Does the current state of the world have you experiencing more headaches than normal? Tension, anxiety, stress… These can trigger headaches in anyone at any time. But there are natural ways to relieve headache pain and calm the tension causing it.

Hydrate – Dehydration is a common cause of headaches, but easily remedied. Fill up your largest water bottle and drink up. Add a slice of lemon or lime or even fresh mint to add a little pizazz. Herbal decaf teas are also a great option.

Relaxation techniques – Meditation, yoga, and deep breathing exercises have been shown to lower stress levels and reduce headache frequency. Fascia shoulder and neck stretches also work wonders in keeping your connective tissue in tip top shape.

Magnesium – If you’re physically active or training, a magnesium deficiency can trigger muscle cramps and headaches. The easiest way for your body to absorb what it needs is by soaking in a 2 cup sea salt bath for 20 minutes. Not only is this relaxing but it also clears your energetic field too.

Chiropractic – You may find relief from chiropractic adjustments. Vertabrae that are out of alignment can cause tension in the neck and back which can lead to headache pain.

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Acupuncture and Gua Sha massage – Many people find relief from acupuncture and massaging tense muscles. Acupuncture is based on ancient Chinese medicine that believes stimulating certain points on the body release energetic blockages which in turn supports the body in healing itself. A Gua Sha stone is a great tool to add to your pain-relief kit. Use your chilled gua sha to massage the tension areas of your face, such as your jaw, above, below and between your brows and back of your neck.

Avoid food triggers – Pay attention to what you’ve eaten or are eating on days you experience headache pain. Many headache sufferers know that certain foods can trigger their cluster headaches and by limiting their intake of those foods, they can keep headaches at bay. The most common food combinations were: grain with potato, grain with milk, grain with fruit, grain with sugar, and fruit with sugar. A person’s system can handle either food alone, but cannot digest them together.

If your headaches are becoming a regular part of your week, start keeping a food diary to pinpoint possible triggers. Or talk to your Naturopath about getting the Carroll Food Intolerance test. This test gets to the root of the problem by determining enzymatic compatibility with particular food groups or combinations of foods.

Essential oils – Certain essential oils are thought to help ease headache pain. Peppermint and rosemary, for instance, are commonly used to ease tension headache pain when used in a facial steam.

Sleep – Sleeping too much or too little can bring on migraines, so keeping to a regular sleep schedule can help prevent them.

You don’t have to live with frequent headaches. Pain is a signal that something is out of balance, so try to stay positive while pinpointing the cause. Once you dial in what’s negatively affecting your body you can make adjustments and wave goodbye to headaches.