Ginger tea

If you don’t like coffee — or if coffee doesn’t like you — one clinical trial found that ginger can help treat migraines. Take two tablespoons of freshly grated ginger and steep it for five minutes in three cups of boiling water. You can also try ginger tea bags but they are often less potent than fresh ginger root.

Heat

Tension headaches and some kinds of migraines can be eased with heat. This kind of pain is caused by muscle contraction in the head and neck and can be triggered by stress and lack of sleep. Try applying a hot washcloth or compress to the back of your head or neck to relax tense muscles. A hot bath or shower might also do the trick.

Ice packs

Meanwhile, some people may find more relief with cold temperatures, particularly those with certain migraines and cluster headaches. Applying ice packs or cold towels to the forehead or neck can help constrict blood vessels and reduce blood flow, providing some relief.

Managing stress

If your pain is triggered by stress or similar stimuli, breathing exercises are one of the easiest remedies to try. First, sit or lie down in a quiet place. Then, inhale for five seconds and exhale for another five seconds, allowing your body to soften and relax with each breath. Continue for at least 10 minutes.

You can also practice breathing while doing yoga, an exercise shown to help with stress and migraines. Some people with migraines couldn’t imagine rolling out a yoga mat during a flare-up, but those who can manage some movement, slow and calm yoga poses may provide some relief.

Track your symptoms

As discussed, it often takes trial and error to find remedies that can help you. What works for some, won’t for others, so you need to figure out what helps and what hurts. For instance, notice if the pain is triggered by bright lights or too much screen time. It might also come from loud noises, certain smells, specific foods, or erratic sleep schedules.

Keep a consistent routine so you can better find your triggers. Once you find them, avoid them or create ways to counter them (like earplugs, sunglasses, blue-light-blocking glasses, or pleasant-smelling oils) and see if your symptoms improve. Whenever you experience a migraine, write a diary entry that includes the date, time of day, and all circumstances surrounding the experience. This information can also help your doctors potentially find a better solution for you.