7 ways to beat a headache naturally

Throbbing, stabbing, blinding, crushing, hellacious... these are a few of the words we commonly use to describe a headache – plus others we choose not to repeat! Headaches strike for all kinds of reasons, and usually when you can least afford the downtime. So, when the first telltale signs appear, go into immediate damage control with these non-drug fixes. They might do the trick while helping you identify underlying reasons.

What makes it ache?

That awful feeling comes on when the tissues and nerves surrounding the brain become irritated or inflamed by a ‘trigger’ and begin to spasm or contract over the skull. People have different triggers, but the most common are either physical or mental, sometimes self-induced. Check yourself for the following:

- Hunger, thirst, dehydration
- Eye strain – staring too long at screens, needing a new eyewear prescription
- Hangover – too much alcohol and not enough water can lead to dehydration and a killer headache
- Poor posture at work, at 
home or while driving.
- Jaw clenching, dental problems
- Stress, anxiety, depression
- Monosodium glutamate sensitivity (MSG) - MSG is a flavour enhancer used in cooking and many processed foods
- Sinus infection, allergies
- Insufficient sleep
- Hormonal fluctuations
- Medication overuse - continually relying on either prescription 
or OTC meds to control acute headaches can result in the drugs becoming less effective over time and lead to ‘rebound’ headaches creating a catch 22 situation.

Another way to help relieve your headache is by stretching - try this stretch sequence daily to reduce headache tension.

For more health tips from Better Homes and Gardens, visit bhg.com.au

What's your preferred natural treatment for getting rid of a headache? 

Main image credit: Getty