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That depends. Some people would have used willow bark, if they were the type to use natural remedies. Others would have used Laudanum. The latter is derived from Opium and highly addictive.

Laudanum is often mentioned in historical novels, it was used as the pain killer of choice in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries.



Laudanum was a mixture of alcohol and opium derivatives and highly addictive.



Laudanum -

In the nineteenth century, laudanum was often used to relieve the pain of injured soldiers and was a common item included in the medicine kits of many "proper" Victorian families.

http://drugs.uta.edu/laudanum.html

willow bark

The history of medicine has been enriched by thousands of plant species, but one plant--the willow--has probably been used and prescribed more than any other powdered drug. Willow is the original source of aspirin. Even today, when aspirin substitutes are available, up to 80 million tablets of aspirin are used each day in North America, and up to 50 million pounds each year are swallowed throughout the world. Now aspirin can be easily made by reacting phenol and carbon dioxide.

Other salicylates were used, but were fairly toxic and produced nasty side effects. In fact, the development of aspirin (methylsalicylic acid) was basically a search for a minimally toxic salicylate.

People also used cold compresses, various narcotics, alcohol, and all sorts of quack cures.

In the late 1800's and early 1900's, medicine cabinets were filled with today's illegal drugs. Cocaine, opium, and heroine were used for minor headaches.

Willow bark. Steeped in water, I think. Pre-cursor to aspirin. Actually, I think that's where aspirin ( originally) came from.

Willow bark tea was common. Interestingly, willow bark contains one of the active elements of aspirin, salicylic acid.

Slippery Elm Bark.

Opium

A tea made from certain roots. They didn't have as many headaches back then.

herbal remidies such as mint tea or willow bark were used, neither were very effective.

advil

booze / cocain

a stiff shot of whiskey