Headache: Home Remedies, Types, Causes & Symptoms

In this busy life of ours, headaches are common. The good thing here is that there are many simple things that you can do to tackle the pain without visiting your doctor. In this article, we’ll be sharing many home remedies for headaches.

Table of Contents

What Causes Headaches?

Headaches can occur due to various causes, which can be classified as either primary (not linked to an underlying health condition) or secondary (caused by a health condition). Home remedies for headache with OTC medications can help relieve headache. The headache remedies may work for a short duration. If you have a persistent headache, this can be due to an underlying condition. Some possible causes of headaches include:

Brain tumors
Brain bleeding
Brain Inflammation
Migraine
Caffeine withdrawal
Cough
Exercise
Sinusitis
Certain foods like chocolate or some cheeses
Alcohol, especially red wine
Hangovers
Dehydration
Glaucoma
Ear infection
Poor posture
Extremely high blood pressure
Fevers
Lack of sleep
Skipped meals
Meningitis
Muscle tension from stress, depression, or anxiety
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
Viruses that cause colds and flu

Symptoms of Headache

Depending on the nature and underlying reason, headache symptoms might vary greatly. A dull or intense ache in various parts of the head, such as the forehead, temples, or back of the head, is a common symptom.
Whereas migraines are typified by throbbing pain, usually on one side, and may also be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and light or sound sensitivity, tension headaches typically manifest as a persistent, band-like pressure.
Severe, piercing pain surrounding one eye is a symptom of cluster headaches, which also induce tears and redness. Additional symptoms that impair daily functioning and quality of life, such as vision abnormalities, aura, or scalp discomfort, may also be present.

What type of headache is it?

Although there are many different kinds of headaches, tension headaches, migraines, and cluster headaches are common types. The most common type of headaches are tension headaches, which are characterized by a dull, aching feeling all over the head that is frequently accompanied by soreness in the neck and shoulder muscles.
Usually more severe, migraines cause throbbing pain, usually on one side of the head, along with other symptoms like light and sound sensitivity and nausea. Even though they are less common, cluster headaches are extremely painful, come in cyclical patterns or clusters, and are accompanied by eye watering or congestion in the nose. The pain is concentrated around one eye.

What are other ways to get rid of headaches?

If the above mentioned natural remedies for headaches are not working for you, consider these headache remedies:

Regular Exercise: Engaging in regular physical activity can improve circulation and reduce the frequency and intensity of headaches. Exercise helps release endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers, which can provide headache relief at home.
Consistent Eating and Sleeping Schedule: Maintaining a regular routine for meals and sleep can prevent headaches. Irregular eating patterns can cause blood sugar levels to fluctuate, triggering headaches, while poor sleep can lead to fatigue and increased headache frequency.
Limit Screen Time: Overexposure to screens from smartphones, TVs, and computers can strain your eyes and mind, leading to headaches. Incorporating screen-free breaks into your daily schedule can help reduce this strain and give your mind a much-needed rest.
Get your eyesight checked: Strained eyesight can be a significant cause of headaches. If you wear glasses, ensuring your prescription is up to date can alleviate this strain and potentially reduce headache occurrences.
Stop Smoking: Smoking can trigger headaches due to nicotine’s effect on blood vessels in the brain. Quitting smoking can lead to a noticeable reduction in headache frequency and severity.
Reduce Alcohol Consumption: Alcohol can cause dehydration and dilate blood vessels, leading to headaches. Cutting back on alcohol intake can help prevent these headaches.
Listen to Calming Sounds: Calming music or recorded nature sounds can promote relaxation and ease body tension. This can help slow your breathing and alleviate headache symptoms, making you feel more relaxed and comfortable.
Stay Hydrated: Dehydration is a common cause of headaches. Drinking plenty of water throughout the day and eating foods with high water content, such as watermelon, celery, and cucumber, can help maintain hydration and provide headache relief at home.

Top 11 Home Remedies to Stop Headaches Immediately

Here are some headache remedies you can try at home.

1. Consider a cold pack as an instant home remedy for headaches

If you are suffering from a migraine, place the cold pack on your forehead. You can also use ice cubes wrapped in a towel, a bag of frozen vegetables, or a cold shower. Keep the cold compress on your head for at least 15 minutes, and then take a break of 15 minutes.

2. Try a heat pack or a hot compress

If you are suffering from a tension headache, place a hot compress on your neck or the back of your head. If a sinus headache is troubling you, use a warm cloth on the area that hurts the most. A warm shower may also prove to be helpful in the situation. It can give you instant relief from headaches.

3. Relieve pressure from your head

If you tie your ponytail too high too often, it can also cause a headache. This type of ‘external compression headache’ can also be experienced by wearing a hat, headband, or even swimming goggles that are too tight.

4. Dimming the lights can help

Bright or glistening lights in the room or from any screen can trigger migraine headaches. If you experience them frequently, cover the windows of your room with dark or blackout curtains during the day. You may also use anti-glare screens on your laptops and computers, and use daylight spectrum fluorescent bulbs at your place.

5. Try not to chew during headaches

Instant home remedies for headaches include trying not to chew anything during that period because chewing anything can not only hurt your jaw but also your head. The same can happen if you chew your fingernails, lips, inside part of your cheeks, or objects like pens or pencils. You also need to avoid crunchy as well as sticky eatables and also make sure to take small bites. Also, if you grind your teeth at night, question your dentist about a mouthguard. They may help in relieving your early morning headaches. It is one of the methods for instant migraine relief at home.

6. Keep yourself hydrated

Drink a lot of water, dehydration can also cause a headache or can make an existing one worse.

7. Have some caffeine

Get some tea, coffee, or something that has caffeine as one of its constituents. If you consume it enough after the pain starts in a little amount of time, it can relieve your pain. It can help in the betterment of the headache, just like aspirin or paracetamol. The only thing to take care of is to not consume too much caffeine as it can cause a type of headache.

8. Practice relaxation regularly

You can have a talk with your doctor regarding physical therapy if you experience muscle spasms in your neck. Try outstretches, yoga, meditation, or progressive muscle relaxation. Learn to relax while you’re in the middle of a headache that can help you with it.

9. Try a massage

It is a solution that you can do on your own. After a few minutes of massaging your forehead, neck, and temples can help you relieve a tension headache, which could be a result of stress or overthinking. Applying gentle and rotating pressure on the painful area.

10. Have some ginger

If you’re thinking about how to get rid of a headache fast, you really need to read this. According to a recent study, along with regular pain medicines, the consumption of ginger as an instant home remedy for headaches relieves the pain for people in the ER with migraines. According to the results of another study, ginger worked almost the same as the prescribed medicines. You can try ginger as a supplement or brew some tea along with it. It can be considered as an instant migraine relief and a solution if you’re thinking about how to get rid of a migraine fast without medication.

Also, Read- 4 Best postures to sleep

11. Use medications to help

The chemist is stocked with pain relievers for all kinds of headaches. To get the most benefit without consuming many chemicals, follow the directions printed on the label and these guidelines. It is a solution if you’re thinking about ‘how to get rid of a migraine fast.

Prefer liquid over pills as pills take longer to get absorbed by the body.
Avoid ibuprofen and other NSAIDs if you already have experienced heart failure or kidney failure.
Do not provide aspirin to a child who is under 18 years of age instead use instant home remedies for headaches but if the pain persists, immediately consult the doctor.
Take painkillers as soon as it starts to hurt.

When to call/meet a doctor-

Get medical assistance immediately when you experience:

A headache that follows a head injury.
A headache that comes along with dizziness, speech problems, or any other neurological symptom.
A sudden severe headache.
A headache that does not heal and gets worse even after intake of medicines.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do you cure a headache fast?

To cure a headache fast, try drinking plenty of water and resting in a dark, quiet room. Applying a cold or warm compress to your forehead or neck can also provide quick relief.

What drink helps headaches?

For headache relief at home, try drinking water to stay hydrated or herbal teas like peppermint or ginger tea, which are known home remedies for headaches. These drinks can provide instant home remedies for headache relief.

Which pressure point relieves headaches?

For headache relief at home, you can use the pressure point known as LI-4 or Hegu, located between the thumb and index finger. Applying firm pressure to this point for several minutes can help alleviate headache pain. This is a well-known home remedy for headache relief and an effective headache treatment at home.

How can I relieve a headache myself?

For headache relief at home, try massaging your temples and neck, applying a cold or warm compress, and drinking plenty of water to stay hydrated. Practicing relaxation techniques like deep breathing or meditation can also help. These home remedies for headache are effective and easy to do.

What foods help relieve headaches?

Foods that can help relieve headaches include those rich in magnesium, like spinach and almonds, which can help relax blood vessels. Foods high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon and flaxseeds, have anti-inflammatory properties. Additionally, ginger can reduce migraine severity due to its anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects.

How can I reduce my headache naturally?

To reduce a headache naturally, try drinking plenty of water to stay hydrated, resting in a quiet and dark room, and applying a cold or warm compress to your head or neck. Gentle neck stretches and deep breathing exercises can also help relieve tension.

What gets rid of a headache fast?

To quickly get rid of a headache, you can take over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Additionally, drinking a glass of water, resting in a dark and quiet room, or massaging your temples and neck can provide fast relief.

Is coffee good for headaches?

Coffee can sometimes help relieve headaches because caffeine can reduce headache symptoms by narrowing blood vessels and improving blood flow. However, too much coffee or regular use can lead to rebound headaches or make them worse, so it should be consumed in moderation.

How to sleep with a headache?

To sleep with a headache, create a comfortable and relaxing environment by dimming the lights and keeping the room quiet. Using a supportive pillow, practising deep breathing, and applying a cool compress to your forehead can help you fall asleep more easily despite the discomfort.