Tension Headaches
Other Treatment
While you may use medicine to treat or prevent tension headaches, adding stress management therapies may help reduce the frequency of your tension headaches. Talk to your doctor about trying:
- Biofeedback, a relaxation method to help you learn to control a body function that is not normally under conscious control, such as muscle tension.
- A relaxation exercise during which you focus on relaxing each muscle group. Relaxation exercises can help with tension headaches.
- Acupuncture, which involves putting very thin needles into the skin at certain points on the body. Current evidence shows that acupuncture can help prevent tension headaches.2
- Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), which may help reduce pain.
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy or problem-solving therapy during counseling sessions. Cognitive-behavioral therapy and problem-solving therapy can help with tension headaches.
- Yoga.
- Meditation.
- Peppermint oil. There is some evidence that peppermint oil rubbed on the temples or on the tight muscles in the head, neck, and shoulders may help relieve tension headaches.
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| Author: | Monica Rhodes | Last Updated: July 22, 2009 |
| Medical Review: |
Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine
Colin Chalk, MD, CM, FRCPC - Neurology |
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