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Headache relief without taking painkillers?

Does anybody have anything that could help? I get tension headaches quite a lot, and I want to avoid always taking painkillers. I've tried chewing gum to no avail, massaging the head does help a little but the pain returns as soon as I stop. Any suggestions would be gratefully recieved :)

Public Comments

1. Water, massaging the neck, a cool cloth on the forehead.

2. what i do is take a nap and when i wake up the headache is gone and feel amazing. but not everyone can just stop what there doing and fall asleep when a headache occurs. So i also found out that if i get into a nice warm bubble bath put on music lightly and put a cold rag over my face it cures my headache. works for me

3. well my mom has that to well in the mall i saw this one guy trying to sell this thing but u put it im da microwave and u put it on ur head i forgot wats it called anywayz message me if u need more describing :)

4. I understand not wanting to use analgesics with headaches but I highly recommend you see a doctor to make sure nothing else is wrong and to get a medical diagnosis of tension headaches, if you have not.

There are a very wide range of medications and most are NOT opioid narcotics. In fact use of opioids is generally discouraged expect in people who have an occasional severe headache. So it is unlikely you would be prescribed an opioid or a barbiturate, a type of sedative, found in drugs like Fioricet because you have them too often.

But in some cases you might be surprised that very conservative use of specific medications, used in specific intervals can greatly reduce the number or severity of headaches. A drug like Verapamil, a drug that is NOT an analgesic at all may be used for 6 weeks and can greatly help. Or prednisone may be used for 1 week. Amitriptyline, also not an analgesic, can be very helpful. And the muscle relaxant tizanidine may also be useful. A medication like butorphanol (a nasal spray) may be used on occasion for "rescue therapy" if you have a severe headache. Butorphanol is a very weak opioid that is particularly effective in treating migraine or tension headache. It is much less powerful than opioids like morphine, which is a schedule II drug in The US, butorphanol is in the much lower schedule IV class.

Of the things I listed only butorphanol is an analgesic and the only one with any abuse potential. So there are a lot of options, even if they don't completely eliminate the headaches they should help.

Generally people who do not treat a chronic pain problem will only get worse, their quality of life will diminish, and without treatment there is a significant risk of developing comorbid anxiety, depression, and/or insomnia.

Chewing gum will also probably just make things worse. If it has not helped thus far then don't use it anymore.

Like I said I understand not wanting to use medication but sometimes you need to if you want to get better.

Good luck

5. It is good that you are sensible enough to realise that taking painkiller is not the solution to the
problem. Try this simple remedy with absolutely no side effects. Put your feet in a bowl of hot
water, and place an ice pack on your head.
How it works:- Pressure on sensitive nerves is relieved as the cold constricts blood vessels in
your head while the heat draws blood down to the dilated vessels in your feet.
Good luck and God bless. Cheers! :o)

6. there is a herb called feverfew a plant you grow pinch the leafsand smell it head ache gonein an instant look it up on computer