If misery loves company then headaches can throw a heck of a party. It has been noted that 45 million Americans who endure migraine, tension and sinus headaches on a regular basis. Whether they last a few minutes or for days, headaches interfere with your work, distance you from your friends and family and drain the joy out of the day.

I normally don't suffer from headaches but recently I had some dental work done and I was searching for some natural ways to alleviate the discomfort. I discovered a few really easy things you can do that really work!!! Medical science offers a host of drugs to treat headaches. But yes there are options instead of reliance on pharmaceuticals.

Here are a few options: for near-instant low-impact relief just follow your nose. Some essential oils have been known to relieve headaches in as little as twenty minutes. Here are a few, Eucalyptus, Sweet Marjoram, Peppermint, Geranium and of course lavender.

On another note Lavender is a good all around stress reliever and helps you sleep too. Ayurveda is a practice from India. This employs diet herbal remedies, meditation, gentle exercise and yoga to maintain a state of optimal wellness. According to ayurvedic medicine, the five elements of nature-water, earth, fire, space, and air present themselves in the human body. If these are out of balance you can experience different types of headaches. You can check Ayurveda out on line if you want to understand this a bit better.

There are also some natural supplements you could investigate. Some of these are magnesium, and vitamin B2. There are more I am sure but these two seem to have a lot of research backing their effectiveness when taken together. Now please consult your physician before you take anything that is new to your health plan.

You can also use yoga as a treatment and a preventative measure for headaches. Here is a simple exercise that will help alleviate the stress in the top of the shoulders and neck and get you breathing deeper.

Sit in an easy cross-legged position on the floor, or sit in a chair with your hands in prayer position at the center of your chest. Slowly inhale and extend your hands toward the ceiling, keeping your palms together and your eyes on your thumbs, straightening your elbows and tilting your head back. Exhale and lower your hands to prayer position at your chest. Inhale and fully extend your arms out to the sides, palms down. Exhale, returning your hands to prayer position.

Repeat this sequence eight to ten times. Imagine your arms are wings, and that with each "flap" you're flying farther and farther away from your headache pain. Try this standing as well. Focus on the Breathe and stop thinking about the to-do list of the day. Time for a break!!!