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What are Home Remedies for Headaches?

Garry Crystal
Garry Crystal

Headaches are the number one cause of pain in the world. They can be very mild and disappear within a short space of time, or they can be excruciatingly painful and last for hours. Home remedies for headaches have been known to alleviate the pain. There are numerous remedies that can be very effective in relieving the pain of a headache.

Some people swear that by simply massaging the temple area, the headache will disappear. Massaging the scalp area and pulling on the hair with some force and then releasing it may also help. The massage method helps eliminate stress, which is a major factor in causing headaches. It can also be combined with a neck massage, as tension is likely to build up in the neck and cause headaches.

Cutting back on smoking might relieve headaches.
Cutting back on smoking might relieve headaches.

Sinus problems are often associated with headaches. For sinus headaches, boil some vinegar in water and place it in a bowl. Wrap a towel around the head and bend over the bowl. Inhaling the fumes will help unblock the sinuses and alleviate the headache.

Lying down in a dark, silent room may also relieve headaches. This can be combined with massage or pressure application to the bridge of the nose. Also, applying a damp, cool cloth when lying down should help alleviate the pain.

Many people sleep to make their headaches go away.
Many people sleep to make their headaches go away.

Another easy way to deal with headache pain is exercise, which relieves tension and the pressure to the head. Exercise also relieves stress, but if the headache is of the migraine variety, then exercise is not advised. It will only increase the pain of the migraine headache.

An easy remedy for headache pain is simply to go to sleep. Many people are able to sleep off their headaches. Make sure you are not sleeping in an awkward position and do not be tempted to oversleep. Oversleeping is more likely to induce headaches, not to relieve them.

Breathing exercises are a known cure for headaches. Taking very deep breaths and then exhaling slowly may help. The correct breathing exercises will have your stomach moving more than your chest.

Ice packs provide some relief to headache sufferers.
Ice packs provide some relief to headache sufferers.

In today’s society, there are many causes of the common headache. Food, alcohol, and caffeine are all big contributors. Curtailing your intake of certain foods and easing up on alcoholic drinks, certain fizzy drinks, coffee, and cigarettes will help to reduce headaches.

The severity of the headache will determine which remedies work and which don’t. A migraine headache can likely only be cured by certain medications and therapies. Minor, infrequent headaches may be alleviated by some of the remedies mentioned here.

Discussion Comments

anon221176

Exercise is very helpful for headaches and I have experienced that myself. It's so true.

Planch

Ooh, I had never heard of exercise for headaches. I can see how it would work, but the last thing I want to do when I have a tension headache is go to the gym!

galen84basc

I like to use aromatherapy for stress headaches.

If you take a few drops of lavender oil and put it on a warm washcloth, then put the washcloth over your eyes for a few minutes, you'll feel a lot better.

Other good scents to get rid of headaches are eucalyptus, peppermint, and sandalwood.

rallenwriter

My best headache cure is to take a long hot shower.

I get chronic sinus headaches, and nothing helps like getting all that steam up in my head.

The heat of the water can also relax your muscles, which can relieve the tension that comes with a headache.

somerset

I agree with sleep. Rarely do I get a headache, but if and when I do, taking a nap seems cure the headache.

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    • Cutting back on smoking might relieve headaches.
      By: nito
      Cutting back on smoking might relieve headaches.
    • Many people sleep to make their headaches go away.
      By: Karin & Uwe Annas
      Many people sleep to make their headaches go away.
    • Ice packs provide some relief to headache sufferers.
      By: pixelrobot
      Ice packs provide some relief to headache sufferers.
    • The most common types of headache are tension headaches.
      By: vgstudio
      The most common types of headache are tension headaches.
    • A sinus headache can cause a dull, throbbing pain behind one or both eyes.
      By: nebari
      A sinus headache can cause a dull, throbbing pain behind one or both eyes.
    • Oversleeping is more likely to induce headaches than relieve them.
      By: lightwavemedia
      Oversleeping is more likely to induce headaches than relieve them.
    • Some headaches are caused by tooth infections.
      By: eyetronic
      Some headaches are caused by tooth infections.
    • Laying down in a silent room may help relieve headaches.
      By: lightwavemedia
      Laying down in a silent room may help relieve headaches.