How to Treat a Headache Without Drugs
If you find yourself taking headache medication more often than you’d like, try these drug-free approaches next time a headache looms.
Crista posted a question on the Nutrition Diva Facebook page, wondering whether there are any alternatives to Tylenol or ibuprofen for headaches. “I get terrible sinus and sometimes migraine headaches,” she writes, “and I take WAY too much Tylenol/ibuprofen.”
There are several heavy-duty drugs that have been approved for the treatment of migraines and chronic headaches, as well as over-the-counter pain relievers, such as the ones Crista mentioned. But many headache sufferers would prefer to use drug-free approaches—and I don’t blame them. Prescription medications can be expensive and many of them have serious safety risks. Even over-the-counter drugs can have unwelcome side effects.
Here are my best tips for relieving headache pain without drugs. Next week, I’ll have some diet and nutrition tips that can help you prevent those headaches from starting in the first place.
Five Drug-Free Ways to Beat Headache Pain
Caffeine
A moderate dose of caffeine can also help relieve a headache (especially the type that cause throbbing or pounding) by constricting the blood vessels that go to the head. You can drink a caffeinated beverage or take a caffeine pill such as No-Doz. If you do take your caffeine in pill form, be sure to drink plenty of fluids with it. Although caffeinated beverages aren’t dehydrating, caffeine pills can be.
See also: How Much Water Should I Drink?
As a bonus, caffeine also enhances the effectiveness of over-the-counter pain relievers like aspirin or Tylenol. In fact, one popular headache remedy (Excedrin) combines Tylenol, aspirin and caffeine—something to keep in mind if it’s close to bedtime. If it’s too late in the day for caffeine (or you don’t “do” caffeine), an icepack applied to the forehead or temples can also restrict blood vessels and relieve headache pain.
Exercise
Although working out may be the last thing you feel like doing with a headache coming on, aerobic exercise can actually abort an impending headache, perhaps by stimulating the production of pain-reducing neurotransmitters. A stationary bike may be better than jogging because it avoids impact that can aggravate a pounding head.
Gatorade or Diluted Fruit Juice
If you feel a headache coming on, drink Gatorade or diluted fruit juice. Dehydration can cause headaches—and doctors who specialize in headache disorders observe that chronic headache sufferers may be more susceptible or sensitive to dehydration. Low blood sugar or fasting can also bring on a headache, which is why migraine sufferers are advised not to skip meals.
A sports drink such as Gatorade or diluted fruit juice provides a quick dose of fluids, plus a small amount of carbohydrate that will quickly boost sagging blood sugar and can also help quell the nausea that frequently accompanies migraines.
Massage
Massaging the temples, neck, and scalp can bring relief from tension headaches, as can gentle stretching exercises that help relax the muscles in the neck and shoulders. Try turning your head from side to side as if you were looking over either shoulder, lifting your chin up and down as if you were looking at the ceiling and floor, and alternately tilting each ear toward the shoulder. Shrug your shoulders up and down, front and back, and gently shake out your arms.
Herbs and Nutrients
Most of the herbs and nutrients that have been shown to help with headaches are best used to prevent headaches, not to treat them. (I’ll have more to say about those next week.)
So, I was excited to come across a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial published in a peer-reviewed journal, which found an herbal product containing ginger and feverfew to be effective in heading off migraines when taken at the first sign of an impending headache. You can buy it over-the-counter as either Lipigesic or GelStat Migraine.
Unfortunately, the researchers who conducted the study were financially invested in the product. That doesn’t necessarily invalidate the findings, but it would be great to have those results confirmed by another independent study. In the meantime, you might want to give it a try, Crista. Although it’s not inexpensive, it appears to be quite safe. And if you do try it, I’d love to hear about your results.
A Word About Homeopathy
Both Lipigesic and GelStat Migraine are marketed as homeopathic medications, which may raise a few eyebrows. Classic homeopathy involves diluting a compound to the extent that it cannot reasonably be expected to have any biological effect. Homeopathic practitioners believe that diluting a substance in this way releases its “vital energy.” Scientists generally dismiss homeopathy as complete hooey (at worst) or perhaps a fancy placebo (at best).
However, many so-called homeopathic products (such as these migraine products) are not, in fact, diluted to homeopathic proportions but contain measurable amounts of their active ingredients. What’s going on? Pure marketing.
Although disdained by scientists, homeopathic remedies are widely perceived by consumers to be safe and effective natural alternatives to drug therapies. Homeopathic remedies are also granted a wide berth by the FDA in terms of the statements they can make about their products, so classifying (or even misclassifying) a nutritional or herbal product as homeopathic offers some advantages.
Next Week: Natural Headache Prevention
Today, I focused on steps you can take when you are already in the grips of a headache. Next week, I’ll continue with some diet and nutrition tips that can help you prevent them from starting in the first place! Visit Nutrition Diva’s Facebook page to weigh in if you try any of these natural headache remedies.
References
Ahn AH. Why does increased exercise decrease migraine? Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2013 Dec;17(12):379.
Cady RK, Goldstein J, et al. A double-blind placebo-controlled pilot study of sublingual feverfew and ginger (LipiGesic™ M) in the treatment of migraine. Headache. 2011 Jul-Aug;51(7):1078-86.
Gil-Martínez A, Kindelan-Calvo P, et al. [Therapeutic exercise as treatment for migraine and tension-type headaches: a systematic review of randomised clinical trials]. Rev Neurol. 2013 Nov 16;57(10):433-43.
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About the Author
Monica Reinagel is a board-certified licensed nutritionist, author, and the creator of one of iTunes’ most highly ranked health and fitness podcasts. Her advice is regularly featured on the TODAY show, Dr. Oz, NPR, and in the nation’s leading newspapers, magazines, and websites. Do you have a nutrition question? Call the Nutrition Diva listener line at 443-961-6206. Your question could be featured on the show.
