- Running hot and cold
To help cure a tension headache (caused by contractions in the head and neck muscles and brought on by — among other things — stress, anxiety and lack of sleep) without using painkillers, dip a face washer in hot water, wring it out and fold it into a compress. Now place it on your forehead or the back of your neck to relax tight muscles. To ease a vascular headache (including migraine and cluster headaches, and stemming from the contraction and expansion of blood vessels in a particular area of the head), follow the same procedure, but use cold water, which constricts the blood vessels and reduces blood flow, taking the pressure off a painful head.
- A cup of coffee to cure headache
One clinical trial from the US found that caffeine, which reduces the swelling of blood vessels, was found to reduce both the intensity and frequency of headaches. Subjects in one group were given caffeine alone; 58 per cent reported complete relief. Subjects in the other group were given caffeine in combination with ibuprofen, an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory, and 71 per cent saw their symptoms disappear. The reason coffee works is it’s high in caffeine.
- Sinus headache self-massage
Use your middle fingers to massage points on your face just opposite your nostrils —that is, on your cheeks at the level of the tip of your nose. Massage in clockwise circles for 2-3 minutes.
- Head-to-toe headache remedy
Blood drawn to the lower body will reduce pressure in the blood vessels of the head. What could be lower than your feet? To help soothe a throbbing vascular headache, soak your feet in a small tub filled with hot water mixed with mustard powder. After half an hour or so, remove your feet from the water, dry them and you should feel better.
- Sip ginger tea
Ginger works especially well for treating migraines, and can help to alleviate the nausea as well as the pain. Make a tea by pouring 3 cups (750ml) boiling water over 2 table-spoons freshly grated ginger. Steep 4-5 minutes, then strain through a small sieve into a teacup. Ginger tea bags are also available, but they lack the punch of fresh ginger-root tea.