When headaches hit, it's hard to focus on anything else. That throbbing, sharp pain can really take its toll, especially if it's coupled with a seasonal bout of cold or flu. Popping pills can help alleviate the pain, but if you want to go a more natural route, try these remedies instead.
Do Yoga
These headache-relieving yoga poses [2] do double duty by helping you release tension while circulating blood to your brain. Try just a few poses, or do the whole sequence for a short, calming yoga session.
Do Acupressure
If you feel a headache coming on at your desk, this quick acupressure trick [3] may be your ticket to a pain free rest of your day: open your palm wide, stretching all five fingers, then take the index finder and thumb from your opposite hand, and give the fleshy spot between your thumb and forefinger a moderate squeeze. Hold for about 30 seconds wile breathing slowly and deeply. Repeat two to three more times, then switch hands.
Exercise
You may not think of pounding the pavement or straining to lift heavy weights as fun ways to relieve a throbbing headache, but studies have shown that the right kind of exercise can help relieve chronic tension headaches [5]. If you're feeling one coming on, schedule in some gym time to relieve stress and get your muscles moving.
Eat These Foods
You can find the right pain-relieving foods in your next meal; bananas, for example, contain potassium and magnesium, which help relieve pain and help calm you down. Get more foods that help with headaches here [6].
Have a Tea Break
Headaches often come when you're dehydrated or stressed — taking a tea break remedies both these issues. Opt for a decaffeinated herbal tea like camomile at night or cooling peppermint in the morning to hydrate and de-stress.