15 Most Effective Home Remedies For Headache
Shalu Bhati
Updated At 04 Feb 24
Has your aching head become the bane of your existence (but of course not in the Anthony Bridgerton kind of way)? We have got your backs, dear readers. Well, heads, in this case. We have here some of the most effective home remedies for headache that will bring you relief in no time.
Keep reading to know more!
Headaches are quite widespread. Almost everyone suffers from them. They are of different types, for instance, tension headaches, migraines, cluster headaches, and ice pick headaches among others. Some have a cause like stress, lack of sleep, or dehydration but the exact cause of some types of headaches remains a mystery. Such headaches, however, have identifiable triggers.
Headaches can either occur as the primary issue or as a symptom of some other health issue. They are mostly treatable using over-the-counter medication, changing lifestyle, or following some headache natural remedies. You must pay attention to the frequency, intensity, and duration of your headaches. If there are any changes, consult a doctor immediately for diagnosis of any potential underlying health condition.
However, if a headache persists for more than 48 hours, or doesn’t go away even after you have taken medication or tried the home remedies for headache, or has been growing more intense, it’s time for you to consult a doctor. This article is in no way a replacement for medical advice.
Note: If you are taking any other medication or if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, consult your doctor before trying any of the home remedies for headache.
15 Best Home Remedies For Headache
1. Carom Seeds, Turmeric, Milk And Honey Based Home Remedy
Ingredients: ½ teaspoon carom seeds, ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder, 1 teaspoon honey, 1 cup milk
How to: Take a pan and dry roast the carom seeds for about a minute on a medium flame. Keep it aside. Now, boil the milk in a saucepan. Add the turmeric to it, mix well, and let it cook for 2 minutes. Once that is done, turn off the flame and add the roasted carom seeds. Pour into a cup and add honey.
Frequency: Once a day
Why it works: This is one of the most popular ayurvedic home remedies for headache. Carom seeds have a high content of a compound called thymol which is known to alleviate pain. Similarly, some studies show curcumin, a compound present in turmeric can reduce the intensity and frequency of migraines.
2. Chamomile And Lavender Tea
Ingredients: 1 teaspoon dried chamomile flowers, ½ teaspoon dried lavender flowers, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, ½ teaspoon honey, 1½ cups water
How to: Bring water to a boil in a saucepan. Add the chamomile and lavender flowers. You can also add fresh flowers if you don’t have the dried ones and vice versa. Let them steep in the water for about 3 minutes on a low flame. Strain into a cup. Add the lemon juice and honey.
Frequency: Two to three times a day
Why it works: Chamomile and lavender tea is one of the most soothing home remedies for headache in pregnancy. Chamomile is a rich source of apigenin and has some amounts of chamazulene. These compounds have a soothing and anxiety-reducing effect which has been found to relieve headaches. Lavender, on the other hand, has been found to alleviate nervousness, lower stress, and reduce headaches.
3. Ginger Lemon Honey Tea
Ingredients: 1-inch piece of ginger, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, 1 teaspoon honey, 1 teaspoon tea leaves, 3 cups water
How to: Add water to a saucepan and bring it to a boil. Add the crushed ginger. Let it cook for a minute. Add tea leaves. Let them steep for another two minutes. Strain into a cup. Add lemon juice and honey.
Frequency: Two to three times a day
Why it works: If you need a tasty way to get rid of your headache, look no further. Ginger lemon honey tea is just the thing you need. Ginger contains compounds called gingerols and shogaols which have anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects. Lemon juice is also known to reduce anxiety, tension, and fatigue which can then help bring relief to a migraine. Apart from migraines, this is also a good remedy for headaches caused in pregnancy or during periods.
4. Fennel And Ginger Tea
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon fennel seeds, 1/ inch piece of ginger, 5 mint leaves, ½ teaspoon honey, 2 cups water
How to: Add water to a saucepan and boil it. Add fennel seeds and let them cook for a minute before adding crushed ginger. If you don’t have crushed ginger, you can also use dried ginger powder. After two minutes, add the mint leaves. Let it all steep together for another minute before straining it into a cup. Add honey.
Frequency: Twice a day
Why it works: This is not only one of the ayurvedic home remedies for headache. Fennel was a remedy that was also used by Aztecs when it came to treating headaches. It has a relaxing effect on the body, aids digestion, improves sleep, and calms you down. Fennel makes this one of the most effective home remedies for headache due to acidity. Ginger, on the other hand, has compounds called gingerols and shogaols which have anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects.
5. Coriander, Fennel, And Cumin Seeds
Ingredients: 1 teaspoon coriander seeds, 1 teaspoon fennel seeds, 1 teaspoon cumin seeds, 5 mint leaves, 3 cups water
How to: Add water to a saucepan and heat it. Add coriander seeds, fennel seeds, and cumin seeds. Let it all boil for 10 minutes. Add the mint leaves and let them steep for a minute. Strain into a cup.
Frequency: Drink twice a day
Why it works: Here is another one of the most effective ayurvedic home remedies for headache. Studies show that linalool which is a compound found in coriander seeds considerably reduces headaches. Fennel seeds contain compounds called estragole, fenchone, and anethole which have anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects. Researchers have also found that cumin, a popular spice in India, China, and the Mediterranean, is effective in treating headaches. These ingredients are also beneficial in treating acidity making this remedy one of the best home remedies for headache due to acidity.
6. Seed Mix
Ingredients: 1 teaspoon sesame seeds, 1 teaspoon flaxseeds, 1 teaspoon sunflower seeds, 6 to 8 almonds
How to: Take sesame seeds, flaxseeds, and sunflower seeds. Add them to a saucepan and dry roast them. Put them aside and add chopped almonds. Eat them as a trail mix or as toppings to your smoothies, salads, and oatmeal. You can also add them to a bowl of Greek yogurt.
Frequency: Twice a day
Why it works: Sesame seeds, flaxseeds, sunflower seeds, and almonds are a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin E, and magnesium among other nutrients. But, it is the presence of vitamin E and magnesium that makes this seed mix one of the best home remedies for headache during periods. Research has shown that both vitamin E and magnesium have a relieving impact on migraines induced by menstruation.
7. Ginger, Cinnamon, Clove, And Cardamom
Ingredients: 1 teaspoon ginger powder, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1 teaspoon clove powder, 1 teaspoon cardamom powder, 2 cups water
How to: Mix all the ingredients. Add a teaspoon of it to a cup of boiling water. Strain and drink.
Frequency: Twice a day
Why it works: Let us give you yet another one of the ayurvedic home remedies for headache. This one with ginger, clove, and cardamom is quite effective. Ginger comes packed with gingerol and shogaol which are compounds that have anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects. Clove has antioxidants and flavonoids which reduce inflammation and pain. Cardamom contains antioxidants such as α-terpinyl acetates which are anti-inflammatory. It also has an antispasmodic effect. It means that cardamom can aid in relaxing your muscles and tissues which in turn relieves headaches including migraines.
8. Peppermint And Eucalyptus Essential Oils
Ingredients: 2 teaspoons coconut oil, 3 drops peppermint essential oil, 3 drops eucalyptus essential oil
How to: Take the coconut oil. You can also use almond, sesame, or olive oil as carrier oil instead of coconut oil. Add the peppermint and eucalyptus essential oils. Massage your head, temples, and neck area with this oil mix.
Frequency: Two to three times a day
Why it works: Since some ingredients can have an ill effect on fetal health, here is one of the most trusted home remedies for headache in pregnancy. Peppermint oil contains menthol which gives a cooling and relaxing effect. It also relaxes muscles that can bring relief to a headache. Eucalyptus essential oil, on the other hand, has similar effects. But, on top of that, it can also bring relief to sinus headaches by clearing the sinuses.
9. Ginger And Mint Tea
Ingredients: 1-inch long ginger, 5 to 8 peppermint leaves, ½ teaspoon honey, 2 cups water
How to: Add crushed ginger to boiling water. Let it cook for 2 minutes. Add the crushed peppermint leaves. Let it all steep together for another minute. Strain into a cup. add honey.
Frequency: Two to three times a day
Why it works: Ginger has antioxidants and flavonoids. It is also a rich source of anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving compounds like gingerol and shogaols. Mint is a popular source of menthol which has a cooling and relaxing effect on the muscles and tissues. This is a powerful mix that will bring relief to your headache. There is a reason this is one of the most popular headache natural remedies.
10. Buttermilk And Cumin
Ingredients: 1 glass of buttermilk, 1 tablespoon of coriander juice, 1 teaspoon of cumin powder
How to: Take a glass of buttermilk. Add the coriander juice and cumin powder to it. Mix it well. You can also add a bit of salt and pepper for taste.
Frequency: Twice a day
Why it works: So, here we have another one of the home remedies for headache due to acidity. Though buttermilk can trigger migraines in some people, it can still be beneficial for others. It helps with acidity which in turn helps relieve the headache caused due to acidity. Coriander contains linalool which is known for alleviating pain and inducing calmness. Cumin, on the other hand, contains flavonoids such as apigenin and luteolin which contribute to alleviating headaches including migraines.
11. Lavender Essential Oil
Ingredients: 1 teaspoon sesame oil, 3 drops lavender essential oil
How to: Mix the oils and massage your head using the mix. You can also add 5 drops of lavender essential oil to 3 cups of boiling water and inhale the vapors.
Frequency: Two to three times a day
Why it works: Headache natural remedies will be incomplete without the good ol’ lavender essential oil. Lavender essential oil is considered one of the safest and most effective treatments for headaches. It has soothing properties. It also helps improve mood and sleep. So, say goodbye to headaches with lavender essential oil.
12. Cinnamon And Honey
Ingredients: 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ½ teaspoon honey
How to: Mix cinnamon and honey. If you don’t want to eat this cinnamon and honey mix, then you can make a paste of cinnamon with water and apply it on your forehead. Leave it on for 30 minutes before washing it off with lukewarm water.
Frequency: Once a day
Why it works: Here is another one of the most effective home remedies for headache during periods. Studies show that cinnamon has neuroprotective properties on top of being anti-inflammatory. It can not only reduce the frequency of headaches but also their intensity, and duration.
13. Shankhapushpi And Brahmi
Ingredients: 1 teaspoon shankhapushpi powder, 1 teaspoon brahmi powder
How to: Mix the shankhapushpi and brahmi powder. Add a little water to make a paste. Apply this paste to your head. Leave it on for 30 minutes. Wash it off with lukewarm water
Frequency: Two to three times a day
Why it works: This is one of the most popular ayurvedic home remedies for headache and has been used for treating headaches for centuries. Shankhapushpi, also known as morning glory or aloe weed, reduces stress and mental fatigue, thus alleviating headache. It works by relaxing the nerves. Brahmi, also called water hyssop, shares similar nerve-relaxing and stress-reducing properties.
14. Feverfew Tea
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons dried feverfew leaves, ½ teaspoon honey, 1 ½ cups water
How to: Boil water in a saucepan. Add the dried feverfew leaves. Let them steep for about 3 to 4 minutes. Strain into a cup. Add honey to taste.
Frequency: Twice a day
Why it works: Many studies have linked feverfew with migraines. It’s nothing new. Feverfew has been known to be used as a home remedy for headaches for centuries. It contains compounds such as parthenolide and tanetin which stop the inflammation-promoting molecules. They also stop spasms and vasodilation which is the widening of blood vessels in the brain.
15. Apple Cider Vinegar
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar, 1 glass of water
How to: Add apple cider vinegar to a glass of lukewarm water
Frequency: Once a day
Why it works: While there is no scientific evidence that apple cider vinegar can reduce headaches or migraines, it can help with digestion and regulate blood sugar. So, if your headache is induced by digestive issues or a spike in blood sugar, then perhaps apple cider vinegar would be beneficial for you.
Frequently Asked Questions On Headache
Q. What gets rid of a headache fast?
Aromatherapy or massaging with essential oils such as lavender, eucalyptus, and peppermint can get rid of a headache fast.
Q. What is the best cure for a headache?
Chamomile and lavender tea are one of the most effective cures for a headache.
Q. What can stop a headache?
Generally, over-the-counter medication is used to stop a headache. There are also several home remedies for headache such as ginger lemon tea, chamomile tea, feverfew tea, cinnamon paste, and aromatherapy with essential oils that can stop a headache.
Q. How do you get rid of a headache in 10 seconds?
You cannot get rid of a headache in 10 seconds but you can try lightly pinching the area between your thumb and index finger, or try aromatherapy, or some soothing tea such as chamomile and feverfew for faster relief.
