Consult Me (circa 1900) gives this recipe for dealing with a headache, consisting of centaury, feverfew, camomile and rhubarb. There are other suggestions ,too, involving colocynth and blue pill, as well as some easy methods and recipes.

A Remedy for Headache: Take a small handful of centaury, and as much feverfew, and one ounce of camomile flowers to two quarts of water; boil to one quart and while hot add half an ounce of rhubarb and stir well. Dose: A wineglassful three times a day.

A remedy for Headache that proceeds from a torpid liver: Take extract of colcynth and blue pill (this must have been very famous, because there was no recipe for it) and4 drops of oil of cloves and make 12 pills. Dose 2-4 pills.

OR Bathe the crown of the head every morning in cold water

OR Rub the head for quarter of an hour – Tried

OR be electrified – Tried (frightening!)

OR Apply to each temple the thin yellow rind of a newly pared lemon

Headache from Heat:

Apply to the head cloths dipped in water. To prevent hest affecting the head in summer place a cabbage leaf or a large lettuce leaf in your hat – it will keep you head cool. (well, yes)