5 Natural Headache Remedies (...That Actually Work)

Headaches. *woooomp woooommp*

Whether it’s from staring at screens all day, not drinking enough water, hormone fluctuations, having a liiiiiittle too much fun at happy hour last night, or just a plain ol’ “what-the-heck-is-causing-this-headache” kinda headache, having an achy, painful head is anything but fun.

Truthfully? I used to alllllways reach for over-the-counter pain relievers whenever I had a headache. Poppin’ a couple ibuprofen was my very first instinct if I felt a headache coming on. While this worked (sort of), I knew in my gut that I was just using these pills as a bandaid. With time, I have become increasingly interested in 1) getting to the root of what is causing my headache, and then, 2) treating it naturally whenever possible. Because even though I’m not anti-medication whatsoever…I do like to live as naturally as possible. Whether it’s a cold, a headache, or a stomach flu, my goal is always to start with the most natural remedy and only work towards medications if needed.

Fast forward—and I no longer have to reach for Tylenol or ibuprofen when I have a headache. Thanks to the 5 natural remedies I am going to share with you today, I can use these holistic methods to resolve my headache 99% of the time without needing any unnecessary medications. Sound good to you? 

Here are the 5 (natural!) remedies to help you reduce headaches and get you back to feeling your best! As always, check with your doctor for your specific needs, but these are the tricks that personally work great for me! They are designed to be simple, approachable, and easy modalities that you can use when a headache has got you down. Let’s do this! 

first and foremost…

Alright, alright. You had to see this coming. As with all things The Foundation Blog, we start with addressing the basics and acknowledging the importance of our health foundation before getting to the quick fixes. Because the absolute best way to to stop a headache is to prevent one from even occurring. How can we do this? By treating our bodies with respect and ensuring that we are well-rested, well-hydrated, and well-nourished. 

If you get constant headaches and do not address your lifestyle factors, the headaches will just keep coming back because you haven’t addressed the root. No matter what the ailment, I have always (and will always!) recommend starting here first: with the basics—focusing on your foundation and taking charge of the “big” things that are in your control (nutrition, hydration, rest, and stress management).

But even if we take great care of ourselves, it’s no secret that we all get the occasional headache and need a little quick-fix magic every so often.
Soooo, beyond the basics, here are 5 all-natural hacks to help you (naturally) manage your headaches with ease! Let’s jump in!

1. this acupressure point:

Mmmmmm, my fav: the LI4 pressure point. You may recognize this bad boy from my 4 favorite acupressure points for PMS blog post, but this point specifically is my absolute go-to whenever my head is hurting. And it’s not just me—studies have shown that this point is incredibly effective for pain management, especially headaches. The best part of this hack? It’s completely free and can be done anywhere! (Please note that this point is not recommended for pregnant women as it may be correlated with causing uterine contractions.)

How do you do it? First, locate the LI4 acupressure point (the fleshy area between your thumb and pointer finger, shown in picture below) and hold steady pressure and massage in small circles for 1-2 minutes. I recommend closing your eyes and breathing deeply during this (so relaxing!). Once you finish one side, complete on the other hand. While I always just use my own hands to do this acupressure point, you can also use these little acupressure clips that hold the pressure for you so that you can be hands-free and get headache relief on the go! 

pressure points for headaches

2. herbs to help with headaches

Okay, okay, I know I should save the best for last, but I can’t resist just telling you about it right at the beginning. If you are used to poppin’ a pill whenever you have a headache, what if I told you that there was an herbal, all-natural alternative to headache relief???? Meet Hilma. I am obsessed with this brand. Clinically proven (!!!!) herbs in a pill form that are designed by doctors and herbalists to add to your at-home pharmacy. FINALLY, an easy, natural way to help with headaches.

This lil capsule contains 5 beautiful + clinically-proven herbs to help with headaches: white willow bark, magnesium, boswellia, feverfew, and skullcap. Now you may be saying, “Well, it’s great that they’re all-natural, Kate…but do they actually work?” Welp—I’ll just leave the results of their latest study here: 79% of participants saw a decrease in tension headache symptoms within 30 minutes of taking Hilma. Boom, baby!

Personally, my main form of headaches are hormone-based as I typically get headaches 1-2 days before my period. When needed, I will take 2 of Hilma’s Tension Relief and I have been blown away by how well it works (ummmm….byeeee, ibuprofen).  In classic Kate form, I emailed them and badgered them for a coupon for you guys! You can use the code “THEFOUNDATION20” to save 20% on clinically-backed natural supplements. Enjoy!

3. these 2 essential oils:

Okay, okay, here’s another GREAT all-natural tip to help with headache pain. This is typically the very first thing I do whenever I have a headache…I’ll take a few drops of peppermint essential oil or “head ease” blend (in the photo below) and then rub the oil topically onto my temples, forehead, and neck (be careful to stay away from your precious eyes!). These oils have a cooling property and create a very soothing, chilly feel to help remedy the headache pain. One study even found that topical peppermint essential oil application was as effective as taking Tylenol for headaches.

SIDE NOTE: I get asked (all. the. time.) which essential oil brand I use and trust—and here it is! I hate to break it to ya, but many essential oil brands use synthetic fillers, chemicals, and fragrances in place of the natural, pure oil. To ensure you get the good stuff, ALLLLLWAYS look for a brand that does GC/MS batch testing which ensures quality, potency, and safety. I also prioritize companies that source with sustainability and the environment in mind.  Which is exactly why I get all my oils from here: high quality, low prices. No pyramid scheme stuff happening here—just high-quality, lovely oils to incorporate mini moments of joy into your day. Enjoy! 

4. gua sha

Mmmmmmm, gua sha. As if I wasn’t already obsessed for how this tool has changed my skin and completely upgraded my skincare routine (if you haven’t seen my gua sha before and after yet, click here and prepare yourself, ha!), I ALSO love my gua sha for relieving tension when I have a headache or neck pain. I will often use my gua sha tool to gently massage my temples, sinuses, or neck during a headache (gua sha has been shown to help relieve neck pain and headache pain). To use gua sha in this way: simply apply a serum to the area you intend to massage, and then use the gua sha tool to gently massage and “scrape” away any particular areas of tension. This is a great way to release muscle tightness and drain any excess fluid (for example, mucus accumulation in the sinuses) that may have pooled and contributed to the headache. 

5. hot + cold compression: 

An old classic…but for a reason. Hot and cold therapy can be amaaaaaazing for headaches. Applying a cold or hot compress to to your head, neck, temples, or over your eyes can be incredibly soothing and help decrease inflammation. In my experience, the preference of hot and cold therapy is completely individual and based on the specific headache. I personally use an organic pack that can be used for either hot/cold and I just use whatever my body is craving that day. Simply throw it in the freezer or warm it up (based on your preference), and then apply it to the back of your neck, head and temples for relief. *ahhhhhhh* 

in a nutshell: 

There ya have it—a few quick and all-natural methods to combat your next headaches. Again, I am by no means anti-medication. Trust me, I’m an RN over here— if you need medications that manage your headaches, that is a-okay! Buuuuut, personally, if I can relieve pain or solve a symptom with natural remedies, I am ALWAYS going to choose that first and then move to medications…if needed. I hope these hacks are going to help you get to the root and manage your next headache with ease! 

but wait… there’s more (*wink*)