Headaches are a common condition that many people deal with on a daily basis.
Ranging from uncomfortable to downright unbearable, they can disrupt your day-to-day life.
Several types of headaches exist, with tension headaches being the most common. Cluster headaches are painful and happen in groups or “clusters,” while migraines are a moderate-to-severe type of headache.
Although many medications can be used to treat headache symptoms, a number of effective natural treatments also exist.
Keep reading for 18 effective home remedies to naturally get rid of headaches.
Causes of headaches
Headaches have a number of causes, some of which are much more serious than others.
Research shows that certain dietary and lifestyle factors could increase the risk of experiencing headaches. Examples include (1Trusted Source, 2Trusted Source, 3Trusted Source, 4Trusted Source):
lack of sleep
dehydration
caffeine withdrawal
alcohol use
nutrient deficiency
undereating
However, serious injuries and underlying health issues can also cause headaches.
For example, headaches can result from potentially life threatening conditions, including tumors and blood clots, as well as from traumatic brain injury (5Trusted Source).
Medication overuse and infections of the central nervous system can cause headaches as well (6Trusted Source).
Additionally, some people are more likely to experience headaches than others.
People with obesity, those with sleep disorders, those who smoke, and those with high caffeine intake are more at risk of experiencing headaches. People with a family health history of headaches are more prone to headache disorders too (6Trusted Source, 7Trusted Source, 8Trusted Source).
Natural remedies for headaches
1. Drink water
Inadequate hydration may lead you to develop a headache.
In fact, studies have demonstrated that dehydration is a common cause of headaches (4Trusted Source, 9Trusted Source)
What’s more, being dehydrated can impair concentration and cause irritability, making your symptoms seem even worse (10Trusted Source).
Thankfully, research suggests that drinking more water may help reduce headache occurrence, duration, and severity in some people (11).
To help avoid dehydration headaches, focus on drinking enough water throughout the day and eating water-rich foods like fruits and vegetables.
2. Take some magnesium
Magnesium is an important mineral necessary for countless functions in the body, including blood sugar regulation and nerve transmission (12Trusted Source).
Interestingly, magnesium has also been shown to be a safe, effective remedy for headaches.
Evidence suggests that magnesium deficiency is more common in people who get frequent migraine headaches than in those who don’t (13Trusted Source).
Studies have shown that treatment with supplemental magnesium, in many different doses and forms, may help reduce both the frequency and the severity of migraine headaches (14Trusted Source).
For example, supplementing with 600 mg of magnesium citrate may be effective for reducing headaches in people with migraine (15Trusted Source).
However, taking magnesium supplements can cause digestive side effects like diarrhea in some people, so it’s best to start with a smaller dose when treating headache symptoms and ask a healthcare professional if you have questions related to dosing.
Pure Encapsulations Magnesium Citrate is a great choice for people who want to try magnesium for headaches. Each capsule contains 150 mg of magnesium citrate.
Pure Encapsulations products are tested by third-party, independent laboratories, including Eurofins, Intertek, and Silliker (16).
Shop for Pure Encapsulations Magnesium Citrate online.
3. Limit alcohol
While having an alcoholic drink may not cause a headache in most people, studies have shown that alcohol can trigger migraines in about one-third of those who experience frequent headaches (17Trusted Source).
Alcohol intake is also a risk factor for tension headaches and for cluster headaches, which are among the most severe types of headaches (17Trusted Source, 18Trusted Source).
There are several ways in which alcohol is thought to trigger headaches, including by provoking inflammation, activating certain neuronal pathways, contributing to dehydration, and widening blood vessels, though the exact mechanism is still unclear (17Trusted Source).
People who experience frequent headaches could try cutting back on their alcohol intake to see if it benefits their symptoms.
4. Get adequate sleep
Sleep deprivation can be detrimental to your health in many ways and may even cause headaches in some people.
In fact, research shows that poor sleep quality and insomnia are associated with increased headache frequency and severity (19Trusted Source).
Sleep apnea, a health condition in which breathing repeatedly stops and then starts again during sleep, is associated with morning headaches, while insomnia is linked to increased headache severity in those with tension headaches (20Trusted Source, 21Trusted Source).
However, getting too much sleep has also been shown to trigger headaches. Therefore, getting the right amount of rest important for those looking for natural headache prevention (22Trusted Source).
For maximum benefits, aim for the “sweet spot” of 7–9 hours of sleep per night (23Trusted Source).
Having trouble sleeping? Read more about natural sleep aids.
5. Avoid foods high in histamine
Histamine is a chemical found naturally in the body that plays a role in the immune, digestive, and nervous systems (24Trusted Source).
It’s also found in certain foods, such as aged cheeses, fermented foods, beer, wine, smoked fish, and cured meats.
Studies suggest that consuming histamine may cause migraines in those who are sensitive to it (25Trusted Source).
Some people cannot excrete histamine properly because they have impaired function of the enzymes responsible for breaking it down (26Trusted Source).
Cutting histamine-rich foods from the diet may help reduce symptoms such as headaches in people who are sensitive to histamine (27Trusted Source).
6. Try essential oils
Essential oils are highly concentrated liquids that contain aromatic compounds from a variety of plants.
They have many therapeutic benefits and are most often used topically, though some can be ingested.
Research suggests that peppermint, lavender, and eucalyptus essential oils are especially helpful when you have a headache (28Trusted Source, 29Trusted Source, 30Trusted Source).
If you experience frequent headaches, try diffusing essential oils or rubbing a small amount of an essential oil, like peppermint or lavender oil, mixed with a carrier oil, like jojoba, onto your wrists or temples.
There are a number of high quality essential oils available, with Eden Botanicals being one of the best brands to consider.
Shop for Eden Botanicals essential oils online.
7. Try a B-complex vitamin
B vitamins are a group of water-soluble micronutrients that play many important roles in your body. For example, they contribute to neurotransmitter synthesis and help turn food into energy (31).
Some B vitamins may also have a protective effect against headaches.
Several studies have shown that certain B vitamin supplements, including riboflavin (B2), folate, B12, and pyridoxine (B6) may reduce headache symptoms (32Trusted Source, 33Trusted Source, 34Trusted Source).
B-complex supplements contain all eight of the B vitamins and are a safe, cost-effective way to naturally treat headache symptoms.
B vitamins are considered safe to take on a regular basis, as they are water-soluble, meaning that any excess will be flushed out through the urine (35Trusted Source).
If you’re looking for a high quality B-complex supplement, you may want to try Nordic Naturals Vitamin B Complex. It contains highly absorbable forms of B vitamins, including methylcobalamin and 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF).
The supplement is third-party tested, and customers can obtain a certificate of analysis on the Nordic Naturals website.
For More Details Please Visit: Home Remedy For Head Ache.
Note- The information provided on this page is for general purposes only and should not be taken as professional advice. All the content provided on this page is my own creativity.
Did you enjoy reading this post? If you did, please take a second to share it with your friends. Sharing is caring! Thank you So Much.
