Do you feel a dull throbbing in your head? Do you sometimes feel pain in the back of your head? Yes? Then, here are some natural remedies for painful headaches.

Headaches can occur on both sides of the head, can be isolated to particular areas, or radiate from one part of the head. It develops slowly and might last for hours or days. There are two main categories of headaches:

Primary Headaches

Overactivity of the pain-sensitive areas of your brain can cause Primary headaches. These headaches don’t have any underlying medical conditions. Due to genes, some people are more likely to develop primary headaches. These headaches aren’t that painful but can cause disturbance in the daily routine. Here are the types of Primary Headaches:

Tension headaches
Migraine headaches
Cluster headaches
New daily persistent headaches (NDPH)

Some lifestyle choices that can trigger primary headaches are:

Alcohol
Processed meat
Nicotine
Lack of Sleep
Posture
Physical activities such as exercises
Skipped meals
Coughing, wheezing, laughing, and crying

Secondary Headaches

Some underlying conditions like acute sinusitis, arterial tears or blood clots can cause secondary headaches. Some types of secondary headaches include:

Dehydration headache
Sinus headache
Ice cream headache
Medication headache
Spinal headache
Thunderclap headache

Natural Remedies For Painful Headaches

Drink Water

Inadequate hydration leads you to develop headaches. Dehydration can cause problems in concentration and can make you more irritable. Drinking water helps reduce the occurrences of headaches. You should focus on drinking water and consuming water-rich foods like fruits and vegetables.

Also Read: What Are The Benefits Of Keeping Your Body Hydrated?

Take Some Magnesium

Magnesium is a mineral that is necessary for bodily functions like regulating blood sugar levels and nerve transmission. People who have magnesium deficiency are more prone to migraine headaches. Eating magnesium supplements helps reduce the severity of the headaches. However, always take them in the right amount as excess intake of magnesium supplements can cause diarrhoea.

Limit The Intake Of Alcohol

Alcohol can trigger migraines in people with frequent headaches. It can also cause inflammation, dehydration, and widening of blood vessels. Therefore, it is advisable to limit the intake of alcoholic drinks.

Not Getting Enough Sleep

Inadequate sleep harms the body and can cause headaches. Sleep apnea, a health condition in which breathing starts and stops repeatedly, is associated with morning headaches. Insomnia is connected to severe tension headaches. It is necessary to get enough sleep, therefore, you should take 7-9 hours of sleep.

Avoid Foods High In Histamine

Histamine found in aged cheeses, beer, wine, smoked fish, and cured meats can cause migraines in people who are sensitive to it. Some people cannot digest histamine properly, which leads to headaches. Cutting down on food which has histamines helps reduce the occurrence of headaches.

Use Essential Oils

These oils contain aromatic compounds from various plants and have therapeutic benefits. Oils like Peppermint, Lavender, and Eucalyptus essential oils are helpful for headaches. If you experience frequent headaches, try diffusing the essential oils or mix it with another oil like Jojoba and apply it on your wrists.

Soothe The Pain With The Cold Compress

Applying a cold compress to your neck or head area decreases inflammation, slows nerve conduction, and constricts blood vessels, which helps reduce headaches. Cold compress also helps reduce headaches caused by nitrate medication. You can make a cold compress by filling a waterproof bag with ice and wrapping it in a towel. You can apply the compress on your neck, head, and temples for relief.

Also Read: The Secret Recipe for Stress Relief

Drink Tea or Coffee

Sipping on beverages that contain caffeine like tea and coffee can improve your mood, increase alertness, constrict the blood vessels, and help reduce headaches. However, if a person stops taking caffeine, it causes withdrawal symptoms that lead to headaches.

Relax with Yoga

Practising Yoga is the best way to relieve stress, increase flexibility, and decrease pain. Yoga helps reduce the frequency and intensity of headaches.

Try Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medical technique in which thin needles are inserted into the skin to stimulate specific points on the body. It stimulates nerves and pressure points in the body to relieve headache symptoms.

Summing Up

If you find yourself grappling with the throbbing discomfort of headaches, there are a variety of natural remedies you can explore to alleviate the pain and potentially prevent future occurrences.