Essential oils for Headache- For various reasons, millions of people across the world suffer from a headache or a migraine. Often, they cannot point to a cause of it.
However, a headache can be caused by different factors. These range from fatigue, stress, allergies, constipation, nutritional deficiencies, low blood sugar, too much alcohol, and overdose on drugs.
Sometimes, one or more of these factors can be the cause of a headache and migraine. If you often suffer from headaches or migraines, you are likely to be in search of an effective treatment.
Although the conventional treatment for headache is painkillers, these pills come with several side effects, which include liver and kidney damage. Not forgetting that these pills only take care of the symptoms, they cannot treat the cause of the problem.
However, I am glad to tell you that there is no shortage of natural remedies to use. More precisely, there are several essential oils for headache and migraines that have been proven by science to be very useful in providing relief.
These oils not only treat the headaches, but they also prevent effectively the triggers that cause headaches and migraines in the first place. This means that with these essential oils for headache, you get permanent relief from headaches.
Also, compared to painkillers, these oils put you at no risk as they come with zero side effects. You are in control of the dose you use and can adjust it to the quantity suitable for the type of pain or headache you are experiencing.
Read Also: 10 Essential Oils That Can Seriously Relieve Arthritis And Joint Pain Naturally
How Essential Oils For Headache Work
Compared to pain relievers that are the most popular treatments for headache and migraine, essential oils for headache are more efficient and are safer options. They provide quick relief, reduce stress, and improve blood circulation in the body.
These oils are also beneficial as they boost the immune system rather than destroy your vital organs like most painkillers.
Usually, headache happens because something triggered it. In most women, a significant trigger of a headache is hormonal change or imbalance.
This is generally as a result of fluctuations in estrogen, especially immediately before or during their periods when estrogen levels are low. The use of hormonal medications may also worsen the situation.
Therefore, using essential oils for headache, which is more gentle and natural, is often advised.
Other factors that trigger headaches include stress and changes in sleep patterns. These can be treated using Lavender and peppermint oil aromatically.
Lavender oil is a mild sedative that can help people with insomnia or lack of sleep while soothing stress. Also, a headache can be caused by intense physical exertion, congestion, and sensory stimuli.
In such cases, there are essential oils that have been used for centuries to soothe a headache.
Truthfully, there are few safer and beneficial ways to heal headaches than using essential oils for headache. Aromatherapy has been used for years to treat headaches and pain associated with it.
For example, Rosemary oil can be used to relieve tension and pain. Also, Lavender and Rosemary oil can be used to treat symptoms of hormonal imbalances like headaches and migraines.
How To Use Essential Oils To Treat Headache And Migraine
Despite the availability of many essential oils to alleviate headaches or migraine attacks, most people are still sensitive to scents while suffering headaches.
To test if scents soothe you during an attack, add a drop of oil to a cotton ball and smell. If the fragrance does not upset you, you can try any of the listed methods of using essential oil for headache below:
1. Diffuse
You can diffuse essential oils using essential oil diffusers. Follow the direction of your diffuser and put it on throughout the day or night to alleviate headache or migraine attacks.
2. Topical Application Or Gentle Massage
To do this, dilute 12 drops of any essential oil for headache into 1 oz. of any carrier oil of choice. Coconut oil, jojoba oil, olive oil, etc. are carrier oils.
Then, gently massage a few drops of the mix onto your forehead, temples, and back of your meck. Be careful to avoid the areas around your eyes.
3. Cold Compress
For the cold compress option, add five drops of your chosen essential oil to 1 quart cold or icy water. Then, in a bowl, soak a clean cloth and apply the fabric on your forehead or the back of your neck.
Although most people favor the cold compress method, you can also try the warm compress method to improve circulation.
4. Inhalation
Rub two drops of lavender essential oil into your palms. Then, cup them over your nose and take 4-6 deep breaths. Another option is to drop two to four drops on a cotton ball and put it in a ziplock bag to take with you anywhere you go.
Otherwise, add few drops of essential oil to a bowl of boiling water. Then, drape a towel over your head and breathe in the steam. This primarily works if your migraine is sinus related.
6 Best Essential Oils For Headache and Migraine Relief
There are different essential oils available for treating headaches and migraines. These oils work to reduce inflammation, swelling, muscle spasms, and pain.
They also have calming effects and improve the circulation of blood to the brain. Check out our six best essential oils for headache that you need to try below:
1. Peppermint Essential Oil
Peppermint is a hybrid species of spearmint and watermint, which is famous for its cooling effect. It offers calming effects, helps to stimulate blood fl0w when applied to the forehead topically, and stops muscle contractions.
Apart from its pleasant smell, peppermint is one of the oldest medicinal herbs. It recorded uses in ancient Chinese and Japanese medicine, and its use dates back to 1,000 BC. It was discovered in quite a number of the ancient Egyptian pyramid.
Peppermint essential oil is an effective natural painkiller and muscle relaxant. Notably, the oil aids in soothing tension headache when applied topically across the forehead.
Research conducted in 1996 on the effectiveness of Peppermint oil concludes that the oil is safe for use and comes with zero adverse side effects.
The study used participants who used the oil topically fifteen and thirty minutes after the onslaught of headache. It was concluded that using this oil for headache is a cost-effective method and an acceptable alternative to traditional headache treatment.
Also, peppermint has a soothing scent that energizes. However, do not use the oil just before bed as the smell can hinder restful sleep. Use peppermint as your first item whenever you feel a headache or a migraine knocking.
2. Rosemary Essential Oil
Because of its natural analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, Rosemary essential oil has been used for a long time traditionally to treat headaches and circulatory problems.
It has a calming effect, lowers stress, and reduces emotional triggers that cause a headache. The oil also soothes an upset stomach and aids digestion, which can be a symptom of headache.
Research published in Addiction Health in 2013 backs up the potency of using rosemary oil for headache and migraine. The researchers studied the effect of rosemary oil on withdrawal symptoms like headaches, nausea, and insomnia.
It concluded that the oil was able to reduce many of these symptoms. Also, the oil cut the tension, pain, and muscle jerks while improving sleep patterns.
Rosemary essential oil can be used to treat headaches by mixing it with a carrier like a coconut or olive oil and applying it to your temples, forehead, and neck.
3. Lavender Essential Oil
Due to its variety of therapeutic and curative properties, Lavender essential oil is one of the best essential oils for headache.
It works as a sedative, anti-anxiety, antidepressant, anticonvulsant, anxiolytic, and calming agent, thus inducing relaxation and relieving tension and stress.
Also, over the last years, there has been an increase in evidence that lavender oil is ideal for treating neurological conditions and disorders.
Researchers have shown that topical and aromatic application of lavender oil affects the limbic system.
This is because its main contents, Linalool and linalyl acetate, are quickly absorbed through the skin and have been thought to cause central nervous system depression.
Therefore, lavender oil can be useful in treating headaches caused by anxiety disorders and other related conditions.
Other benefits of using Lavender oil include relieving the feeling of restlessness and alleviating disturbed sleep. It also controls serotonin levels, regulating it to minimize pain in the nervous system. This way, migraine attacks are inhibited.
To use lavender oil, diffuse five drops of lavender oil at home or in the office. You can also use it to relieve stress or tension headache by applying it topically to the back of the neck, temples, and wrist.
To induce relaxation of the body and mind, add 6-10 drops of lavender essential oil to a warm-water bath. Then take deep breaths to allow the sedative properties of the oil to work.
4. Helichrysum Essential Oil
While it is relatively unpopular in the United States, helichrysum essential oil has been a favorite remedy for years to treat a variety of medical conditions.
In countries like Italy, Spain, Turkey, Portugal, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, it has been famous for its potent anti-inflammatory properties. The oil has been used to provide relief from migraine or headache-related issues.
Although because of its analgesic qualities and anti-inflammatory properties, helichrysum essential oil is best known for its skin and wound healing benefits, it is also considered a safe and efficient headache remedy.
This essential oil also helps to soothe the nerves, which is ideal for relieving tension-based headaches.
5. Roman chamomile essential oil
If you’ve heard of drinking chamomile tea for inducing calm and relaxation, its essential oil works the same way.
The oil contains analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties that relieve feelings of anxiety and stress. It also treats neuralgic pain, making it useful for treating a stress-induced headache.
6. Eucalyptus Oil
Eucalyptus works as an expectorant, cleansing the body of toxins and harmful microorganisms. It clears the nasal airway and removes sinus pressure that can cause a headache. Eucalyptus also boosts mood and promotes emotional balance.
A clinical trial published in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine shows that inhaling eucalyptus oil can reduce a person’s pain and blood pressure level.
This study was performed using 52 patients who recently had total knee replacement surgery.
It was found that the use of eucalyptus oil had anti-inflammatory effects, promoted emotional stability in the patients, and reduced formation of edema.
These pain-reducing and relaxing effects have also been found to benefit people suffering from tension headaches.
Researchers also report that the oil exhibited anti-inflammatory effects when used to treat respiratory conditions. It also shows antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antiviral properties that treat sinus pressure caused by an inflammatory response.
To use eucalyptus oil, dilute four drops of it with a carrier oil and apply it topically to the forehead, temples, back of the neck, and chest. This eliminates nasal buildup and clears your airways.
That way, sinus tension, which is a cause of headache or migraine attack, is alleviated.
Conclusion
These are our pick of 6 best essential oils for headache. Remember to use these oils with a high-quality diffuser to alleviate a headache. We hope that you find this article helpful!
Do you have any thoughts, questions, and comments on the oils discussed here? Let us know in the comment section below!
