Natural ways to CURE A HEADACHE

Fix pain fast with one of these pill-free solutions

When your head starts to pound, it’s tempting just to reach for the nearest packet of paracetamol or ibuprofen. But according to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), more than one million people in the UK are suffering constant, crippling headaches because they are taking too MANY painkillers. The good news? There’s plenty of drug-free options you can try (many of which are free!) that can help instead. Here’s how to cure your achy head…

Keep a regular sleeping pattern

Sleeping in for just half an hour can be enough to trigger a weekend headache, particularly in coffee addicts. ‘This is because caffeine affects the blood vessels in the brain. Reduction at the weekends, exacerbated by low blood sugar due to a later breakfast, can cause pain,’ explains headache specialist Professor Anne MacGregor (annemacgregor.com). Stick to a maximum of four cups of coffee a day and avoid caffeine as bedtime approaches. Aim for eight hours’ sleep a night and get up at the same time each day.

Exercise more

Working out might be the last thing you feel like doing when you have a headache, but regular exercise can cut the number of headaches you get – especially tension-style headaches which, according to the British Association for the Study of Headache, are more common among those with a sedentary lifestyle. Go for a walk outside in the fresh air to ease the pain.

Drink more regularly