When you’ve got a full day ahead of you, the last thing you want to do is deal with the pain of a headache. Big or small, the pain of it can ruin your day and sometimes even be debilitating. About 1 in 6 Americans complain from headaches each year, and about 8 million seek medical care for their pain.
Though there are several kinds of headaches, tension headaches are the most prevalent among people. Over 80 percent of Americans have reported experiencing a tension headache at some point in their lives. Fortunately, there are some natural ways to help relieve that bothersome pain.
Exercise: When you start feeling a headache coming on, put on your running shoes. Exercise helps reduce stress, relieve tight muscles, and releases endorphins—all things which can help reduce the pain you’re in.
Essential oils: Apply eucalyptus or peppermint oil topically by combining a couple of drops with jojoba oil and carefully apply to your temples, forehead, and wrists. You can also add 5–10 drops of lavender oil to a warm bath to help you relax.
Massage: Tension headaches are caused by the tightening of the muscles in your shoulders and neck. Massaging and kneading those areas can go a long way to relieving your pain. Start at the back of your skull and work your way down to your neck, then your shoulders. Repeat this for as long as you can or until you start feeling relief.
Yoga poses: Sit on the floor with your shins parallel and hip width distance apart. Interlace your hands behind you in a double fist and lean forward. Lower your hands as much as you need to feel a stretch in your chest, shoulders, and the back of your neck. Stay for five or more breaths. Then stretch the front of your neck and chest by sitting on your heels. Place your hands behind your feet about 10 inches or so and arch your head back.
Try one of these suggestions to help ease your headache. And keep in mind that the best way to treat tension headaches is to prevent them altogether. All of these tactics are great to do throughout the week to release stress and prevent headache pain.