Natural Headache Remedies

Whether you have acute headaches that come every once in a while, or chronic 
headaches where you experience them regularly, it can be frustrating. Headaches are 
uncomfortable and painful, and can make it hard to get anything done. Before you reach 
for the over-the-counter drugs to alleviate your headache, try the remedies mentioned 
here.

Before getting into the 10 natural headache remedies, here are some things to know 
about the causes and triggers of headaches:

Common Causes of Headaches and What to Avoid

There can be a myriad of reason that you are experiencing a headache, but many of the 
most common factors are related to lifestyle factors. Some of these can be how much 
hydration you’ve had in the last 24 hours. If you have consumed alcohol, too much 
sugar, or a combination of these like the content found red wine, then you have likely 
opened yourself up to having a somewhat unpleasant experience and the possibility of 
having a terrible headache. 

Part of why this occurs is because your dehydrated body constricts in small ways, 
particularly the blood vessels that lead to the brain and areas in the head. When this 
constriction takes place the pain receptors send pain information to the brain, telling you 
that you are having some issues. As you probably know, constricted blood vessels can 
lead to some pretty serious life-threatening issues like strokes or heart attacks. So, 
people should be aware of the shape their body is in when they are living a lifestyle that 
involves heavy drinking. 

Processed Meats

Some meats that are heavily processed contain things called nitrates. These are 
preservatives that are put into processed meats by the companies that manufacture 
them to help them stay looking nice when people by them. Nitrates can cause an 
unpleasant reaction leading to migraines and other head pain. The serious issue with 
nitrates however is that a high level of them in your system could expose you to 
increased cancer risk. When some chemicals build up in the body, they can create an 
environment that makes your body an easier place for diseases to develop, so being 
careful about your intake of these type of food is of paramount importance. 

Sleep Patterns 

Sudden changes in sleep or lack of sleep can also play a major role in whether or not 
headaches are a frequent thing for you. When your body doesn’t get the rest that it 
needs, it is less able to repair the damage done from everyday living. This lack of rest 
also increases the amount of oxidative stress that is placed on your body. That stress 
contributes heavily to aging, which is why some people get more bag under their eyes 
after days of diminished sleep. Sleeping more and regularly can help your body to run 
more efficiently, and give it a chance to heal itself while you are asleep. 

Bad Posture 

Surprisingly, even having poor posture can do a fair amount of damage. This is because 
any time you are leaning, standing, or sitting incorrectly, you are putting a heavy strain 
on specific muscle groups that aren’t normally used. This can lead to a wide variety of 
strains and sprains that cause you pain in the neck and head. 

Missed Meals

Skipping meals can play havoc with your blood sugar. When you eat certain foods, it 
can cause your blood sugar to rise extremely quickly. This usually ends up causing 
several different kinds of uncomfortable effects, one of the first noticeable is a sudden 
headache. It’s always a good idea to consult a medical professional, and this is 
especially true if you suffer from diseases related to blood sugar like diabetes. It would 
also be advisable to avoid anything that causes this response, as it could be a sign of 
other developing illnesses. 

Stress 

It should come as no surprise to most people by now that your emotional state can have 
a major effect on how you feel in a day. Stress is one of the most highly destructive 
feelings that a person can experience because it has the ability to throw many systems 
out of balance. Stress hormones can make weight loss difficult, and cause inflammation 
in various areas in the body as well, which could further exacerbate any illness you be 
experiencing. 

Natural Headache Remedies

A headache can be a sign of a certain deficiency in your body. It may be lack of 
adequate water, nutrients, or rest. Headaches may result from fatigue, eyestrain, stress, 
alcoholism, hormonal imbalance, or constipation. It may also occur due to a poor 
posture or low levels of blood glucose. Although there are medicines you can use to 
relieve the symptoms of headache, there are alternative natural remedies you can apply 
to relieve and cure pain resulting from headaches. This article discusses a few of those 
remedies. 
 
1. Stress Management 
 
Stress is one of the most common causes of chronic headache. It can result from too 
much work, anxiety, or a lot of thinking. Stress management involves avoiding 
stressors. Some of the ways you can avoid stress include reducing the hours of work, 
having enough rest, and having a healthy sleep. Hanging out with friends and relatives 
for fun can also make you forget things that cause stress in your life. 
 
You can also reduce stress by engaging in regular physical exercises. Exercises boost 
your blood flow around the body and to the brain. This prevents you from stressful 
mental disorders, including anxiety and worry. Another effective way of stress 
management is counseling. Counselors have expertise on how to handle stress. When 
you share your stressful issues with a counselor, he will analyze your situation and 
provide suitable strategies that will help you manage your stress. This helps to avoid 
headache. 
 
2. Massage Therapy 
 
Although there is not adequate clinical evidence that massage treats headaches, it is 
clear that massage acts as a reliever of stress, which is one of the common causes of 
headaches. It also relieves body tension. Massage causes your body muscles to relax, 
which ensures proper blood circulation. Some headaches result from muscle tension. 
Massage can help treat such types of headaches. To ensure proper results, be sure to 
get massage therapy service from a qualified and well trained person. 
 
3. Change of Diet 
 
A dietary change to relieve headache involves avoiding foods that worsen the 
symptoms of headache while, at the same time, adopting a diet that relieves the 
symptoms of the condition. Foods that worsen the symptoms of headache include citrus 
fruits, chocolate, red wine, and aged cheese; hence, you should avoid them if they are 
causing your headache. A simple way to know if certain foods are causing your 
headache is to keep track of the foods you eat and assess their effect. 
 
To avoid headaches, eat foods rich in magnesium and vitamin B complex. When you 
experience a headache, your nerves become overexcited. Magnesium mineral treats 
headache by calming the nerves. Additionally, magnesium has the ability to hinder 
chemical transmission in your brain, which helps to reduce pain. Examples of foods that 
are rich in magnesium include seeds, dark green vegetables, dairy products, and nuts. 
However, too much magnesium in the body may cause diarrhea. You need to eat the 
mineral in the right proportions to avoid any side effects. If you are sensitive to gluten, 
eating gluten-free foods may also help in relieving headache symptoms. 
 
Although certain foods help to alleviate the symptoms of headache, eating a balanced 
diet can be more effective. A balanced diet keeps your body healthy, which ensures a 
strong immune system. Additionally, a balanced diet ensures proper metabolism, which 
causes your body to function properly. To ensure that your dietary changes yield better 
results, combine diet with exercises. Also, be sure to consult with your physician before 
making any changes to your diet since some foods may worsen other body conditions. 
For instance, eating foods with high acid content may trigger the symptoms of GERD. 
 
4. Herbs 
 
Some herbs can relieve headache by easing tension on your body. Good examples of 
herbs that prevent and treat headaches include butterbur and feverfew. According to 
scientists, feverfew has the ability to reduce the frequency of headaches. It is also 
helpful in alleviating pain, emesis, nausea, sensitivity to light, and other symptoms that 
accompany headaches. This explains why this herb is used for making drugs. 
 
Butterbur contains anti-inflammatory properties; hence, it prevents headaches that 
result from inflammation. Additionally, butterbur enhances blood circulation around the 
brain, which is essential in relieving headaches. 
 
Ginger is another herb that helps in treating headaches. It works by preventing 
inflammation and enhancing the blood flow to the brain. It also facilitates proper 
digestion, which prevents vomiting, a symptom that accompanies headaches. You can 
use ginger to relieve your headache in the following ways: 
 
• Inhaling the vapors of the herb. Add a tablespoon of crushed ginger into boiling water 
and inhale the vapor for immediate relief. 
• Boil a crushed ginger and drink the liquid. 
• Use warm water and a crushed ginger to make a paste and apply the paste to your 
forehead. Close your eyes and have a proper rest. The headache will subside. 
 
Since herbs may react with other medicines in your body, it is advisable to seek 
guidance from your doctor before attempting to use any herb. 
 
5. Proper Hydration 
 
According to the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgeon research, enough 
water in the body has the ability to relieve pain and other symptoms of headache. 
Additionally, proper hydration enhances your body energy and boosts blood circulation. 
Your blood is made up majorly of water. When the amount water in the body reduces, 
your blood volume drops, depriving the brain of adequate oxygen supply since less 
blood reaches the organ. When this happens, your brain loses its normal functioning, 
and this may result in headaches. 
 
The simplest way to hydrate your body is to drink enough water every day. However, 
since drinking tasteless water may be a challenge, you can improve your water intake 
through eating foods with high water content. Examples of foods you can eat for proper 
hydration include: 
 
• Leafy vegetables. These include spinach and cabbages. 
• Oranges, water melon, strawberries, and other watery fruits. 
• Cucumber. 
• Drinks such as milk and sports drink are also helpful in ensuring proper hydration. 
 
Good hydration also involves avoiding foods and drinks that dehydrate your body. You 
need to avoid or limit alcohol, sugary drinks, and coffee. When engaging your body in 
physical workouts, it is important to drink a lot of fluids to replace the water lost via 
sweating; hence, you will have to increase your daily water intake if you are on an 
exercise program. 
 
6. Detox Bath 
 
A detox bath has the ability to reduce headache symptoms by lessening body tension. It 
helps in the elimination of body toxins, which is essential for a healthy body. A detox 
bath involves exposing your body to a hot shower followed by cold water. To enhance 
your detox bath results, you can mix your hot bath water with apple cider vinegar. The 
vinegar rids your body of excess uric acid and reduces pain related to headache, 
arthritis, and gout. 
 
7. Getting More Activity 
 
Sedentary lifestyle such as sitting in one place for too long causes body tension, leading 
to headache. Additionally, keeping your body inactive impacts your blood circulation, 
which may result in tension headaches. Hence, you need to regularly move from one 
place to another if your headache is coming from sitting in one place for too long. You 
can also engage in yoga to relieve your body tension and relieve headache symptoms. 
Yoga boosts respiration and blood circulation. Proper respiration ensures that your brain 
receives enough oxygen for its proper functioning, and this is essential for preventing 
headaches. 
 
8. Acupuncture 
 
This is a Chinese method that involves balancing your body’s energy by stimulating 
certain body points using small needles. This technique triggers your body to produce 
pain-relieving chemicals, which reduce relieves headache. It also stimulates your brain 
to trigger the release of certain hormones that alleviate pain. 
 
9. Compresses 
 
Both cold and worm compresses help in relieving headache symptoms. While cold 
compresses seem to work better for patients with migraines, persons with tension 
headaches tend to prefer warm compresses. If properly applied, compresses result in 
immediate headache relief. Since you may not know the type of headache you are 
suffering from, it is advisable to try both cold and warm compresses to determine which 
one works for you. 
 
10. Cayenne Pepper Muscle Rub 
 
Cayenne pepper contains pain-relieving properties, which makes it ideal for treating 
headache pain. It also boosts blood circulation and fight inflammation. Cayenne pepper 
destroys substance P, an element that makes you to feel pain. Low levels of substance 
P in your body blocks pain signals from reaching the brain. This alleviates headache 
pain. 
 
Although most headaches do not recur and will disappear on their own, frequent 
headaches can be very disturbing and can hinder you from performing your daily tasks. 
If you use the tips discussed in this article properly, you can be able to get rid of your 
headache without having to use medications. It is advisable to apply a combination of 
these tips to determine those that work best for your case. However, you should seek 
medical treatments if your headache persists despite using these tips. Frequent 
headaches can be a sign of a serious underlying condition that calls for urgent medical 
solution.
