A headache is a common pain in the head or face, which can vary in intensity, location, and frequency, often described as a throbbing, constant, or sharp sensation.
Ranked by community outcomes, then evidence grade, Health Voice mentions, and recency.
Why it may help Headache: Magnesium citrate may help headaches by modulating neurotransmitter release, reducing neuronal excitability, and improving cerebral blood flow, which can alleviate headache pain and frequency.
Riboflavin (vitamin B2) is an essential vitamin involved in energy metabolism, with limited evidence suggesting its potential for headache management.
Why it may help Headache: Ginger contains bioactive compounds such as gingerols and shogaols, which have been studied for their anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties. These compounds may help to inhibit prostaglandin synthesis and reduce inflammation, which could contribute to headache relief. Additionally, ginger's action on serotonin (5-HT3) receptors, studied for nausea reduction, might also play a role in certain types of headaches.
While generally considered safe, high doses of ginger may cause mild gastrointestinal upset, such as heartburn, which could be a concern for individuals already experiencing headache-related nausea. Caution is advised for individuals with bleeding disorders, as ginger may have anti-platelet effects. Consult with a healthcare provider, especially if you are taking blood-thinning medications.
Why it may help Headache: Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) contains parthenolide, a sesquiterpene lactone. Parthenolide has been studied for its potential to inhibit the release of serotonin from platelets, a mechanism that may be relevant in the context of migraine prophylaxis. This action might contribute to its observed effects in reducing the frequency and severity of headaches.
Individuals who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant should avoid feverfew. Chewing fresh feverfew leaves may lead to mouth ulcers. Those taking anticoagulant medications should use caution due to potential interactions.
Why it may help Headache: Peppermint contains menthol, which has been studied for its potential effects on smooth muscle. Applied topically, peppermint oil may provide a cooling sensation and could help to relax head and neck muscles, which are sometimes associated with tension headaches. Its proposed physiological effects are thought to contribute to its observed use for comfort.
Topical application of peppermint oil to the skin should be diluted, as undiluted oil can cause irritation. Avoid direct contact with eyes or mucous membranes. Due to menthol content, avoid use on infants.
Why it may help Headache: Lavender contains compounds like linalool and linalyl acetate which have been studied for their potential anxiolytic properties. These compounds may modulate voltage-gated calcium channels, which could influence pathways relevant to pain perception. The calming effects of lavender may also help address tension or stress components often associated with headaches.
When applied topically for headache relief, lavender essential oil should be diluted to minimize the risk of skin irritation, especially in sensitive individuals. Oral ingestion of lavender essential oil is generally not recommended due to potential toxicity. As with many remedies, individuals should consult a healthcare provider, particularly if pregnant, breastfeeding, or taking other medications.
Why it may help Headache: Magnesium is a vital mineral involved in numerous enzymatic reactions and neuronal functions. It appears to play a role in modulating NMDA receptors and enhancing GABAergic activity, which may contribute to a calming effect on the nervous system. These actions could potentially influence pathways involved in headache pathogenesis.
While magnesium is generally considered safe, high doses may lead to gastrointestinal upset, including loose stools. Individuals with kidney impairment should exercise caution and consult a healthcare professional before considering magnesium supplementation for headaches.
Why it may help Headache: Omega-3 fish oil may help headaches by reducing systemic inflammation through the production of anti-inflammatory mediators, which can alleviate the inflammatory processes implicated in certain headache types.
Why it may help Headache: Magnesium may help headaches by regulating neurotransmitter function, reducing cortical spreading depression, and improving mitochondrial energy metabolism, thereby decreasing headache frequency and severity.
Why it may help Headache: Algal oil may help headaches by providing anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA), which can modulate inflammatory pathways and reduce the frequency and intensity of headache episodes.
Why it may help Headache: Coenzyme Q10 may help headaches by improving mitochondrial energy production in brain cells and acting as an antioxidant, which can reduce cellular stress and the frequency of migraine attacks.
Why it may help Headache: Chamomile may help headaches by exerting mild sedative effects through compounds like apigenin, which can promote relaxation and reduce tension that often contributes to headache pain.
Why it may help Headache: Omega-3 fatty acids may help headaches by reducing neuroinflammation and modulating pain pathways, potentially decreasing the frequency and severity of headache attacks.
Community outcomes
Self-reported by community members · not medical advice.
Self-reported community outcomes. Not medical advice. Requires at least three reports per remedy to surface.
Total reports
25
Reported worked
64%
Mixed results
12%
Did not work
20%
Top reported helpful approaches
100% worked · 5 reports
60% worked · 5 reports
60% worked · 5 reports
60% worked · 5 reports
40% worked · 5 reports
Most reported did not help
60% did not work · 5 reports
40% did not work · 5 reports
20% did not work · 5 reports
Most reported side effects
20% reported side effects · 5 reports
20% reported side effects · 5 reports
20% reported side effects · 5 reports
20% reported side effects · 5 reports
As more members share outcomes, RemedyAtlas will show which remedies helped people with similar conditions, symptoms, goals, and lab patterns.
Structured experience reports from people managing this condition. Not medical advice.
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Community Discussions
How global health authorities view Headache.
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) notes that some dietary supplements, such as magnesium, riboflavin, and coenzyme Q10, have shown promise for migraine prevention, though more research is needed. They also mention feverfew as a traditional remedy for headaches. The Mayo Clinic acknowledges that certain vitamins and herbs may help prevent migraines for some individuals, but advises caution and consultation with a healthcare provider due to potential side effects and interactions. The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes the significant global burden of headache disorders and emphasizes the importance of accurate diagnosis and appropriate management, including non-pharmacological approaches.
Indexed studies for Headache, grouped by source type and quality.
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Pooled analyses across multiple human trials.
Meta-Analysis of Acupuncture Treatment for Cervicogenic Headache.
Liu Z, Gao X, Zhang X, Qu Y · World neurosurgery · 2024
To analyze and evaluate the clinical effect of acupuncture on cervicogenic headache (CEH), and provide evidence-based basis for clinical selection of acupuncture for CEH. Databases including China Knowledge Network, Wanfang, VIP Chinese sci-tech journals, Chinese Biomedical, and PubMed were searched to collect clinical randomized controlled trials on the effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of CEH until November 2023. Statistical analysis was performed using the RevMan 5.4.1 software, and heterogeneity was assessed using the Q test (P value), allowing for the calculation of the combined effect odds ratio through either the fixed or random-effect model. Sensitivity analysis will be conducted by excluding articles with the highest weight, while the validity of the literature will be evaluated through the creation of a funnel plot to identify any potential biases. A total of 400 articles were retrieved, and eventually, 20 clinical randomized controlled trials were included in t
Tao QF, Huang YB, Yuan L, Shi YZ, Qin D, Ye K · The journal of headache and pain · 2024 · n=4426
Acupuncture showed better improvement than sham acupuncture in reducing attack frequency of tension-type headache (TTH), but its effectiveness relative to first-line drugs for TTH is unknown, which impedes the recommendation of acupuncture for patients who are intolerant to drugs for TTH. We aimed to estimate the relative effectiveness between acupuncture and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) through indirect treatment comparison (ITC) meta-analysis. We searched Ovid Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Library from database inception until April 13, 2023. Randomized controlled trials of TCAs or acupuncture in the prevention of TTH in adults were included. The primary outcome was headache frequency. The secondary outcomes were headache intensity, responder rate, and adverse event rate. Bayesian random-effect models were used to perform ITC meta-analysis, and confidence of evidence was evaluated by using the GRADE approach. A total of 34 trials involving 4426 participants were included. Acupu
Acupuncture for acute migraine attacks in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Wang Y, Du R, Cui H, Zhang L, Yuan H, Zheng S · BMJ evidence-based medicine · 2023 · n=1926
Objective To evaluate the effect and safety of acupuncture for acute migraine attacks in adults. We searched PubMed, MEDLINE(OVID), Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Science and Technology Periodical Database and Wanfang database from inception to 15 July 2022. We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) published in Chinese and English comparing acupuncture alone against sham acupuncture/placebo/no treatment/pharmacological therapy or comparing acupuncture plus pharmacological therapy against the same pharmacological therapy. Results were reported as risk ratios (RRs) for dichotomous outcomes or mean differences (MDs) for continuous outcomes, with 95% CIs. Risk of bias was assessed with the Cochrane tool and the certainty of the evidence (CoE) with GRADE. : Main outcome measures : a) The rate of headache freedom (pain score=0) at 2h after the treatment; b) the rate of headache relief (at least 50% reduction of pain score); c)
Structured reviews of the full body of evidence (incl. Cochrane).
Acupuncture for menstrual migraine: a systematic review.
Yang M, Du T, Long H, Sun M, Liang F, Lao L · BMJ supportive & palliative care · 2022 · n=826
In clinical practice, the evidence of acupuncture used as a treatment for migraine without aura is employed interchangeably to guide treatment for menstrual migraine. However, its effect and safety are not substantiated. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of acupuncture on the frequency and pain intensity of menstrual migraine. We searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and other two Chinese databases from their inception to 1 May 2019. This study included randomised controlled trials of women with menstrual migraine receiving acupuncture or a valid control. Two reviewers independently completed study selection, data extraction and risk of bias assessment. We combined data with a fixed-effect model in RevMan. Clinical outcomes included migraine frequency and duration, headache intensity, and adverse events. Thirteen studies with 826 subjects were included, 9 of which had data suitable for meta-analyses. Current evidence showed that acupu
Randomized Controlled Trials of Headache Treatments in Pregnancy: A Systematic Review.
Bushman ET, Cozzi G, Sinkey RG, Smith CH, Varner MW, Digre K · American journal of perinatology · 2021
Headaches affect 88% of reproductive-aged women. Yet data are limited addressing treatment of headache in pregnancy. While many women experience improvement in pregnancy, primary and secondary headaches can develop. Consequently, pregnancy is a time when headache diagnosis can influence maternal and fetal interventions. This study was aimed to summarize existing randomized control trials (RCTs) addressing headache treatment in pregnancy. We searched PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, ClinicalTrials.gov, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, and SCOPUS from January 1, 1970 through June 31, 2019. Studies were eligible if they were English-language RCTs addressing treatment of headache in pregnancy. Conference abstracts and studies investigating postpartum headache were excluded. Three authors reviewed English-language RCTs addressing treatment of antepartum headache. To be included, all authors agreed each article to meet the following criteria: predefined control group, participants underwent randomization,
Vitamin D in migraine headache: a comprehensive review on literature.
Ghorbani Z, Togha M, Rafiee P, Ahmadi ZS, Rasekh Magham R, Haghighi S · Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology · 2019
As a primary headache, migraine has been established as the first leading disability cause worldwide in the subjects who aged less than 50 years. A variety of dietary supplements have been introduced for migraine complementary treatment. As an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agent, vitamin D is one of these agents which has been of interest in recent years. Although higher prevalence of vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency has been highlighted among migraineurs compared to controls, there is not any consensus in prescribing vitamin D in clinical practice. Therefore, in the current review, in addition to observational and case-control studies, we also included clinical trials concerning the effects of vitamin D supplementation on migraine/headache. Based on a PubMed/MEDLINE and ScienceDirect database search, this review study includes published articles up to June 2019 concerning the association between migraine/headache and vitamin D status or supplementation. The percentage of
Recommendations from medical societies (NICE, AHA, ADA, ACG, Endocrine Society…).
Headaches in over 12s: diagnosis and management
NICE
This guideline covers the diagnosis and management of headaches in young people (aged 12 and over) and adults. It aims to improve the care of people with tension-type headache, migraine, cluster headache or medication overuse headache.
Controlled human studies with random assignment.
Sun M, Xie C, Wang Y, Yang X, Dong L, Guo T · Journal of evidence-based medicine · 2025 · n=198
Acupuncture is recognized as an effective migraine treatment, but the comparative long-term efficacy of different acupuncture methods at identical acupoints remains unclear. This study investigates the prophylactic effects of manual acupuncture (manual penetrating acupuncture, MPA) versus sham acupuncture (non-penetrating acupuncture, NPA) at the same acupoints. In this multicenter, single-blind randomized controlled trial conducted across four Chinese clinical centers (May 2020 to September 2022), 192 migraineurs without aura (International Classification of Headache Disorders 3rd edition criteria) were randomized 1:1 to 12 sessions of MPA or NPA. Primary outcome was the change from baseline in migraine attack frequency at week 16; secondary outcomes included migraine attack frequency, responder rates, migraine days, and pain intensity (every 4 weeks), etc. Trial registration: No. ChiCTR2000032308. A total of 198 participants were randomly allocated to either MPA or NPA groups, 99 i
Dominguez LJ, Veronese N, Sabico S, Al-Daghri NM, Barbagallo M · Nutrients · 2025
Migraine is a widespread and intricate neurological condition that involves various factors and is marked by recurring headache episodes. Migraine is among the ten neurological conditions accounting for the greatest disability in the whole population, the leading cause of disability for children and adolescents aged 5-19 years, and the second cause of disability for adults aged 20-59 years. Magnesium deficiency is also a very common condition resulting from diverse reasons, including insufficient dietary consumption or increased loss through the gastrointestinal or renal system. Accumulated evidence from case reports, case-control studies, observational studies, and randomized, placebo-controlled trials has shown the effectiveness of magnesium supplementation in alleviating migraine, both acutely and chronically. Mechanisms that may help explain these results include the potential link between magnesium deficit and spreading cortical depression, vascular changes, oxidative stress, chro
Feasibility of Fish Oil Supplementation on Headache Symptoms and Blood Lipids in Migraine Patients.
Yeh EL, Yang CP, Lin SW, Wang HF · Brain and behavior · 2024 · n=47
Migraine is a chronic, recurring, and disabling disease. Fish oil intervention was used to investigate its effects on headache symptoms and blood lipids of migraine patients. All subjects were collected at the Kuang Tian General Hospital from March 2020 to May 2021. Experimental group subjects took 1 g/time of fish oil (including EPA 900 mg/tablet) after breakfast and dinner. Placebo group subjects took 100% soybean oil twice daily. Before and after the test, the migraine improvement questionnaire was used to analyze headaches during attacks, dietary intake, and headache triggers. The average age of the 47 subjects in this study was 40.3 ± 9.2 years old, the body mass index (BMI) was 24.3 ± 6.0 kg/m2. At Week 12, subjects in the fish oil group were significantly improved relative to the control group (p < 0.05). Blood lipid indexes TC, LDL-C, and TG were reduced, and the frequency, duration, and pain degree of migraine. Fish oil may be used as an adjuncti
Cohort, case-control, and cross-sectional human studies.
Acupuncture recommendations for migraine in headache treatment guidelines: a systematic review.
Cui S, Wang X, Luo Z, Liu Y, Zhang Y, Ma W · Bulletin of the World Health Organization · 2025
To evaluate the quality of global headache guidelines regarding the recommendation of acupuncture for migraine treatment. We searched 31 electronic databases and 15 guideline repositories from inception to October 2024, without language restrictions. We identified 25 guidelines meeting our inclusion criteria, and evaluated these for methodological, reporting and recommendation quality using the Appraisal of Guidelines Research and Evaluation (AGREE) II instrument, Reporting Items for Practice Guidelines in Healthcare (RIGHT) checklist, and AGREE Recommendations Excellence (REX) tool, respectively. We present our findings using descriptive statistics, and assess interrater reliability using intraclass correlation coefficients. Of the 25 guidelines analysed, we observed that 40.0% (10/25) recommended acupuncture and 32.0% (8/25) provided conditional recommendations. Of the 18 guidelines recommending acupuncture, 77.8% (14/18) lacked procedural details; only 22.2% (4/18) specified treat
Acupuncture for the prevention of episodic migraine.
Xia R, Linde K, Freilinger T, Vickers A, Vertosick EA, Vase L · The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2025
This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To investigate whether acupuncture is more effective than 'sham' (placebo) acupuncture, no preventative treatment or routine care only, or other interventions, in reducing headache frequency in people with episodic migraine.
Effect of Vitamin B2 supplementation on migraine prophylaxis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Chen YS, Lee HF, Tsai CH, Hsu YY, Fang CJ, Chen CJ · Nutritional neuroscience · 2022 · n=673
Migraine is a common disease worldwide and migraine prevention is primarily currently based on pharmaceuticals. The mechanism of Vitamin B2 may positively contribute to migraine. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the impact of Vitamin B2 supplementation on the days, duration, frequency, and pain score of the migraine attack. : The PRISMA guideline was used for the studying process. Five electronic databases, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, CINAHL, and CEPS were searched from 1990 to March 2019. The search terms were Vitamin B2, migraine, and prophylactic. A meta-analysis was performed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (CMA) version. : Nine articles were included in systemic review and finally meta-analysis. Eight randomized controlled trials and one controlled clinical trial with 673 subjects were analyzed using meta-analysis. Vitamin B2 supplementation significantly decreased migraine days (p = .005, I2 = 89%), duration (p = 
Public-health agencies: NCCIH, NIH, CDC, NHS.
NCCIH
This NCCIH resource provides an in-depth look at complementary health approaches for headaches, evaluating the evidence for various integrative therapies and offering guidance for consumers.
NHS
The NHS provides an overview of various types of headaches, their causes, and self-care tips. It also advises on when to seek medical help for headache symptoms.
WHO
The World Health Organization provides fact sheets on headache disorders, highlighting their global burden, common types, and the need for appropriate management. It emphasizes the public health impact of these conditions.
Registered ongoing or completed trials (ClinicalTrials.gov).
n=211 · NCT00253175 · COMPLETED · COMPLETED
The primary purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of topiramate (an epilepsy medication) compared with placebo in the prevention of migraine.
n=237 · NCT05133323 · COMPLETED · COMPLETED
Researchers are trying to learn whether a drug called Lu AG09222 can help prevent migraine headaches for people who have not been helped by other treatments that are used to prevent migraines. People who join this trial have tried 2 to 4 other medications to prevent their migraines, but these medications have not helped them. When the trial is over, researchers will use this information to find out if the number of migraine days decreased more for the participants who got either dose of Lu AG09222 than for the participants who got the placebo.
n=76 · NCT00719134 · COMPLETED · COMPLETED
Evidence-based medicine depends on distinguishing between pharmacological effects and placebo effects in randomized controlled trials (RCT). This proposal seeks to rigorously investigate fundamental questions concerning pharmacological effects, placebo effects and their interactions. Relief of symptoms of acute migraine will be the test condition for this scientific experiment because of migraine's evident clinical significance and the possibility of using participants as their own control during sequential acute migraine attacks. Our overall goal is to elucidate how the pharmacological effects of 100 mg rizatriptan (an FDA-proven effective medication for acute migraine) and the effects of placebo treatment can be modified by varied knowledge and/or expectation ("contextual") conditions. Such knowledge has the possibility to suggest potentially more efficient methodologies to test new medications that can be used to augment and enhance the apparatus of the RCT. General Aim: To elucidate and clarify what is a pharmacological effect and what is a placebo effect, how such effects vary in different knowledge/expectations contexts, and mutually constitute one another and interact. General Hypothesis: The measured pharmacological effect of an effective medication (rizatriptan) and the measured effect of placebo treatment are determined significantly by different knowledge/expectations contexts.
Curated cross-source summaries (TRIP Database and similar).
WHO global database on clinical trials
WHO
The WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) provides an international portal to a global network of clinical trial registries, which may contain studies on ginger for headache, though it doesn't provide health information directly.
TRIP Database
The TRIP Database is a clinical search engine designed to allow users to quickly find high-quality research evidence to support clinical practice. A search for 'peppermint headache' would yield aggregated evidence from various research studies and guidelines.
TRIP Database
The TRIP Database is a clinical search engine designed to allow users to quickly and easily find high-quality research evidence to support their practice, including numerous resources on headaches.
Conventional care for headaches often involves over-the-counter pain relievers for mild cases, and prescription medications such as triptans, CGRP inhibitors, or beta-blockers for more severe or chronic headaches like migraines. A healthcare provider can help diagnose the type of headache and recommend the most appropriate treatment plan, which may include preventive medications or acute pain reli
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This information is for educational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making any decisions about your health or treatment, especially if you experience severe or unusual headache symptoms.
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