Migraines can be debilitating for over 39 million Americans, including men, women, and children who suffer from them regularly. Almost 5 million people in the U.S. experience at least one migraine attack per month, according to the Migraine Research Foundation. This extraordinarily prevalent neurological disease is the third most common illness in the world and tends to run in families.

According to Dr. Alexander Mauskop, a neurologist and director of the New York Headache Center, you can treat these painful headaches naturally.

“You can use essential oils and other forms of therapy to reduce the pain without resorting to medications with potentially serious side effects,” he tells Newsmax.

Always check with your healthcare provider before trying a new remedy.

1. Lavender and peppermint oil. Mauskop recommends this combination because lavender is soothing while peppermint has pain relieving properties. According to Healthline, a 2013 study found that people who inhaled lavender oil for 15 minutes during their migraine found faster relief than those given a placebo. Place the oils on a cotton ball and inhale.
2. Ginger. Ginger is a helpful herb known for its ability to reduce nausea but may also be effective in managing migraine pain. A 2014 study found that subjects given ginger powder decreased the migraine severity and duration as effectively as the prescription migraine drug sumatriptan, with fewer side effects.
3. Yoga. Not only is yoga an excellent stress reliever, a 2015 survey found that women who practiced yoga for 12 weeks had a significant reduction in the impact of migraines. Yoga helps stimulate blood circulation and relaxes the muscles of the body.
4. Eucalyptus. If your headaches are caused by sinus issues, eucalyptus essential oils will help open nasal passages, clear the sinuses, and help relieve the tension that’s causing the migraine.
5. Keep a migraine diary. Mauskop says that tracking triggers, such as the food you eat, can help you avoid migraines in the first place. Keeping a detailed diary that measures the duration, level of pain intensity, and time of the day you experience the migraine can help you spot patterns and learn what treatments have been most effective and which ones do not work.