11 Best Suited Remedies To Treat Headaches

Headaches are common ailments and it’s a bit of a shocker that this wasn’t the first article posted to the site! Nearly everyone has experienced a headache at one point or another and most people will have one again. That’s why this article is going to cover the many home remedies that can be used to both prevent and treat a common headache.

Headaches can be caused by what seems an uncountable number of factors. They are most often caused by another health issue. It can be something as serious as having high blood pressure or it could be due to stress or anxiety. Many ailments, like the flu, also have headaches as a symptom.

If a headache is not caused by underlying health issues, then it is likely caused by a person becoming overstimulated or stressed out, either mentally or physically. This happens when a person is surrounded by many loud noises, when a person has their neck or head at an odd angle for too long, or when a person has strained their eyes by reading or looking at a screen for too long.

# Massage

Massaging the painful points, whether it be on your head or neck, can help to relieve headaches. One of the best parts is that you don’t need to be a professional masseuse to make this home remedy work. You or a friend can rub your temples in a circular motion. Do this for as long as it takes to relieve your headache.

# Shower or Bathe

Taking a hot shower or bath is a great way to relieve tension and sinus headaches, but for different reasons. Baths and showers tend to be relaxing, which is great for people who have headaches due to stress. Adding a few drops of lavender oil to a bath can make it even more relaxing.

Both hot baths and showers also work for sinus headaches because they produce steam. Inhaling steam is a great way to loosen mucus that causes sinus headaches. To make a hot bath even more effective, add in a few drops of peppermint essential oil to the bath.

# Relax

Tension headaches can be caused by stress. Anxiety can also be a cause of headaches. Because of both of these causes, simply relaxing is a great way to make a headache vanish. Try listening to soft music, reading a book you like or meditating.

# Painkillers

While painkillers are not a “natural” home remedy, they are a cheap and simple home remedy. Simply take painkillers as directed on the packaging to use this home remedy. However, do not use this home remedy if you think you have a rebound headache. While the pills will cure it, the headache is likely to come back and be worse than before.

# Allergy Medication

Since sinus headaches can be caused by allergies, more so pollen, dander, and dust allergies than food allergies, taking allergy medication can work to help both a sinus headache and the other symptoms which caused it. Like any other medication, make sure to read the packaging and take it only as directed.

# Reduce Alcohol Intake

Drinking too much alcohol can lead to hangovers, which can lead to headaches. One way to prevent headaches before they even happen is to simply reduce your alcohol intake. Also, drinking water in between alcoholic drinks can also reduce the chance that you will get a hangover later.

# Get Hydrated

Hangovers are results of dehydration; dehydration alone or with alcohol can both lead to headaches. The best way to combat this is to drink more water. Adults should drink about eight to ten glasses of water a day to be optimally hydrated.

# Limit Screen Time

Eye strain is another leading cause of headaches. One major contributor to eye strain is using something with a screen (phone, computer, or TV) for too long. If you can, limit your daily screen time. If you need a computer for work and cannot reduce your screen time, try to take breaks from looking at the screen. Taking a break for a few minutes each hour is a great way to prevent and treat eye strain.

# Wear Glasses

Eyeglasses are prescribed for a reason, so wear them! Wearing your glasses is another great way to cut down on eye strain. If you do not have prescription glasses, but notice your eyes hurt when you are working on a computer, reading, or writing, buy some reading glasses to improve your vision. If you do not like wearing glasses, opt for contact lenses instead.

# Get More Sleep

Both fatigue and insomnia can lead to headaches; trying to get more sleep can help with both of these causes. Try to get around eight hours of sleep each night. If, for whatever reason, you cannot manage this, try to take naps during the day to make up for lost time.

# Less Caffeine

While caffeine in itself is not likely to cause headaches, caffeine withdrawal (if someone has a caffeine addiction) can cause headaches. To prevent this from happening, try drinking less caffeine. Cutting soda and energy drinks from your diet entirely is a good place to begin. If you are going to continue drinking caffeinated beverages, get your caffeine from natural sources, like tea, coffee, or hot chocolate.