Home Remedies for Tension Headaches That Actually Work

Before you spend money on the latest gadget or supplement, here's what our doctors actually recommend to patients with tension headaches — and what we tell them to skip.

Tension headaches usually start in the sub-occipital muscles at the base of the skull and refer pain forward across the forehead and temples.

What Actually Helps at Home

• Alternate ice and heat. Ice for sharp, recent pain. Heat for stiff, chronic patterns. Twenty minutes on, at least an hour off.
• Gentle, frequent movement. Ten-minute walks every couple of hours beat one long walk once a day.
• Sleep setup. Side or back sleeping with pillow support. Never stomach.
• Hydration. Discs and connective tissue are water-based. Chronically dehydrated tissue heals slower.
• Magnesium at night (talk to your primary care doctor first). Helps a subset of patients with muscle-driven pain.
• Cutting the aggravating activity temporarily. Even 48 hours

Book Your Visit

Call (818) 707-5724 or book online. Same-week appointments in La Cañada Flintridge — serving Pasadena, Glendale, La Crescenta, Montrose, Burbank, and Altadena.