skull may also help release 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.

Share on PinterestUsing essential oils may relieve headache symptoms.

Aromatherapy that uses some essential oils may also relieve symptoms of a headache. The 2018 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 2015 review published in the journal Nutrientssuggests 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 2015 review in Biomed Research International noted that vitamins, including folate and the vitamins B-6 and B-12, 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 2015 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.

The review did call for larger studies before making any claims about the vitamin, however.

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 2013 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:

• Tension headaches. The most common headache, these often occur after a person has become overstressed and their muscles have tensed. Pain appears in the middle and top of the head, which may feel as if it has a tight rubber band around it.
• Sinus headaches. This type involves pain behind the eyes and nose and a general congested feeling in the head. A similar headache occurs when a person has a hangover.
• Cluster headaches. These headaches may appear throughout the day, causing a stabbing, sharp pain that occurs in one spot of the head.
• Migraines. Migraines usually cause a throbbing pain behind the eyes that grows and pulses throughout the head. The person may also become very sensitive to light, activity, or movement.

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. An ongoing symptom may be a sign of an underlying issue. People may want to discuss a persistent or particularly severe headache along with other symptoms with a doctor to find and resolve a problem.

Reasons. How to relieve a headache. Headache remedies

Headaches can be caused by many factors, but the most common cause is tension in the head and neck muscles, which can be caused by stress, fatigue, bad posture, awkward posture when working on a computer or phone, not getting enough sleep, as well as prolonged reading or eye strain in low light. These simple tricks will help you quickly get rid of a headache without medication.

Massage: how to do it correctly, duration, massage zones

Head and neck massage. Gently massaging the head and neck can help relax muscles and reduce tension, leading to better circulation and less pain. If it is not possible to go to a chiropractor, then you can do a head and neck massage yourself.

Head and neck massage by yourself.

Compress and headband: how to do, where to apply

The use of a cold or hot compress will quickly relieve muscle spasms and facilitate the functioning of cerebral vessels. A cold compress can reduce inflammation and soreness, while a hot compress can help relax muscles. You can apply cold and hot compresses both on the focus of pain and around it.

Ginger

Ginger. Photo © shutterstock

Drinking ginger tea is also effective for headaches. Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce soreness and improve circulation. It contains a variety of bioactive compounds, including gingerols, shogaols, and zingiberenes, which may have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and pain-relieving effects on the body. In addition, ginger can help dilate blood vessels, improve circulation, and reduce tension in the muscles of the head and neck, which can also lead to headache relief.

Almond oil: for face and head

Almond oil can help relieve soreness and improve circulation when applied to the forehead and temples. Almond oil helps with headaches due to its anti-inflammatory and soothing properties. It contains many beneficial biologically active substances, including vitamin E, omega-3 fatty acids, phytosterols and antioxidants. The omega-3 fatty acids found in almond oil can help reduce localized inflammation. In addition, vitamin E, which is also found in almond oil, is a strong antioxidant and reduces inflammation and pain.

Lavender oil

The use of this oil helps to reduce soreness and calm the nervous system. Apply a few drops to whiskey or take an aromatic bath. It cannot directly help in relieving headaches, but it contains many useful biologically active substances, including linalool and linaluyl acetate, which are natural sedatives. Lavender oil can help reduce tension and stress that cause headaches. It improves circulation, reduces inflammation, and reduces muscle tension, which can also lead to pain relief.

Juniper and eucalyptus oil

Eucalyptus oil. Photo © Shutterstock

Juniper contains terpenes that can help reduce inflammation and pain in the head. Eucalyptus oil contains camphor, which is a natural anesthetic and helps relieve headaches. In addition, eucalyptus oil can help improve blood circulation and reduce tension, which also leads to a reduction in headaches.

For headaches, you can add a few drops of the oil from this mixture to warm water and inhale the vapors, or apply the oil to your temples or massage your neck.

Peppermint tea recipe how to brew

Peppermint contains menthol, which is a natural anesthetic and antispasmodic that can help reduce pain and relax the scalp muscles. In addition, mint has anti-inflammatory properties: it reduces local inflammation. The antibacterial properties of mint also reduce the risk of headaches caused by infection. Peppermint tea can also help improve circulation and reduce tension, leading to less headaches. How to make mint tea?

1. Bring water to a boil.
2. Place dried or fresh mint in a teapot or mug (1-2 teaspoons per cup).
3. Top the mint with boiling water and let it steep for about 5-7 minutes.
4. Add honey or lemon to taste.
5. Strain the tea through a strainer or cheesecloth.

Fresh mint tea can be drunk hot or cooled and drunk as an iced tea. It can be effective in relieving headaches, especially if the headache is related to stress or fatigue.

Evgeny Zhukov

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How to relieve a headache without pills

https://crimea. ria.ru/20220511/kak-snyat-golovnuyu-bol-bez-tabletok-1123198056.html

How to relieve a headache without pills pain without pills – RIA Novosti Krym, 05/11/20220003

You can get rid of a headache without medication, there are two effective ways to relieve the symptom. RIA Novosti Crimea, 05/11/2022

2022-05-11T21:22

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SIMFEROPOL, May 11 – RIA Novosti Crimea. You can get rid of a headache without medication, there are two effective ways to relieve a symptom. Igor Orlov, a neuropathologist, spoke about this in a commentary to Sputnik radio. According to the doctor, the cause of a headache is often a violation of the blood supply to the brain, in this case, patients are usually recommended to drink medicines to improve blood flow. You can help the body alternatively – with the help of ear massage, the doctor said. “You can massage your ears with your palm. Close the auricle completely with it, press lightly and slowly make movements. This will create increased pressure, which is very useful for relieving headaches, for improving cerebral circulation and getting rid of tinnitus. But you have to be very careful with this, there should be no pain during this massage, “says Orlov. The second effective way of non-drug treatment is the use of special oils. They, according to the expert, also improve cerebral circulation and relieve pain. cerebral circulation. If a person has a headache and wants to get rid of the pain, then this method should help,” Orlov assured. Previously, Russian scientists have developed a sausage that reduces blood sugar levels. They believe that this healing meat product will be in demand among citizens with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, there are more than 5 million people in Russia today.

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SIMFEROPOL, May 11 – RIA Novosti Crimea. You can get rid of a headache without medication, there are two effective ways to relieve a symptom. Neuropathologist Igor Orlov spoke about this in a commentary on Sputnik radio.

According to the doctor, the cause of headaches is often a violation of the blood supply to the brain, in this case, patients are usually advised to drink medicines to improve blood flow. You can help the body alternatively – with the help of ear massage, the doctor said.

11 May 2022, 07:02

Headache after eating can be a sign of serious illness relieving headaches, to improve cerebral circulation and get rid of tinnitus.