Whether it’s the weather or a good old pile of stress on your plate, headaches seem to come at the most inopportune moment. At the first signs of a headache it’s always best to go for tried-and-true aspirin, but sometimes it never feels like enough, certainly, there has to be more we can do to combat the misery of these pains. Well, you won’t have to look too far to find some easy and affordable home solutions to tame your headache.
Think joint cream is simply for an achy wrist, think again because that cream in your medicine cabinet is a quick way to combat tension headaches. At the first sign of a headache, rub the cream at the base of your head and down the back of your neck, then firmly but gently massage the cream until absorbed, the pain relief will penetrate through the skin, and the massage will promote better circulation for a faster headache recovery.
As a headache starts to come back for a round two of pain, opt to chew on some ginger candy. Ginger chews or 500mg of a ginger supplement have anti-inflammatory compounds that reduce inflammation and tension, perfect for that persistent pressure in your temples. If you’re prone to migraines, ginger in all forms (tea, supplement, or chews) helps reduce the severity of post-migraine nausea or vomiting as well.
When the stress of life mounts up to a momentous headache, strike a pose and lean into it – and no you don’t have to be a yoga expert to do this either. Reach your hands to the sky and lean side to side, focusing on opening your chest or bend over to touch your toes, focusing on engaging your stomach muscles. These two simple stretches increase circulation and force you to concentrate on the now and not on the gigantic mound of stress that’s overwhelming you. Thinking about your body’s movement and the present moment reduces the intensity of stress-related headaches.
To combat a headache opt for a cup of tea! Though caffeine is used in migraine pills, many herbal teas also combat headaches. Lavender, chamomile, turmeric, and peppermint are all easy go-to teas in a pinch, but there are many other not so well known teas you might want to look up and try. Headache taming teas like clove, meadowsweet, feverfew, willow bark, lime tree, and Sichuan lovage are associated with reducing inflammation and promoting circulation to the head. These teas are effective, so check with your doctor (especially if you are taking medications) before trying a different tea into your routine.
Finally, if you feel a headache coming on, reach for some cashews. If you’re not a fan of cashews, then no worries because there are other delicious magnesium-rich foods that reduce the frequency of headaches. Almonds, figs, avocados, pumpkin seeds, potato skins, yogurt, tuna, or bananas have plenty of magnesium to help balance your deficiency.
These at-home tips are simple, easy, and accessible so you’ll always be able to keep that headache at bay!