Headache Help without the Drugstore

• Biofeedback: This earned technique, when performed correctly with mechanical sensors, helps control breathing, body temperature, heart rate, muscle tension and other physical responses.
• Relaxation therapy: This progressive muscle relaxation method reduces tension and muscle arousal and relieves pain. It is easily learned and practiced at home. Click here for a step-by-step guide.
• Cognitive behavioral therapy: Learn to replace negative self-talk with a script that produces healthier thoughts. It is usually practiced with a trained therapist. Frequent tension headaches might be due to unrecognized depression; read more here.
• Magnesium: Some migraine sufferers have low brain magnesium during attacks and may be deficient between episodes, says Christina Sun-Edelstein, MD, a headache specialist until recently at the New York Headache Center, now at St.  Vincent's Hospital in Melbourne, Australia. "Women who have menstrually related migraine may particularly benefit from magnesium treatment," she adds.
  • Cindy Rayfield of Denver was having frequent migraines when she started taking magnesium supplements. She says her headaches are "definitely fewer now. I've gone as long as a year without a migraine since taking them."
• Riboflavin: Also known as vitamin B2, this nutrient may help prevent headache by improving oxygen metabolism. It is taken in oral supplement form.
• Exercise: There's some evidence that aerobic exercise can help reduce migraine pain. Although there's no strong research linking exercise with helping end headaches, "it makes sense because exercise releases endorphins and that reduces stress levels," says Dr. Wahbeh. "Exercise is good for everything."
• Butterbur: Never heard of it? Petasites hybridus, or butterbur, is an herbal remedy that research has shown to prevent migraines, probably by reducing inflammation.
• CoQ10: Officially known as Coenzyme Q10, this antioxidant supplement lessens headache frequency.
• Feverfew: This herbal is shown to work in preventing migraines.
• Eliminate food and drink triggers: Caffeine (in coffee, tea, chocolate and some pain medications) can either worsen or help headache, depending upon how much you take and how often, Dr. Sun-Edelstein notes. Alcohol, especially red wine, is a common headache trigger. Other possible triggers include: foods with tyramine (aged cheese, cured meats, smoked fish); artificial sweeteners; monosodium glutamate (also known as hydrolyzed vegetable protein, yeast extract, and more); nitrites; and nitrates. Avoid high-carbohydrate meals or high-sugar treats, which cause blood sugar to soar, then drop, rapidly. 
• Eat regularly: Fasting or skipping meals triggers headaches. "The importance of eating breakfast, lunch and dinner cannot be overemphasized," says Dr. Sun-Edelstein. Have mid-morning and mid-afternoon snacks if your headaches begin when you're hungry.

Drink more water: Dehydration causes headaches.