There is no magic potion when it comes to treating headaches and migraines. The way you approach treating headache pain depends on how often you have them. An occasional headache can be handled with one of the remedies described below, but frequent headaches indicate a deeper problem that needs to be investigated.

HEADACHE TRIGGERS

If you suffer from frequent headaches, keep a journal and look for triggers such as:

Dehydration—An easy way to tell if you’re getting enough water is to look at the color of your urine. It should be pale yellow to clear.

Foods—Processed foods with nitrites, nitrates, yellow food dyes, or monosodium glutamate can be especially problematic.

Alcohol—Any kind of alcohol can be a trigger. When it comes to wine, it’s not clear if the alcohol itself is to blame, or if another component in the drink causes the problem.

Environment— Environmental factors such as bright light, smoke, humidity, intense aromas, or cold weather are associated with migraine headaches.

Estrogen—Changes in estrogen levels. Menstrual cycles, perimenopause, and estrogen therapy can all trigger migraines.

Caffeine withdrawal—If you normally consume caffeine in coffee or tea, stopping intake abruptly may trigger a migraine. This may be because caffeine causes blood vessels to constrict; without caffeine, the blood vessels widen and bulge out with each heartbeat — a chief reason for the pounding pain of migraines.

Lack of sleep—7 to 9 hours of sleep are generally recommended for adults..

Stressful situations—Stress can cause muscle tension in the back of the neck and scalp as well as release chemicals that cause vascular changes that trigger migraines. After a stressful period there may be a letdown which can, in itself, trigger a migraine headache.

Chronic stress—Chronic headaches and chronic stress go hand in hand. You may have to dive deep to uncover the cause of the stress. Psychotherapy is the best way to explore these issues, but meditation is also helpful.

NATURAL REMEDIES

For occasional headaches, natural remedies can often do the trick, saving you money and keeping you from experiencing the side effects of medications. If you can't find relief with natural remedies, explore medical solutions with your physician.

Massage —Massage releases tension in the neck, shoulders, face, and scalp, a common cause of tension headaches. A gentle scalp massage can also be effective if your pain can tolerate it.

Stretching----Stretch the neck muscles to relieve tension. Stretch to the point of pain and hold that position for a count of 10. Return to a neutral position, then return to the point of pain. You should be able to increase your range of motion with each stretch.

Acupressure ---Pressure points are places where nerves, muscles, and connective tissue can be stimulated, increasing blood flow and triggering the activity of the body’s natural painkillers. At each point, apply firm pressure for 10 seconds, release and repeat. Acupressure points used to treat headaches include:

Union valley—on the web between your thumb and index finger

Drilling bamboo—at the indentations on either side of the spot where the bridge of your nose meets the ridge of your eyebrows

Gates of consciousness—at the base of the skull in the parallel hollow areas between the two vertical neck muscles

Third eye—between your two eyebrows where the bridge of your nose meets your forehead

Shoulder well—at the edge of your shoulder, halfway between your shoulder point and the base of your neck

Relaxation---Relaxation helps alleviate stress and relieve muscle tension in the neck. Use any relaxation technique of your choice—meditation, tai chi, yoga.

Cold or Heat---Cold packs reduce inflammation while heat relieves muscle tension. The method you choose depends on what kind of headache you have and how well you tolerate cold or heat. For heat applications, use a heating pad set on low, a hot shower or bath, or a warm towel.

Peppermint Essential Oil---Peppermint essential oil contains menthol, which can help relax muscles and ease pain. It can cause a burning sensation when applied directly to the skin, so dilute it with a carrier oil, like coconut oil or glycerin, and apply it to the area of pain.

Feverfew Tincture---Feverfew is an herb with pretty, daisy-like flowers that is dried and made into a tincture to treat migraines. Feverfew leaves contain the chemical parthenolide which decreases factors in the body that might cause migraine headaches. See an herbalist for proper dosing and always check with your doctor before taking an herbal supplement.

CBD?--There is no conclusive evidence that CBD is effective for headaches, but it may ease pain by affecting specific receptors in the brain that play a role in pain and inflammation throughout the body.

A good friend conducted a little experiment for me. She tried a CBD ointment that also contained menthol on her headache and compared it to an ointment that only contained menthol. Menthol has been shown to relax muscles and ease pain. She reported that she liked the CBD oil a little better for her headache, but the straight menthol ointment helped relax her muscles.

My suggestion is to try other remedies before trying CBD for your headache pain simply because it is so expensive.

Sources:

Health.harvard.edu, Harvard Health Blog, “Have a headache? The top 7 triggers”, March 30, 2020

Healthline.com, “The Best Pressure Points to Treat Headaches”, May 3, 2018

Martha Stewart Living, “Handle Any Headache”, Laura Biel, pp. 50-52, November 2020