Headache Relief Without A Pill

tension headache migraine relief

We've all been there before. You wake up with a headache and suddenly, your day gets ruined before it even starts. Or it creeps up on you throughout the day, rendering you unproductive and restless during a critical workday. You know you need to get rid of it quickly so you can go about your day, but the last thing you want to do is to pop a pill.

Because let's be honest; becoming dependent on these pills doesn't take long if you keep at it. So, your best bet is to try natural headache relief remedies. These cures ensure migraine relief and help you cope with this problem in the future. When over 15% of the adult population often suffers from these annoying aches, having a few quick remedies handy is crucial. Almost consider them tricks up your sleeve that make our life simpler and better! And that's what we'll help you with today. So, if you've had enough of this recurring headache, read on for the best natural cures for it!

Different types of headaches

Before we jump into headache home remedies, let's categorise their primary types for better understanding.

  • Tension headaches are the most common, often caused by stress or fatigue, producing a dull, aching pain.
  • Cluster headaches are more severe and often described as a burning or piercing sensation that usually occurs in groups or cycles.
  • Migraines are characterised by acute pain, often on one side of the head, and can also include signs like nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound.

How to avoid that pill!

If you don't want to take a couple of ibuprofen pills to suppress your headache, try any of these methods to experience natural relief:

Taking warm showers
There is nothing quite like a hot shower to help you relax when you're dealing with a headache. The warm water can increase circulation and loosen up and tighten muscles contributing to your headache. Warm water not only relaxes your muscles but also soothes your nervous system. The steam from a warm shower can also open your sinuses, clear out congestion, and provide much-needed relief if you're dealing with a sinus headache. Like with everything, practice moderation — keeping the water too hot can sometimes worsen your headache.

Drinking cold water
Just as warm water can help to relieve a headache, so can cold water. Drinking a glass of cold water can help constrict the blood vessels and reduce inflammation! Additionally, if you have a fan blowing on you while you drink the cold water, it can also help cool down your body, which a body battling headaches craves. Always stay hydrated when you have a headache, even if you don’t feel like it. Dehydration can worsen headaches, which makes no sense if such an easy fix exists!

Eye exercises
When dealing with eye strain, simple eye exercises can help ease the tension and pain. You can do eye exercises by rubbing your hands together until they're nice and warm, then covering your eyes with your palms for a few minutes. Repeat this several times throughout the day as needed. Also try doing the 20-20-20 method, recommended by doctors everywhere. It’s super simple: look at something twenty feet away every twenty minutes for at least twenty seconds. This will keep your eyes strong and help fight strain!

Aromatherapy
Using essential oils can ease your headaches through the world-renowned aromatherapy benefits. Lavender oil is beneficial for relaxation and overcoming recurring headaches. A few drops of lavender oil added to a diffuser or to your bathwater can simulate that perfect at-home spa experience, which can help relax and ease the pain! You can also try our Headache Roll On, formulated with aromatherapy, which is the perfect natural solution to the worst of headaches.

Massages with essential oils
If you try aromatherapy, you might as well double it up with some massage that can work in a doubly potent formula. Massage helps to loosen tight muscles while the essential oils provide relaxation benefits – making them your headache best friends! You can either visit a massage therapist or if that feels like too much effort, give yourself a massage at home using some essential oils diluted in a carrier oil such as grape-seed oil or coconut oil. You can also try our Magnesium Sleep Support Lotion for an at-home massage experience.

Acupressure
This traditional Chinese medicine technique involves applying pressure to specific points on the body. Acupressure can stimulate energy flow in your veins and reduce pain. This method is particularly helpful in migraine relief. You can use your fingers and elbows or even purchase an acupressure device to apply pressure to the points on your head, neck, and shoulders for headache relief. Try it and feel the difference!

Wearing a cold headache relief hat
Did you know that there's a thing like a headache relief hat? Well, now you do! Wearing a cold headache relief hat is one of the best headache home remedies as it compresses your temples, neck, and head, slowly reducing tension-induced pain. You can make a headache hat by filling a sock with rice and tying it off or purchasing one that's specifically designed for headaches. Apply it for 15-20 minutes as needed for relief. 

Moving around
Being active is often the best cure to get us out of a rut, especially when it's work-related stress. So for those headaches propelled by the pressures you feel at work or the days when your boss is a pain in the brain, get some fresh air and do quick meditation if possible. You can also go for a walk, do some gentle stretches, or dance around your living room for a few minutes. Just getting up and moving will often help to ease tension headaches caused by sitting in one position for too long.

Rounding up

Headaches often have underlying causes that need more intervention — so make sure to track your symptoms and get the help required if they persist. Although migraine relief and treating chronic headaches is tough with hacks, these methods can still help. We would be remiss if we didn't mention that your sleep cycle and lifestyle also significantly impact how often you're struck with a bad headache! Instituting some fundamental lifestyle changes like having a consistent sleeping pattern and eating and exercising well can go a long way in determining how often your head throbs with pain. It’s also a pro tip to ensure you’re reducing your screen time in the evening hours, saying no to the coffee close to the bed, and making your bed comfy and cosy for your slumber! These tips might be tiny, but they’re mighty in helping you solve this continuing problem.
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