Tension headache
Five simple things people try when a tight, pressing head comes on after a long day.
A sudden, severe or unusual headache needs a doctor straight away.
Fold a cloth soaked in cool water across your forehead and lie down in a dim room for 15 minutes.
Ayurveda reads a hot, pressing head as too much heat, and cooling the forehead is the oldest household response.
Take care Use cool, not icy. Wrap ice in a cloth and never put it straight on skin.
Mix a little sandalwood powder with rose water into a soft paste. Spread a thin layer on the forehead and rest 15 minutes.
Chandan is traditionally valued for its cooling nature, and many families keep it for hot, heavy heads.
Take care Try a small patch on your arm first if you have sensitive skin. Keep away from the eyes.
Simmer a thumb of sliced fresh ginger in two cups of water for 10 minutes. Sip it warm.
Ginger is called vishwabheshaj, the universal kitchen helper, and people report a warm cup eases a tight head.
Take care Skip it if ginger gives you heartburn, and ask a doctor first if you are on blood thinners.
Drink a glass of water now and do not skip your next meal. Eat something warm and simple.
Ayurveda ties a regular rhythm of eating and drinking to a settled body; many tension headaches show up on skipped-lunch days.
Roll your shoulders back ten times, then gently tilt each ear toward the shoulder and hold for five slow breaths.
Gentle movement for the neck is part of everyday yoga; people often find the tightness sits in the shoulders.
Take care Move gently. Skip it if you have a neck injury.
More: Feeling stuck · Restless nights · Racing mind
Traditional home practices, not medical advice. See a doctor for symptoms that persist or worsen.