So you’ve got a headache. Whatever the cause — too much looking at screens, too much whisky, your needy cat spent the night showing how important you are to her by walking across your pillow and purring as hard as she possibly could — the throbbing in your cranium now threatens your ability to be productive for the rest of the day. While you might normally take ibuprofen and be done with it, what do you do if there’s no magical headache pill to be found? How are you going to get out of this mess?
This article discusses 10 different natural remedies that can reduce headache, pain, and tension. No chemicals or caffeine to worry about. It’s all-natural and really helps fight the awful pain. Besides the fresh air, rest enough, drinking a lot of room temperature water, some foods and liquids, and other techniques will regenerate your brain, and you will feel like you have been reborn.
1. Crush It With Cayenne
Utilizing something spicy may not sound headache helpful, but cayenne is somewhat revered in the kingdom of natural remedies to treat pain and inflammation. The secret behind its success lies in an ingredient called capsaicin, which inhibits something in our body that is one of the main elements in pain perception called Substance P. In short, Substance P is part of what makes us feel pain, and the capsaicin depletes it.
2. Go Nuts
Instead of popping a pill when you get a headache, toss back some almonds. Chilltown residents who visit this New Jersey migraine treatment center are told how these nutritious snacks are a natural source of salicin, the pain-relieving compound found in aspirin. For everyday tension-type headaches, almonds can be a natural remedy and a healthier alternative to other medicine. It acts as a pain reliever because it contains salicin, which is also an agent in popular over the counter killers. Try eating a handful or two of these wholesome nuts when you feel the ache start to set in.
3. Potato
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After a night out, you may think that a plate of greasy fries is the way to go; forget the french fries and go for a baked potato instead. Foods high in potassium have proven to help alleviate bad headaches, and a baked potato with its skin offers up to a whopping 600 mg.
4. Bananas
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The dynamic duo of potassium and magnesium comes to the rescue in one tasty piece of fruit. Magnesium’s calming effects are a huge help when trying to alleviate an achy head.
5. Apply an Apple Cider Vinegar Compress
Apple cider vinegar (ACV) has a long history in the realm of natural remedies. It’s been used to relieve everything from scurvy to hay fever and just about any other ailment that falls in between. Some modern-day studies have proven its effectiveness in treating certain illnesses. Still, most of its clout lies in the reports of people throughout the centuries who have benefited from it. If you find yourself coming down with a throbbing headache, try getting some quality ACV time into your day in the form of a steam-style treatment.
6. Peppermint Tea and Honey
In addition to being a delicious and soothing beverage, peppermint tea offers many health benefits, particularly for headaches, sinus problems, or stomach problems. It has been used medicinally for centuries and is commonly recommended by alternative healers, herbalists, and others to treat various ailments and as a general health tonic with diverse benefits for the body and mind.
7. Drink Fish Oil
Some small-scale studies show the ingestion of fish oil can help reduce migraines and head pain, thanks to its omega-3 fatty acids, which promote heart health. The American Heart Association states that fish oil ingredients may help reduce inflammation, blood clotting, lower blood pressure, and steady heart rhythm. Those actions, in turn, may help reduce head pain because it may reduce the inflammation of blood cells that press and pinch on nerves.
8. Cherries
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We have always heard about cherries having headache-fighting properties, and apparently, it’s true. After doing a little research, we discovered that this fruit has a quercetin compound, which has strong anti-oxidant, anti-allergy, and anti-inflammatory properties. This compound helps your body to put up a shield that blocks sensitivity and pain. All you night to calm a headache or migraine are 20 tart cherries. You can also reap the benefits by sipping on a glass of cherry juice.
9. The Foot Soak Remedy
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Blood drawn to the lower body will reduce pressure in the head’s blood vessels—and what’s lower than your feet? To help soothe a throbbing vascular headache, soak your feet in a small tub filled with hot water mixed with mustard powder for headache relief. After a half-hour or so, hotfoot it to the nearest towel and dry your feet.
10. Watermelon
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A lot of the time, when dealing with a headache, chances are you may be dehydrated. Dehydration is one of the biggest causes of headaches. The next time you’re hungry and have a headache, snack on a slice of watermelon before you pop a Tylenol. Watermelon is a water-rich food, so it will immediately help to rehydrate your body. You can also blend this fruit into a smoothie or make a fruit salad with other hydrating fruits such as berries, cucumber, and melon.
