Bad tension headaches...how can I prevent them and treat them without painkillers?

I've had headaches since I was a pre-teen in middle school. Most are tension headaches, some are even sinus headaches. Lately, I've been a little stressed at work, and I can feel the headaches building up all week, until BOOM, when I can finally relax on the weekends, a full-blown headache emerges and lasts pretty much the entire weekend. Any ideas on how I can possibly prevent these? I know relaxation is key...but I honestly don't know how to relax. When I get my headaches, I have to take Advil pretty much constantly, which worries me, and barely even helps. What can I do without painkillers to help ease the headaches? Can yoga help? I went for a long walk the last time, but it's been too cold here in western PA to do that.

Thanks in advance for ALL of your ideas.

It could be related to your neck. See reference below to compare neck related headaches to tension headaches and maybe find some new ways to combat your headaches.

Have you tried aspirin? There are these aspirin powders that you can put in some sprite and drink. They work really fast. Excedrin is another good one, I use it a lot. Also, have you tried heated pads or cold packs they might help.

have you had eye test it could be eye strain, i get head aches and i like to tie a scalf around my head it really works!!

i get headaches really bad too. When i get headaches i lay on the couch with a cold damp towel on my forehead. This should get rid of them. As for preventing them i take Sudafed.

YOG IS THE BEST OPTION.

Pl try HOT water bath and observe.

Pl try simple acupressure given below for immediate relief.
If it fails you will have to go for Acupuncture.

There is hardly any medicine for H/A OR MIGRAINE. Not only these but for RA, OA, Back ache and almost all painful diseases. Hence they become chronic.

Acidity, WORRY, sadness, excessive wind, cold , heat, sour food and sinusitis, constipation, intestinal inflammation; drug side effects, stress, bad smell, TV & COMPUTER SOMETIMES, Blockage in the flow of Vital Energy, BODY CONSTITUTION etc are their causes.
None of them can be treated with medicine.
Our 100% success in treating migraine &H/A confirms it.

Acupuncture is the best treatment.
I can treat it with naturopathy and YOG, but how can you manage pl see.

Pain killers don't treat the pain but we loose the sense of pain for some time; in that duration our body itself treats sometime and credit goes to meds.
The useless drugs have tremendous power of side effects like liver/kidney failures, ulcer, inflammation of intestines and lot more.

Avoid late sleeping if possible; worry, tension, spicy foods, sour fruits, stale bakery foods, SMOKING and alcohole.

Sweet foods, COCOANUT WATER,sweet fruits, milk, rice, SPROUTS, SALADS and good sleep will help if cough is not there.

But you try one herbal remedy- two drops of drumstick leaves' juice in opposite nostril if one side pains and both nostrils if full H/A will give you rescue. Betel leaf helps but it is very strong.

If it is acute pl search a painful point (with round tipped pen/jimmy) 3-6 mm behind your thumb nail and press it, H/A will disappear within 30 seconds.

For forehead/eye pain the points are in front of nails on the finger tips or 3-7 mm below.

It may disappear naturally too.

Source(s):
SHREE SWASTHYAYOG TREATMENT, TRAINING & RESEARCH INSTITUTE
R.H. 19, Jhulelal Society, Sector 2/E, Airoli, Navi Mumbai, INDIA.

try some of thoses plants : ginger, marjolaine, verbena
they can help
good luck