How To Get Rid Of A Tension Headache At Home: 8 Working Ways

Published on February 3rd, 2023

Last updated on March 7th, 2023

Even the tiniest headache makes life difficult and prevents you from concentrating. It makes you take medications and even give up on your favorite activities. According to the World Health Organization, 50% of adults face this problem yearly and regularly search for natural tension headache relief. And 30% of them have a diagnosis of migraine. What to do if you have a severe headache and no pills at home? Try to use effective remedies.

Many people admit that headaches are the hardest to bear. Pain prevents you from concentrating on favorite activities. As a result, you cannot fall asleep.

Headaches can worsen due to the following:

  • strong wind;
  • a change in the weather;
  • working at night;
  • being in a stuffy room;
  • mental overexertion;
  • sedentary work.

You should not dull the discomfort with medications if you don’t know the cause. Especially if the pains recur or get worse. It is the body’s natural defense mechanism. Thanks to pain, we can understand that something is wrong and in time to take action. We’ll find out what causes headaches and how to rid of them quickly at home.

How To Get Rid Of A Tension Headache Naturally?

Make sure that health problems do not cause headaches. Do it before you read about how to cure your headache quickly.  Besides overwork, dehydration, and lack of sleep, it can occur because of:

  • poisoning;
  • cervical osteochondrosis;
  • viral diseases;
  • maxillary sinusitis, and other pathologies.

Do you have a terrible headache, and the pills don’t help? Sometimes the only thing you can do is learn to cope with tension headaches through natural treatment. The fact is that taking most painkillers develops abusive or narcotic pain. It happens if you take them for more than ten days for three months.

Pay special attention to your health and make an appointment with a specialist. You should know what to do if you have a terrible headache if:

  • the condition occurs several times a week;
  • you have to take medication or increase the dose;
  • fever, confusion, nausea, or vomiting accompanies it;
  • the pain has increased or has changed in location.

These could be symptoms of serious illness, so don’t ignore a complete diagnosis.

Below we will tell you how to naturally get rid of a tension headache. Use these home methods if there are no individual contraindications to their use.

1. Acupressure

This type of natural tension headache relief is also called acupuncture. It affects certain points on the body by pressing with your fingers. You can do it correctly after reading our instructions. It is advisable to consult a specialist beforehand. What to do for a pain in the head? First, relax, otherwise, you will not get the desired effect. Sit in a comfortable chair, breathe in slowly, and exhale. Imagine that you are in a calm place, breathing smoothly and deeply.

You can use the acupressure technique at home, outdoors, or in the office. You can relieve a headache in just ten minutes with your hands, working on each point. It is necessary to act on the points one by one. According to Chinese medicine, natural tension headache treatment can reduce or cut unpleasant feelings.

Name Method of exposure
Yin-tangThirty pushes are enough.
JuliaoMassage both points at the same time for two minutes.
Zan ZhuPerforms circular massage movements with palpable pressure for 60 seconds.
TianzhuMassage both ends for two minutes to relieve headaches.
Qiu binYou can see them on both sides. Massage them at the same time for a minute.
He guPress for 1-2 minutes to get the desired effect.

2. General Massage

Another way how to rid of headaches without medication is to give a light massage. You need this to relieve spasms and improve circulation. To do this, you will need:

  • Sit in an armchair and use the fingers of your hands to make light, spiral-like massage movements. Do it around your neck for two minutes;
  • After warming up your neck, move on;
  • Massage your head the same way as when washing your hair for 5-7 minutes. If you feel the warmth, you are doing it correctly. If your head hurts, don’t stop. Continue the self-massage. Gently move on to the temples;
  • Massage them for five minutes in a circular motion, gradually going to the back of the head;
  • Finally, gently massage the lobes for two minutes.

It is one of the best natural ways to relieve headaches. As with the classical massage, you should not get up sharply and do something after the session. Rest for fifteen minutes.

3. Aromatherapy

What should you do to make your head go away if you don’t want to perform a massage? This natural tension headache relief method was popular in the eighteenth century. Recall the benefits of some essential oils. For example, peppermint is good for eliminating a runny nose. And lavender and chamomile were relaxing and gave a long, restful sleep. What is a quick way to relieve a headache? Use the following aromatic oils:

  • lavender;
  • peppermint;
  • еucalyptus;
  • lime;
  • sandalwood;
  • nutmeg;
  • rosemary.

No matter how much you want to get rid of pain without pills, be aware of safety and side effects. The use of essential oils in concentrated form may cause skin irritation. Thus, mix them with neutral oils or cosmetic products before use.

You can choose any of the six basic natural ways to quickly to relieve headaches at home by using various pleasant aromas. What works best for you should test by experience:

  • Bath. While taking a bath, add eight drops of essential oil mixed with a tablespoon of neutral oil;
  • Aroma diffuser. It sprays aromatic steam due to the action of ultrasound. Add three drops of aromatic oil to the container. To fill a standard 15-meter room with a pleasant, relaxing aroma;
  • Aroma lamp. Light it 2-3 times a day;
  • Warm compress. Add a drop of aromatic oil to water, soak a towel, and put it on your forehead;
  • Massage. While massaging your face or body, add two drops of essential oil to ordinary massage oil;
  • Inhalation. It is one more natural tension headache relief. It is enough to inhale hot steam for five minutes with three drops of aromatic oil. And you will feel much better. Remember that this method of headache treatment at home is dangerous for:
    • asthmatics;
    • people with allergies;
    • рatients who have problems with the respiratory system.

4. Water Procedures

A hot shower or bath is another effective way for both men and women how to get rid of a tension headache naturally. The heat promotes the expansion of the blood vessels. Warm water relieves the body of cramps. Therefore, the supply of useful nutrients to the cells is faster and better.

5. Drink Plenty Of Liquids

Another reason your head hurts and the pills don’t help maybe dehydration. It can be due to the following:

  • heat;
  • excessive sweating from physical exertion;
  • high fever;
  • other factors.

Drink more clean water (not tea, sodas, or mineral) and use only filtered water to ensure quality.

6. Fresh Air

Even healthy people feel uncomfortable in rooms with high concentrations of carbon dioxide. What to do for a headache if it is caused by too much carbon dioxide? Ventilate the room regularly to get more oxygen into it. If you live near a highway or industrial plants. It is one of the easiest natural ways to relieve headaches. Unpleasant things will enter the room:

  • noise;
  • toxic gases;
  • unpleasant smells. 

It will make you look for extra natural tension headache relief. And what to do to relieve an unpleasant migraine attack? Install an air supply with air purification features, such as a breeze.

This equipment supplies fresh, purified air to the room when the windows are closed. And it eliminates the risk of drafts in winter due to the possibility of heating incoming air masses. Take frequent walks in parks and squares. So you can forget about looking for a tension headache natural treatment for a long time. Clean air and light exercise can reduce the risk of seizures without taking pills. Because they reduce stress levels, calm you down, and normalize blood flow.

7. Healthy Foods

If you have a headache, helpful foods can help in the form of infusions or teas and a new form. 

  • Lemon. The lemon aroma has a soothing effect. You can also drink a glass of clean water with a tablespoon of lemon juice. What else can you do if you have a headache but no pills? Peel the skin and apply it to the temples and forehead. It will help reduce the pain;
  • Peppermint. Mint is also a good natural tension headache relief. You can drink a decoction of a tablespoon of dried leaves and 200 ml of boiling water to cut headaches. You need to infuse it for fifteen minutes;
  • Ginger. Drink ginger tea (bring water to a boil, add a spoonful of dried ginger and cook over low heat) with tea brew and honey. It is a quick fix for headaches and a great home remedy for colds. It helps strengthen the immune system (if there are no medical contraindications);
  • Cinnamon. Drink a couple of sips of the concentrated, chilled solution every hour. Or make a cinnamon tea recipe with the addition of ginger, black pepper, and mint. It is worth adding honey to the drink. Because this tension headache natural treatment contains calcium and magnesium. These trace elements help improve blood flow and relieve headache attacks at home. Remember that you should not pour honey into boiling water. Instead of tea, you can;
  • Prepare a special mixture of three teaspoons of cinnamon and a few drops of water;
  • Then apply it to your temples and forehead.

Half an hour with such a warming compress is all you need to disappear the headache. If a change in the weather or pressure has caused it.

You should use the suggested natural ways to relieve headaches with caution. If you have allergies and stomach problems. Because they can aggravate chronic diseases. It is forbidden to use cinnamon during pregnancy and lactation.

What Is The Prevention Of Headaches?

To avoid the question: “How to rid of headaches?” think about prevention in advance. What should you do to avoid severe headaches if the cause is not associated with health problems? Use our below-suggested methods.

1. Normalize The Sleep And Wakefulness Routine

As a rule, the body needs eight hours to rest properly. This norm is individual. Four hours are enough for some people, and ten is not enough for others. If you don’t get enough sleep all the time, fatigue and stress will build up. The immune system also weakens and you need some natural tension headache relief. Follow our advice:

  • A regular regimen will help adjust your biological clock. It will positively affect the quality of your sleep and teach you how to do without headache pills;
  • Try not to use gadgets in the evening. Because their light interferes with the production of melatonin, the “sleep” hormone;
  • Choose and buy a comfortable pillow and mattress. Since an uncomfortable sleeping position can cause discomfort in the morning.

2. Start Exercising

It is one more good thing for prevention and tension headache natural treatment. If you have a doctor’s permission:

  • sign up for a fitness program;
  • start jogging in the morning;
  • workout at floor exercise sites.

 Exercise synthesizes endorphin – the hormone of happiness. It relieves stress, gives a good mood, and charges with vigor and energy. To avoid a headache, you must actively saturate the body with oxygen, which is exactly what moderate exercise provides.

3. Drink Less Coffee

Excess caffeine overloads the nervous system, so it has no time to recover during the night. As a result, there are:

  • Insomnia;
  • Irritability;
  • Throbbing in the temples. 

If you have a severe headache, a herbal infusion or pure water will help quench your thirst. It is better to drink healthy drinks immediately than take medicine later.

4. Try To Avoid Stress

A simple and effective natural tension headache relief is to be less nervous and worried. Then you won’t have to think about what to do if you have a slight headache. Positive effects have:

  • walks;
  • meetings with friends;
  • devoting time to yourself;
  • normal workloads. 

Take care of harmony and emotional balance.

5. Keep A Proper Diet

What can you do so to avoid the constant headaches? Eliminate your diet products with dangerous additives. It will help to avoid future intoxication of the body. Good nutrition is a natural way to relieve headaches. Eat more seasonal fruits and vegetables rich in vitamins and minerals, including apples, tomatoes, watermelons, and others. We also highly recommend adding vitamin supplements to your diet. It has long been proven that supplements in liquid form work best for the body.

6. Take Care Of Fresh Air At Home And Work

Fresh air helps both relieve and prevent headaches. If there is no excess carbon dioxide, oxygen binds better with hemoglobin in the blood, so nutrients get to all tissues.

7. Get Preventive Examinations

Since you can defeat headaches only if you know their real cause, do not miss the signs that indicate possible problems with other systems and organs. If you have a severe headache, possible causes may include:

  • improper posture;
  • muscle tightness;
  • osteochondrosis;
  • dental problems;
  • loss of vision;
  • ear disease;
  • impaired blood supply to the brain;
  • trauma, etc.

8. Create A Comfortable Workplace

Since one of the frequent causes of severe headaches is a problem with the musculoskeletal system, to alleviate the condition, you need to equip a personal workplace properly. You should try this method if you do not know how to rid of headaches. If you spend a lot of time at the computer, install an ergonomic chair and desk, take breaks, and do comprehensive exercises for the eyes (excessive strain on the eyes often causes pain).

Bottom Line

Try different methods to decide what to do if the headache pills do not help. The principle “As a friend cured, so should I do” does not work here. Each of us is an individual. What is helpful in one can lead to negative consequences for another. In this article, we have shared the main natural ways to relieve headaches. But they do not guarantee a 100% result. In addition, they may have individual contraindications. Before treating the pain in the temples or the back of the head on your own, you should seek advice from a therapist or neurologist. Stay healthy!

FAQ

Can I use a cold compress for a headache?

This method does work in many cases, but be extremely careful because the cold not only brings relief but also narrows the blood vessels. If an adult or child’s headache is related to spasms, you should avoid cold compresses and non-drugs that cause blood vessel constriction when treating it at home without pills.

How to get rid of headaches?

Place both hands on the sides of the scalp (temples, vertex). The fingers of your hands spread out like a rake. Rock your head back and forth gently. So your hands slide over your head and massage the scalp. The exercise relaxes the front-occipital aponeurosis.

How long can a tension headache last?

Headache attacks can last from 30 minutes to several days. Typically, they start a few hours after waking up and worsen during the day.

How does a tension headache feel?

Tension headaches feel like a squeezing headband. They start at the front of the head or in the area around the eyes and then spread to the whole head. These headaches can be episodic or chronic. Episodic headaches occur less frequently than 15 days a month.

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