Headache treatment (Light headache)

How to get rid of a headache? Aspirin can be helpful as it can give quick pain relief (just like Ibuprofen or other pain relievers).

The recommended adult dose of aspirin is 325 to 650 mg, every three to four hours as needed, up to six times per day. Be careful not to overdose, because it may cause nausea and vomiting, or in extreme cases hallucinations, seizure, coma, and even death due to cardiac arrest.

Basil, among its other properties, can work as a muscle relaxant, which is especially helpful for headaches caused by tension or tight muscles. All you need to do during a mild headache indicating migraine, chew some fresh basil leaves. You can alternatively massage your forehead and temples with 3-4 drops of basil oil.

 Additionally, drink some basil tea. Simply steep 5-8 basil leaves in hot water for 5-10 minutes and drink it.

Do you wonder how to get rid of a throbbing headache? Acetaminophen can be a good pain reliever for all types of headaches.

Dosage: Take 2 tablets every 4 to 6 hours while symptoms last, but do not take more than 12 tablets in 24 hours.

You can buy Acetaminophen on Amazon.

Can you get headaches from stress? Yes, you can, and stress is only one of the causers. How to alleviate headaches? If your headache is only light then getting some fresh air may help. Also getting fresh air helps to prevent headaches in the first place. 

Getting some fresh air is also effective when you have a tension headache that is dull, aching pain, or sensation of tightness or pressure across your forehead or on the sides and back of your head.

Go out for a walk, or, even better, do exercises outdoors (jogging, hiking etc.), because the more clean air is inhaled the more oxygen your brain gets. 

Another way to get fresh air is to leave your bedroom window open when you sleep. Also keep plants in your home & work environment as they produce oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide from the air.

What is best cure for headache? Relaxing and stretching the muscles. Whenever you become aware of a tension headache (or migraine, or light headache), gently stretch your neck muscles. You may do this several times a day. Drop your shoulders down, let your arms fall loose by your side, slowly rotate your head from side to side, and gently bend your neck so that your head falls forward. Repeat until some of the tension is released. 

Watch this video to see how to stretch your neck muscles:

This technique is also useful to prevent headaches to happen in the first place. 

With the index finger and thumb of one hand, gently massage the muscles along the occipital bone - from the outside to the inside. Then, drag your fingers along the spine. Repeat this four times.

You can watch this video which shows how to massage the muscles along the occipital bone:

Place the index finger and the middle finger within the temples and gently massage them with circular movements. After a few minutes, you will have a feeling that the skin of the head is slightly lifted and you will feel relaxed.

Bear in mind that this part of the face is very sensitive and it should not be too much pressure. Massage your temples should last about half a minute.

You can watch this video which shows how to massage your temples:

What causes headaches? Many factors. Ginger is one of the home remedies for headache, due to the fact that it's a natural analgesic (painkiller) and reduces the pain caused by headaches, muscle aches, and migraines. Rub two to three drops of the ginger oil to the forehead and leave it for 15-20 minutes. Or you can apply two to three drops in a diffuser, or place on a cotton ball or your handkerchief, and then inhale.

You can buy ginger essential oil here.

One of the natural remedies for headaches includes rosemary essential oil. Rosemary essential oil relieves the pain for many types of headaches, but the most common are migraine, cluster and headache, caused by stress.

Add a drop to your hands, and cup over your mouth and nose for up to a minute. You may also apply a drop topically to the aching parts of your head.

You can buy rosemary oil here.

Lavender essential oil is good for every type of headaches, but it is most effective for a gastric headache.

Just place a few drops of lavender oil into boiling water and inhale the vapors. Lavender oil can also be rubbed into the skin for pain relief. But, keep it away from your mouth and eyes — it’s toxic if ingested.

You can buy lavender oil here.

The heat may be of great help, especially when it comes to headaches caused by tense muscles. 

Put warm compresses to the neck and back of the head or try showering with hot water so that the jet will target the area of the neck. Make sure that the water is not too hot.

Cayenne pepper can help you get rid of headaches, and is a good cluster headache medication, possibly the best medicine for tension headache and helps with headaches caused by stress. You can try it (in theory, when it comes to pepper, your stomach begins to secrete endorphins), but some research shows that it can act only if applied externally.

Read this article with a detailed explanation of a cayenne pepper and headache.

You can buy cayenne pepper here.

The nutrients in lime aid are reducing inflammation and may give you an immediate relief. Take half a lime and rub it on your forehead.

Certain postures in yoga can alleviate physical discomfort. The benefits of yoga include improved circulation, relaxation, healthy blood pressure, and heightened neurotransmitter levels. You just need to do it properly and to be persistent.

Watch this video on how to alleviate headache pain with yoga:

Applying peppermint oil to the skin helps with relieving tension headaches. Also, it can be used for other types of headache.

What you need:

• 0.15ml of peppermint essential oil (3 drops);
• 1 tablespoon of water or coconut oil;
• Bowl or cup to mix them in;
• Cotton ball or cloth to apply it to your forehead.

Instructions:

1. Add the peppermint essential oil and water to a container or a glass cup and mix them.
2. Dip a cotton ball into the mixture and rub it across the top of your forehead.
3. Dip again the cotton ball back in the mixture and do it 2 or 3 times in the same way.

You should feel relief in about 30 minutes, but if your headache still persists, do the same process again.

If you have a more severe headache, use peppermint as described above, but follow with a damp cool compress using a clean hand towel. Place the compress to the forehead with your eyes closed and you laying down for a few minutes. Also apply on the back of neck for a few minutes. Be sure to keep the oils away from the eyes. Repeat this process as often as needed.

You can buy pure peppermint oil here.

Basil is known to work as a muscle relaxant, which is helpful for headaches caused by tension or tight muscles. Combining it with witch hazel can give an even better effect.

What to do:

1. Boil 2-3 cups of water and add 1-2 tea spoons of dried ground basil.
2. Let it steep until it's cool.
3. Add 2 tablespoons of witch hazel.
4. Take a cloth and soak it in this mixture.
5. Wring out all excessive water and place this cool compress on your forehead so that it covers your temples too.
6. Stay in this position for 15-20 minutes or until you feel better.

Mint tea prepared with can be an effective means of getting a relief from a headache. All of the mint's main components, menthol and menthone are able to alleviate pain from headaches. 

What to do:

1. Boil 1 cup of water and add the mint leaves (1 table spoon of fresh leaves or 1 teaspoon of dried leaves).
2. Let it steep it for about 5-10 minutes.
3. Strain it and drink.
4. You can add some honey if you feel like it.

Peppermint, eucalyptus, and lavender oils can be extremely helpful in alleviating headache. Lavender oil is known to reduce muscle spasms and nervousness while peppermint and eucalyptus oils can relax mind by having a calming effect.

What to do:

1. Add 2 drops of lavender, eucalyptus, and peppermint essential oils into a cup of water.
2. Soak a clean washcloth in this mixture and wring out excessive water.
3. Put this compress over your forehead. You may cover your eyes for soothing effect, too.

White willow's components, salicin and flavonoids make this herb a highly effective pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory drug. The only issue here is that it works slowly, but as soon as it kicks in, the effect will also last for long. 

What to do:

1. Add 1-2 teaspoons of dried white willow bark to 1-1,5 cups of water.
2. Boil it.
3. In a couple of minutes, reduce the flame and let the mixture simmer for about 10-15 minutes.
4. Let it cool down and steep for about 30 minutes more.
5. Drink 3-4 cups of the tea a day.

Butterbur contains such components as petasin and isopetasin which are able to reduce spasms and inflammation to provide you with a pain relief. All you need to do is take a butterbur supplement (about 50-75 mg twice a day). 

However, do not use butterbur if you are pregnant or nursing.

Honey is a simple and natural remedy for headaches and migraine. It can ease the tension on the nerves by supplying fructose. 

You can simply eat two tablespoons of honey before each meal. Additionally, make honey tea or mix it in a glass of warm water. Drink the water several times a day. 

A mixture of peanut butter with grated ginger is often recommended by holistic therapists. Your body will absorb Magnesium and Arginine and promote pressure release by blood vessels.

What you need to do is make a mixture of peanut butter and ginger and put it on your temples. Let it sit there for about three hours.  

Banana contains potassium and the ice will make a good cold compression. All you need to do is put the banana peeling on the forehead and then place ice over the peeling. Let it sit there for about 10-15 minutes or until you feel better.

Dandelion root tea contains vitamins A, B, C and D as well as iron and nutrients which can help you alleviate the pain. 

What to do:

1. Put 1/2 tablespoon of dandelion root powder or dried root, 1/4 piece of a cinnamon stick, 8 oz. of water into a saucepan over high heat.
2. Let it boil it for several minutes.
3. Strain the tea and add a bit of honey if you want to sweeten the taste.
4. Drink a cup daily.