Headaches are one of the most common ailments. They can range from a dull nagging ache to a full blown migraine. The pain can be so intense that you can’t even think about accomplishing a task.

I don’t know about you, but I was raised to grab a couple Ibuprofen and get going. That sometimes worked and other times the headaches were so intense the pain wouldn’t go away. Little did I know at the time that their were other options to treat headaches. I also didn’t know there were probably underlying reasons for my recurrent headaches. Knowing the reason for the headaches would have meant that I could have prevented more of them all together.

Generally speaking it’s believed headaches are triggered by physical or emotional stress. However sometimes depending on the type of headache it can be caused by a reaction to food, or you can be experiencing it from an infection or illness.

So whether you’re dealing with a tension, cluster, sinus or migraine headache their may be things you can do before you need to grab the pill bottle like I use to.

6 Natural Headache Relief Remedies

1. Drink Water – Headaches sometimes can be related to dehydration. Often we drink lots of coffee, tea, soda, and other sugar filled liquids that dehydrate us instead of hydrate. Simply drinking a glass of water at the first signs of a headache can help fight against the headache stopping it in it’s tracks or lessening the severity. This was something that would have saved me when I dealt with headaches. In my teens and 20’s I rarely drank water, but had plenty of liquids that dehydrated me. Drinking a glass of water now helps me just about every time.
2. Ginger Root – Sipping ginger root tea has been shown to be as effective as taking an aspirin. Plus if you’re dealing with a migraine it can help reduce nausea. Either crush about an inch of ginger root and put it into boiling water, or you can take 3 quarter size slices of ginger in 2 cups of water and boil covered for 30 minutes. Then sip on the ginger root tea and relax.
3. Peppermint Oil – The oil contain menthol that helps to open up clogged blood vessels. It’s also cooling which can create a relaxing sensation when put along the hairline of the head. You can also mix 3 drops of the oil with olive oil, almond oil or water and rub it on your temples and forehead. Or even place crushed fresh peppermint leaves on the forehead.
4. Capsaicin – It is the active ingredient in cayenne pepper. Capsaicin has been looked at in natural remedies as an excellent way to reduce inflammation and decrease pain. The Capsaicin works by blocking nerve pain signals. It can be purchased in a cream that you put inside your nostril on the side your head is hurting. Or you can mix 4oz of warm water and 1/4 tsp cayenne powder and stir well. Then soak a cotton ball in the solution and apply the cotton ball to the inside of each nostril. This will be uncomfortable and burn, but as the heat subsides the headache should too.
5. Feverfew – Contains a substance called parthenolide, which has been shown to be as beneficial as taking an aspirin a day without side effects. Feverfew reduces inflammation and pain by relaxing the constricted blood vessels that occur with some headaches. This helps to ease pressure the expanding blood vessels are putting on the nerves. Add 1 oz fresh or dried feverfew flowers to a pint of boiling water. Let it steep for 10 minutes. Strain and drink 1/2 a cup two times a day as needed.
6. Thyme & Rosemary Oil – They contain carvacrol which acts as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory similar to ibuprofen. Take a drop or two of either essential oil and rub it on your temples and forehead. Then take a few minutes to relax and let the oils work.