Sniff Peppermint:As anyone who gets headaches knows, certain smells can trigger the pain. But peppermint in particular seems to have pain-reducing effects. It's very individual, some times and may not work for everyone. But it is definitely worth a try.
Ginger: This spice is well-known for being friendly to upset stomachs, and it can ease migraine-related nausea. It may also ease pain thanks to some anti-inflammatory properties.
Rubbing The Temples: There may not be a body of research to support a simple head rub, but there's no denying it feels good! People instinctively rub their temples in the throes of a headache, and if it works for them, why not?
Massage: In a similar vein, a whole-body massage can help, too. Part of that is likely due to the stress relief, as tension is a known headache trigger. A small study found that frequent migraine sufferers had fewer headaches following six weekly massage sessions. However, it's likely that you'd have to continue the relaxing practice -- indefinitely -- which could get pricey!
Drink More Water: Plenty of headaches are triggered by dehydration -- so much so that expert say they have patients who will quickly drink a few glasses of H2O when they feel a migraine coming on, and actually stop it in its tracks.
Caffeine: "Caffeine is a double-edged sword," said one expert. If you're too dependent on multiple cups of coffee a day (or even frequent doses of certain headache medications formulated with caffeine) you're likely to experience rebound headaches when the jolt starts to wane. However, in small doses, a little bit can help reduce pain.