The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Raw Potatoes
Posted by Katie (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio)
★★★★★
Cut a potato into 4 pieces, place 2 in the center of your forehead and two at your temple (Hold the ones at your temples in place). Lay down in a dark room and close your eyes. It takes a while to work but it takes away the throbbing. Something in the potato has a pain reducer. It sounds crazy (I thought my mom was a loony) but it works when you try it.
Raw Potatoes
Posted by Nare (Los Angeles, Ca) on 11/05/2012
★★★★★
This is SO funny because my mom told me this same remedy and I thought "momma you crazy! " but it works :D
Raw Potatoes
Posted by Yadi (Nj) on 06/22/2015
★★★★★
It actually works. My mom used to do it all the time for me when I suffered from severe migraines.
Borax
Posted by Rob (Kentucky) on 09/24/2024
★★★★★
I have never heard of doing this and I'm sure you have not either. Since I'm the headache champion 5 years running, I am trying this tonight before bed.
BORAX – Its Value in Catarrh, Throat Difficulties, Inflamed Eyes, Dandruff, etc.
V. – A solution of (1 ½ teaspoon) to soft water, 2 pt., In nervous headaches, wash the head with it, then wash out with cool, clear water, rubbing well with the towel, and take a nap, and generally all headache will subside, and the patient be much refreshed.
NOTE: I'm just leaving it in overnight.
From the Book – Dr. Chase's New Receipt Book and Medical Advisor or Information for Everybody by A.W. Chase MD, page 96-97. 1927.
Menthol
Posted by Mama to Many (TN) on 07/04/2019
★★★★★
Menthol for Occipital Headaches
I have had trouble with headaches for a long time. I realized a few months ago that they are likely occipital headaches. They begin at the base of my neck and radiate through my head to the back of my eyes. I even had an electric shock pain in my neck one day that helped me hone in on the connection to my occipital nerve. My chiropractor uses menthol on my neck and back when she works on me. I decided to try that at home.
Stopain, which I can get in the pain section at Stuffmart, has 8% menthol. I get it in a roll on bottle. I keep one in my purse and one at home. I apply it to the base of my skull and along my spine at the first inkling of pain and repeat every few hours. This has worked better than anything I have ever tried.
I am seeing an orthogonal chiropractor next week for the first time, hoping to get to the root of the issue. Meanwhile, this menthol roll on is awesome. It is also soothing for my foot/ankle when it flares up with pain from a break/sprain over the winter.
~Mama to Many~
Causes
Posted by Tina (Princeton, New Jersey) on 12/10/2015
Dear Mama to Many,
Over the years I have grown to recognize the first symptom of a sinus build up: a tooth on either side of my jaw, usually the molar, becomes achy. If I attend to it promptly by making up a pan of spicy tomato broth and sipping it at intervals, it helps the sinus drain within an hour. I am so glad you are feeling better.
Sungazing
Posted by Courtney (Texas) on 09/22/2015
★★★★★
I was having these dull headaches for months and pain relievers did not work well. Day after day I'd have a slight headache. I read about sungazing by accident and decided to try it. The first time I tried it I kept my eyes closed in the early morning. Almost immediately I felt this warmth enter my eyes and wash over my brain relieving the headache.
The ecstasy of having a slight headache disappear after months was wonderful. My mood improved and my energy increased as well as my physical strength. Thankfully I've never had glasses but both my parents did at my age and I have slightly better than 20/20 vision. I gaze for about 2 minutes with my eyes open now, but I do skip days if I'm busy. I think everyone should do research into this and consider trying it safely.
Ice Packs
Posted by Anonymous (Ohio) on 09/07/2015
★★★★★
For headaches:
Pure and simple use a ice pack or get a freezer bag and fill is with ice apply to temple or where the headache is head will feel like its freezing remove a few min. and the put back on for half to whole hour.
Drink a little warm green tea in conjunction with this. Hope it helps.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Jon (Australia) on 03/03/2015
★★★★★
Getting rid of Gluten from our diet stopped the recurring headaches. If some gluten is ingested the headache comes back. Try it for youself by going gluten-free for 2 weeks.
Lemons
Posted by Mindy (Temple, Pennsylvania, United States) on 02/07/2013
★★★★★
Often if I have a headache, I'll pour a generous amount of lemon juice on a paper towel and dab it or lay it on my forehead. I don't know why, but this usually helps lessen the headache or make it go away completely!
Dietary Changes
Posted by Mary (St. Petersburg, Florida, USA) on 02/23/2012
★★★★★
Hi Everyone, Last week I wrote in complaining of throbbing headaches and received very helpful responses. The first thing I did was remove MSG from my diet and the headaches ceased literally overnight. I am here to report that I am still HEADACHE FREE.
I went through my kitchen and cleaned out the canned/processed/added-chemical food items. I started shopping at stores where they maintain a meat department that offers fresh items, especially chicken. Frozen chicken has "broth" added. I found that there are very few canned items that are acceptable and without added chemical components. There is even added stuff in the simplest items like cream for the coffee. Why does simple cream need anything added? Did you know that it is illegal to sell "raw" milk or cream here in Florida? So unless you own a cow or goat you have to take what they sell in the stores.
One responder suggested considering an alkaline diet. I find that eliminating processed food items and switching to fresh makes great strides toward alkaline without really trying very hard. I still need to get some pH test strips and see how I am doing.
A big plus for alkalizing and eliminating MSG is that I eat less. I know the MSG makes you crave a particular food and we know MSG is in almost everything. That makes you crave almost everything. I have often wondered why, as a grown adult person, I could not control my food cravings. I thought something was wrong with me. I'm sure others have felt this way too. These last few days of being chemical free have been a real eye opener for me. Grown adult people are well able to control their food habits when they are not being influenced by brain-chemistry altering substances.
OK, and now the bonus points. I am sleeping better. I have been able to go to sleep at night and stay in the bed. That is not my usual. In the past I would always toss and turn, get up and down. Prowl around the house because I couldn't sleep, etc. Etc.. On and on. It is wonderful to be able to lay down and sleep peacefully.
Thanks again to all who responded to my questions.
Mary
Headache Triggers - Barometric Pressure
Posted by Louie (New Mexico) on 05/01/2016
★★★★★
Atmospheric pressure changes can have an enormous effect on your whole body. During a career of flying airliners, with pressure changes several times a day, it can be debilitating. The problem is that sinuses have very small drain holes that can be easily plugged with mucus. This traps a volume of air in your sinuses and when the atmospheric pressure rises or falls, creates pressure, negative or positive, in your sinuses that can cause a whole range of symptoms. Sometimes it just makes you feel tired and worn out; sometimes headaches; it may feel like your eyeballs or teeth are going to be pushed out of your head. Look at a picture of a skull to see how close your sinuses are to things you really don't want to be pushed on. Things it's like eyes, teeth, brain. The material between your sinuses and these other things is extremely thin. I have more than once had a dentist trying to inject Novocain in my gums, pop through into a sinus cavity and have the Novocain run out my nose. That's how thin it is and how easy it is for that pressure to push on surrounding things. The trick is keeping those little drain holes open.
Breathing Technique
Posted by Mark (Melbourne, Australia) on 10/21/2011
★★★★★
Sometimes solutions can be so simple. All you may need to do to relieve this may be to cup your hand gently over your nose and mouth and breathe gentle slow breaths for a few minutes... If this works you are habitually but mildly hyperventilating. Other times it could be a matter of drinking more water.
Magnesium
Posted by Tiff (Phila, Pa) on 11/27/2010
★★★★★
I suffered from headaches as a child and as an adult. Someone told me to cut out eggs from my diet and rub magnesium cream on my forehead everyday. Lo and behold, the headaches are gone completely. They come back if I eat eggs or soy (all chinese food). The magnesium cream is from Bioinnovations- Dr. Becker's products.
Cayenne Pepper
Posted by Monica (Twinlake, Mi) on 11/14/2011
I'm just reading along... Then bam... That post was hilarious!! ... I must say... But sorry that happened- lol.
Cayenne Pepper
Posted by James As Cmmonly Called ;-) (Rugby, Warks) on 11/18/2012
Honestly, Bonnie with the pepper up the nose and cupboard ACTUALLY had me crying with laughter :-D
Cayenne Pepper
Posted by Jolly (A2 Michigan) on 11/15/2015
Yes Thank you EC and Thank you Bonnie for the laugh - your humor echoing through the years - now 2015! I've been with this head ache for two days and looking for a remedy here on EC. Laughing with your post has helped relieve a big piece of the tension! As others have shared - yes, sorry for your experience, but thank you so much for sharing it in such a humorous and healing way!
Cayenne Pepper
Posted by Valerie (New York) on 07/18/2018 2 posts
I've never heard anyone suggest SNORTING cayenne pepper for a headache or to clear sinuses, but adding some to any kind of smoothie, juice or tea is a better way to take an ample amount without it burning or creating a queezy feeling in your tummy. Many people get results with cayenne hot sauce or powdered cayenne, but clear liquid cayenne tincture is nicer to add to something you're going to drink, then shake or stir well. Start with the smallest recommendation, diluted in order not to burn, then gradually increase if necessary, to test efficacy for headaches or sinus conditions.
Cayenne Pepper
Posted by Jenna (Austin, TX) on 01/19/2009
★★★★★
I tried cayenne pepper on the tip of my toungue and it worked immediately. I used just a pinch, let it stay there for about 30 seconds (yes, it burns a bit) and then swallowed it with a large glass of water. No more headache. Thank you Veronica!
5 HTP
Posted by Stefanie (Minden, Louisiana) on 07/17/2008
★★★★★
I found this remedy when I was looking for herbal remedies for my daily headaches. I found 5-HTP. According to the article,some of the things it helped with are insomnia, headaches, anxiety & depression. I thought could it be? I immediately went to my husband to show him what I had found because he had problems sleeping at night as well. We went a few days later to our local drug store and picked up a bottle of 50mg. 5-HTP. We had decided on the lowest dosage available in our area, upping the dosage as we went along if it was necessary. We have only been on it for a few days now but there is a very noticeable difference. We both have been sleeping through the night and feeling more refreshed when we wake. My anxiety attacks are gone as well as my headaches. We both are much less snappish than what we were before. We haven't noticed any side effects so far. We are taking them with a meal or a small snack and so far we have stayed at 50mg. Thanks for the very useful information that lead to this discovery!
Latex Pillow
Posted by Stella (USA) on 06/21/2008
★★★★★
re: Stiff Neck and Headaches. If you have a constant issue with bad pillows as I have had then a Latex Pillow may be the answer.I have invested so much money in bad pillows. I've tried all makes and models, then I finally bought 100% latex pillow. Wow! it's a dream come true, It's not too high, not too low, It's very cushy and doesn't bottom out, which means no more stiff necks and morning headaches. I never cared for memory foam, but I love latex.
Apples
Posted by Teresa (Fort Worth, TX) on 03/22/2008
★★★★★
Last week after using ALOT of an over-the-counter pain aid(this particular one never works for me but that's all we have at my job) I felt really drawn to eating a green granny smith apple I had brought with me. I ate it slowly over the course of 30-45 minutes and by the time I was through with it my headache was gone! The ONLY thing that had ever worked for me before was a different over-the-counter pain aid. I am extactic about my apple-cure discovery. Oh, let me add that the headache hasn't even tried to come back either. That headache had been coming and going for three days. Yeah!
Cayenne Pepper
Posted by Leslie (Dayton, OH) on 05/30/2007
★★★★★
I get frequent headaches all the time and I was complaining to a co-worker about having them. She suggested that I try cayenne pepper (crush up the capsules) and snort a little in each nostril.I was sk eptical and never tried it until a month later. I had another headache and the same co-worker asked me if I tried the cayenne pepper. I told her that I had not tried it yet. I pulled the capsules out of my purse and thought: "Why not try it." The next thing I knew I was snorting cayenne pepper at my desk and within minutes my headache disappeared. I did experience burning in my nostrils for at least 15 minutes (only use a small amount). Some of the pepper went down my throat which was okay with me because I have stomach trouble. The point is-is that the cayenne pepper worked. If I ever get another headache, I will definately use this remedy again!!!
Cayenne Pepper
Posted by Kj (Dc, Wash) on 06/17/2010
★★★★★BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS
I have to say that the cayenne pepper worked, but it burned like HELL!!!!!! I WON'T be doing this again! I spent the last 10 minutes running around the house screaming like a maniac for water. I think next time, I'll just use aspirin.
Gatorade
Posted by Jacob (Church Point)
★★★★★
Drink two glasses of gatorade whenever you have a headache. I'm not sure how that works but I have tested it out on myself and it's true, it does work. If anyone finds out how gatorade helps against headaches, please e-mail me, I've been longing to know
Gatorade
Posted by Fayefaye (Portland, Maine) on 12/08/2012
★★★★★
From what I understand it's dehydration. Gatorade helps me too with dehydration headaches. Gatorade is filled with electrolytes wich help the body rehydrate! Good one! I've had a headache now for three days and I know I've been dehydrated and forgot about the wonders of electrolytes! Coconut water is a great natural alternative.
