Thirty eight million people or more suffer from migraine headaches in America, according to Mirgraine.com. For some, the pain of a migraine can be extreme and debilitating. The effects can trigger nausea, vomiting, and light sensitivity along with a pounding headache. 

Modern medication for headaches and migraines may work for some, but they are notorious for having frightening side effects such as a racing heart, sleeplessness, fatigue or difficulty thinking, according to “Medical Daily.”

Here are five simple, scientifically proven and natural tips to tame a migraine:

1. Drink coffee. Drink a cup of coffee early in the day or as soon as you being to feel symptoms coming on. However, limit your consumption to four cups of brewed coffee daily as drinking too much coffee could lead to caffeine withdrawal which can cause its own type of headache, according to WebMD.
2. Try using a cold pack or hot compress. Placing a cold pack on your forehead or a heating pad on the back of the head can help reduce the pain from a migraine. You can also use ice cubes or frozen peas placed in a towel or a warm cloth on the area that hurts. The general rule is to compress for 15 minutes, take a 15 minute break and then repeat.
3. Get rid of the ponytail. External pressure on the scalp, such as pulling your hair into a tight ponytail, wearing a hat or headband or even swimming goggles could cause a headache. One study showed that women who loosened their hair saw their headache disappear almost immediately.
4. Don’t chew gum. Chewing gum is one of the least known but common causes of headaches. Chewing gum, biting down on sticky or crunchy food and even fingernail biting can trigger headaches. The action causes stress to the temporomandibular joint, or TMJ, the place where the jaw meets the skull.
5. Avoid bright lights. Bright, fluorescent or flickering light can cause migraines. Simply cover your windows with blackout curtain during the day, wear sunglasses outdoors and use anti-glare screen on computers to help reduce pain.