Headaches might seem like no big deal–but a bad headache can last for hours, and prevent you from enjoying your life. There are plenty of medications out there to help relieve the pain of a headache, but you may find yourself looking for a natural solution to help ease the pain. Here’s a list of our favorite natural headache remedies, along with some tips for preventing recurring headaches:

Essential oils for headaches

Essential oils are popularly used to benefit the body in many ways, from treating skin conditions to relieving stress. Research has suggested that rosemary oil has anti-inflammatory properties, and studies have also suggested that rosemary oil may be an effective treatment for headaches. There’s also some research to support the idea that peppermint oil and eucalyptus oil can help to treat headaches.

You can use essential oils by rubbing a couple of drops into your temples. For a more spa-like treatment, fill up a clean sink with hot water, add a few drops of essential oil, and submerge a washcloth in the oil-infused water. Wring out the washcloth and let it cool for a minute or two; then lie down in a comfortable position and apply the warm washcloth to your temples and forehead.

Vitamin-rich juice for headaches

Though it probably seems like an unnecessary annoyance, your headache may actually be a sign that your body is trying to tell you something–that it’s low on important vitamins and minerals. Try sipping on a vitamin-rich juice to replenish your body’s stock of essential nutrients. We love this recipe by Reeboot with Joe, which was created specifically for the purpose of treating headaches.

Caffeine for headaches

The idea that caffeine is a useful treatment for headaches can easily be misinterpreted. Caffeine can dehydrate your body if you don’t balance out your caffeine consumption with water; so if you drink caffeine regularly, but don’t rehydrate, that regular caffeine consumption could actually cause headaches.

But if you’re well-hydrated and experiencing a headache, a dose of caffeine might help to ease the pain. When you experience a headache, your blood vessels enlarge; when you consume caffeine, they dilate, potentially providing some pain relief.

Herbal teas for headaches

You could also try to treat your headache with a soothing, herbal tea. Some of our favorite herbal teas for headaches are chamomile, peppermint, ginger, and tulsi.

Yoga poses for headaches

Yoga can help to increase circulation, including blood flow to your head; yoga also often involves breathing practices, which might help to relieve the pain of a headache. Just moving into Child’s Pose or a forward bend could help to stimulate your circulation, especially if you lead a sedentary lifestyle. To discover some of the best yoga poses for headaches, we recommend checking out this post from Yoga International.

In order to prevent recurring headaches, it’s important that you eat a healthy diet that includes plenty of vitamins and minerals, and stay hydrated. A sedentary lifestyle and too much time looking at backlit screens can also cause recurring headaches.

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