Headache is a common occurrence and we have accepted it as a part of our life. A hormonal headache is something which is experienced only by women. It has a close association with the level of female sexual hormones in the body. Its characteristics are quite similar to that of a migraine headache. The pain is mostly felt in one side of the head and is often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, extreme sensitivity towards light, etc. Some women have observed that the pain gets aggravated under the influence of loud noises. What Causes Hormonal Headaches? Women of all age groups can get hormonal headache. They may first experience it as adolescents during their menstrual period. Fluctuation of two female reproductive hormones, namely estrogen and progesterone, is the main reason behind hormonal headaches. It has been found that a sudden drop in the levels of estrogen triggers hormonal headache. The condition improves as the estrogen level returns to normal. These kinds of changes in the estrogen levels take place at the time of ovulation. For this reason, women get hormonal headaches before or during the menstrual period. Estrogen level decreases soon after childbirth and many new mothers suffer from recurrent hormonal headache after delivery. Women who are approaching menopause tend to get hormonal headaches more frequently than others. This is because, during this phase, the levels of reproductive hormones rise and fall quite abruptly. Natural Remedies for Hormonal Headaches What most women do when they have a headache is, they take a pill of aspirin or ibuprofen. It is not advisable to take such medicines without consulting a doctor. A safe alternative is to opt for some natural remedies for hormonal headache. It involves some changes in diet, lifestyle and use of naturally occurring substances. A few such options are discussed here. Ice Treatment: This gives a soothing relief from the throbbing pain in head. You can rub an ice cube for about 15 minutes on the painful part of the head and neck after wrapping it up in a small towel. Otherwise, soak a clean piece of cloth in ice-cold water, wring out the extra water from it and place the cloth over the forehead. Massage: Massaging the tender part of the head, neck, back and shoulders can reduce the pain and discomfort. Move the fingers with a gentle pressure over these areas to ease off the tension and improve blood circulation, and you will feel better. Passion flower: Passion flower is one such herb, which has excellent anti-inflammatory properties. It also has a calming effect on anxiety induced by hormonal imbalance. Prepare a herbal tea by soaking one teaspoon of the herb in a cup of boiling water for 10 minutes. Drink this tea to alleviate headache. Feverfew: This is an effective herb that can be used for prevention of hormonal headaches. It is available as capsules and tincture. Most people prefer to have capsules as the tincture has a bad taste. You should take it daily as per the instructions provided on its container. Acupuncture: This is a popular Chinese treatment for hormonal headache. In this treatment, thin sterile needles are inserted into specific pressure points of the body to relieve pain. To get maximum benefits from this treatment, make sure you consult an experienced practitioner. Do not try this treatment at home on your own! Change in Dietary Habits: You should have a healthy balanced diet with lots of fruits and vegetables as they cleanse the body. Do not forget to include bananas in your daily diet as its potassium content cures hormonal headache really well. Drink 6-8 glasses of water every day. Avoid caffeine, sugary foods, processed foods, alcohol, etc. as they tend to trigger hormonal headache. You should have 5-6 small meals after a regular interval of time. This will keep your blood sugar level steady and reduce the chances of an onset of headache. Exercising: You can reduce the frequency of hormonal headaches with regular exercising. This is one of the simplest remedies for hormonal headache. When you move your body, it has a relaxing effect. As a result, the tension from the nerves and muscles of the body is released. While exercising, certain chemicals named endorphins are released into the body that act as natural pain killers and bring relief from the pain. If you get more than three bouts of hormonal headaches in a month, then it's best to consult your doctor. Sometimes, low levels of magnesium in the body triggers frequent hormonal headache. In that case, your doctor may recommend some magnesium supplements along with some prescription pain relieving medicines. Don't ignore such headaches but instead try out the aforesaid natural remedies and if pain persists, see a doctor at the earliest.