10 Natural Ways To Reduce Tension Headache Pain

Essential Oils

Certain essential oils, such as lavender and peppermint, have calming and numbing effects that are perfect for relieving headaches and restoring concentration. Lavender oil is commonly used to promote calmness and relaxation. One study even showed inhaling lavender oil every thirty minutes for two hours can help relieve tension headache pain. Peppermint oil has a cooling effect that has been demonstrated to stimulate blood flow to the forehead and relieve muscle contractions. Both oils are proven safe to use either topically on the forehead or when inhaled. Oil can be dabbed on the temples, for instance, or put into an essential oil diffuser to help with pain relief. Another added benefit of essential oils is their role in aromatherapy, which has been shown to reduce stress, a major cause of many headaches.

Magnesium

Individuals who experience chronic headaches may have a low level of magnesium in the body; therefore, supplementing with magnesium may help lessen the frequency of these headaches and make them easier to handle when they do occur. Magnesium works by preventing the brain signal that produces sensory and visual changes often associated with a tension headache. It also blocks chemicals that send pain messages to the brain. Magnesium is considered much safer than many pain relief medications. Take two hundred to six hundred milligrams a day to reduce the frequency of tension headaches.