Nearly everyone has suffered from a headache of one type or another at some point in their lives; for too many people, that 'some point' is far too many points. Some headaches are due to serious enough troubles that there simply is no finding relief for them without being seriously addressed medically. However, for the vast majority, there are a number of relatively simple things that can be done to provide significant relief.
Of course, the most important thing is to find the underlying cause for a headache. Watch out for allergies (including food allergies), blood sugar issues, chemical sensitivities, other medical issues, and of course, specific causes of stress. Be careful, however, not to simply lump it all under stress, as it is an easy answer and may lead to you missing something that may prove important to more than just easing the pain of the headache.
In some cases... far more, in fact, than one might guess... something so simple as drinking a glass of cool water can provide considerable relief. In this day and age when grabbing a caffeinated, sugar-laden drink is every bit as easy as getting 'boring' water, many people suffer from nearly constant low-grade dehydration, which either leads to or intensifies headaches. Likewise, even without diabetes or hypoglycemia, imbalanced diets can lead to blood sugar peaks followed by plummets, which can also cause headaches, and some may find relief in eating something which will balance out the blood sugar, such as some fruit.
For those with chronic headaches, there are a number of herbs or herbal supplements that may prove useful, such as an evening primrose capsule taken daily; it contains a pain-relieving compound called phenylalanine. There are several other herbs which can be added to the diet which also contain natural headache relievers, including ginger, garlic, cayenne pepper, and to a lesser extent turmeric and thyme.
Another natural headache reliever, which works especially well on migraines, is a simple mixture of lavender and peppermint essential oils mixed with a bit of carrier oil or unscented balm and placed on the temples, on the neck just below the ears, and the wrists.
Another wonderful herbal treatment for migraines is a tea made with bay and feverfew leaves. Optionally, willow bark, peppermint, or chamomile can be used as well, as they are all effective pain relievers to some degree.
Of course, most of these solutions require forethought or planning of one sort or another; for more unexpected headaches, or simply more immediate pain relief, try to find a cool, quiet spot (even a restroom can suffice), and apply a cool compress to the forehead and neck. There are also several pressure points on the head that can help, such as on the upper cheeks just to either side of the nose, the temples, the neck just below the ears, and in the center of the little 'flat' spots on the top of the skull to either side of the top ridge (where most hair parts).
Again, it is important to locate the source of the headache, as there are two main 'direct' causes for headaches - increased and decreased bloodflow to the brain. Migraines tend to come from too much bloodflow, while tension headaches tend to be from a lack of it. Therefore, obviously, many things that would help with one type would intensify the other, such as caffeine or heat/cold.
If none of this helps, read What is the Best Pain Reliever for Headaches; for more information of headaches and their causes, try Common Hidden Headache Causes, or Constant Daily Headaches.
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