How to Get Rid of Headaches: Try These 9 Tips for Relief

If you want to know how to stop a headache, read on to learn more about options for natural headache relief. “High doses of vitamin B2 have been shown to decrease migraines,” Dr. Newman says. Taking 400 mg per day of the nutrient — also called riboflavin — had a positive effect on adult migraine patients, according to 2017 review in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics.

How to Relieve & Prevent Headaches & Migraines Fast

This article looks at a range of home and natural remedies for headaches. People can try many of these remedies right away, and some might help prevent headaches in the future. Play it safe and always seek out professional help if you have any concern about your health. The American Migraine Foundation offers resources for how to talk to your practitioner about headaches in order to help you find the best plan of action. For example, sleeping too much or too little can induce migraines, but keeping a more regular routine can help with occasional headaches, too.

Tips for preventing headaches

1. The nicotine from cigarettes, cigars, and even secondhand smoke can contribute to headaches, especially migraines and cluster headaches.
2. Let’s say you’ve tried all the tips above to no avail—the headache is still pounding away.
3. Cutting histamine-rich foods from the diet may help reduce symptoms such as headaches in people who are sensitive to histamine (27).
4. A 2020 overview of 15 systematic reviews concluded that acupuncture may be an effective therapy for people with migraine (46).
5. Sipping on beverages that contain caffeine, such as tea or coffee, may provide relief when you are experiencing a headache.

It basically refers to different types of therapy that help manage stress, which can be a pretty big trigger for headaches and migraine attacks. Dr. Starling, who coauthored a 2019 study on these therapies in the Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine, says a few have shown some benefits for migraine. However, keep in mind that these remedies may not be effective for everyone. Effective treatments depend on the type and cause of the headache you’re experiencing.

That’s because the compound triggers blood vessels to constrict covert narcissist and drugs and reduces blood flow to the brain, ultimately leaving you with a hurting head. Ditching the cigarettes or avoiding smokey places can prevent the pain in the first place, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Sometimes OTC treatments aren’t enough and, in that case, prescription medications are recommended.

Natural remedies for headaches

This causes pain around the forehead, temples, and the back of the head. In essence, what these devices do is alter the electrical environment of our brain cells or our neurons to ease the symptoms of migraine, she says. Using one is is baclofen addicting simple, you’ll just put it on your head, arm, or neck (depending on the device), and an electrical impulse will be delivered. Most of these devices are prescription-only, so if you are interested in hearing more about how they work, and whether they might be a good fit for you, talk with your doctor. While this may sound a bit like science fiction, devices to treat migraine attacks are actually based on real science. Non-invasive, drug-free devices are a recent breakthrough in the prevention and treatment of migraine.

If you’re used to sitting hunched over a computer all day, you may start to notice your shoulders creeping up as your stress levels rise. This muscle tension can trigger a—you guessed it—tension-type headache. So one way to combat the pain is to relieve that tension by applying a hot or cold compress to your head, neck, or shoulders. Yoga, nutritional mescaline benefits supplements, essential oils, and dietary modifications are all natural, safe, and effective ways to reduce headache symptoms.

Causes of headaches

Research suggests that peppermint, lavender, and eucalyptus essential oils are especially helpful when you have a headache (28, 29, 30). Pure Encapsulations Magnesium Citrate is a great choice for people who want to try magnesium for headaches. Interestingly, magnesium has also been shown to be a safe, effective remedy for headaches. An elimination diet could be beneficial if you suspect certain foods are causing your headaches. Try removing the suspected foods and then reintroducing them to your diet one at a time.

Dehydration can contribute to a headache, but it can be easily avoided. Grabbing a good old-fashioned glass of water can help as much as an electrolyte-containing beverage such as Pedialyte, Gatorade, or Powerade. You should also avoid drinking too much caffeine, as this can make you jittery and interfere with sleep (69). If you think you may be sensitive to smells, avoiding perfumes, cigarette smoke, and strongly scented foods may help decrease your chance of getting a migraine. This hypersensitivity to odors is called osmophobia and is common in those with chronic migraines (52). There are ways to reduce the instances of a headache from motion sickness.

Dehydration is a known trigger of migraines, Dr. Newman says, so make sure you’re sipping enough water. A migraine typically appears on one side of the head or as a feeling of pressure behind one eye. The pain may be moderate to severe and can cause a throbbing or pulsating sensation. We hear a lot about the health problems caused by lack of sleep, and not getting your nightly minimum can lead to chronic headaches. But knowing you need more sleep and actually getting it are two different things.