The Best Essential Oils for Headache Relief

Do you tend to have headaches on the regular? Or do you just get sick of using over-the-counter medicine when you do have a headache? Essential oils are not just for aromatherapy – try these Essential Oils for Headache Relief and feel better naturally!

There are so many types of headaches and head pain – here are the best essential oils for headache relief with recipes.

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Migraine Headache Relief

Migraines are headaches of varying intensity, most of the time accompanied by feeling of nausea and sensitivity to light and sound. They can be triggered by various factors like hormonal changes, food, drink, exercise or stress.

Studies as old as in 1994 shows that Peppermint Essential Oil is effective against migraine headaches. Peppermint Essential Oil contains menthol which relaxes muscles and provides relief from pain. Most alternative medicines practitioners believe that applying this oil, diluted in coconut oil or any other carrier oil, on temple region will provide relief from migraine headaches.

Migraine Headache Relief Recipe
Mix the following in a dark glass bottle:

10 drops of Peppermint Essential Oil
5 drops of Lavender Oil
10 ML of Coconut oil

Slowly massage the temple area in circular motion for a few minutes. Repeat if required after half an hour to get further relief.

Sinus Headache Relief

If a person is feeling a heavy and constant pain in your cheekbones and center of your nose, then you might be suffering from a sinus headache. Mostly it will be accompanied by running nose and swelling of face. If you are suffering from this, the best solution is to cure your blockage of the nose. Essential oils like Eucalyptus and Peppermint are very effective in curing sinus pain.

Many times, they are also triggered by some allergic reactions. At that time, use of essential oils in diffusers can get rid of microbes in air, thus cleaning it. There isn’t sufficient research to support use of essential oils in sinus headache, but it has been proven that they are very useful in clearing nasal blockage. This will in most cases provide relief from headache.

Sinus Headache Relief Recipe
Pour 5 drops of Peppermint essential oil and 5 drops of Eucalyptus essential oil in one bowl of boiling water. Use a towel to cover your head and breathe through your nose to inhale steam. Do not do it for more than 2 minutes at a time. It will provide instant relief from headache. Repeat if required in duration of one hour.

Stress or Tension Headache

We are stressed about various things on a daily basis. This stress eats into our physical and as well as mental health. This type of headache is mostly of mild or moderate intensity, covering the whole of the head region. This can be caused by stress, inadequate sleep or wrong posture. Easiest way to identify it is that it is caused on both sides of the head, in contrast to above two mentioned headaches.

To cure headache from tension, you need to make your environment relaxing and comfortable. Make sure you drink lots of water everyday. Aromatherapy is very effective in relaxing your mind and reliving from your stress. Diffusing oils like Roman Chamomile and Frankincense will provide you with instant relief.

Tension Headache Relief
Use Peppermint Oil or Frankincense oil in the diffuser and add water as per instruction given for your diffuser. Use it overnight while sleeping or at work place during day time to get relief from stress and tension.

Steps to Cure Your Headache

As we discussed before, cure doesn’t mean only applying or using some medicine but you need to understand the cause of headache. It will mean bringing change in your lifestyle. Incorporating essential oils in your daily life will bear fruits with wellness and better health. Best part of them is that even without any specific goal, it will bring peace and wellness to your household.

Make sure you do following steps to get relief from headache:

Avoid unnecessary stress in day to day life.
Drink adequate water daily.
Maintain balance diet
Exercise regularly
Use Essential Oils

Peppermint Essential Oil for Headache Relief

For thousands of years, peppermint oil has been used because of its properties. These properties are carminative, analgesic, cephalic, cordial, antibacterial, antiseptic, digestive, diuretic, hypertensive, stimulant, cholagogue, astringent, hepatic, antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, and sudorific. The most active elements of this oil are Menthone and Menthol which are responsible to reduce pain and to energize.

Moreover, it prevents the growth of harmful bacteria. In a 2015 study it was found that application of peppermint oil to the forehead gives relief from tension headache. It has a long-lasting cooling effect on the body, ability to stimulate blood flow in the forehead and inhibits muscle contraction when applied topically.

Lavender Oil for Headaches

The Lavender essential oil is a versatile oil and is used in therapeutic and cosmetic because of its versatile properties. These properties are antiseptic, sedative, antimicrobial, antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, anti fungal, antibacterial, analgesic, antispasmodic, detoxifying, and hypotensive properties. These properties soothe and calm the nervous system.

In fact, various studies show that inhalation of lavender oil has an ability to eliminate depression, stress, fatigue, and anxiety. The lavender essential oil is a natural painkiller because of its analgesic property. The fragrance of oil in oxygen significantly reduces the headaches and migraines.Massaging lavender oil increases blood circulation, treats hypertension and gives muscle strength.

Eucalyptus Oil for Headache Pain

It has wide applications in the perfumery industry and industrial because of its unique and rich content of properties. It has anti fungal, anti-inflammatory, decongestant, antispasmodic, antiseptic, antibacterial, insecticidal properties. The Eucalyptus Essential oil is one of the best oils to reduce headache. It may alleviate sinus pressure that causes pain and tension.

It can boost mental clarity and relaxes tensed facial muscle which is beneficial if you suffer from headache. In 2011, research found that eucalyptus oil has analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties that reduces the inflammation and relieves headache and migraine.It inhibits mucus formation in the airways and improves breathing with respiratory conditions that reduces headache which is caused by sinus pressure.

Chamomile Oil for Headache Relief

The chamomile oil is known as herbal aspirin since it’s been a home remedy for reducing pain for centuries. It contains Chamazulene which is an aromatic chemical compound that contains analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antispasmodic properties. The chamomile oil soothes the muscles and relaxes the body which can be an aid in treating headaches and migraines.

It also helps to treat insomnia and anxiety which are primary causes of headaches. In 2018 research found that a chamomile had an ability to alleviate migraine pain. Besides, it can naturally lower pain related to injuries, back pain, arthritis, pregnancy, and fever.

Cautions for Using Essential Oils

Here are a few things to keep in mind when using essential oils for headache relief:

Keep the oil away from eyes.
Pregnant women should not be used.
The oil is intended for topical and aromatic use only. It should not be ingested.
Dilute the oil before applying it topically.