Nearly every person on the planet has experienced headaches. You may not always be sure what is the cause of the headache because there are numerous causes.
Some of them are hormones, fatigue, allergies, stress, low blood sugar, nutritional deficiencies, poor posture, and drug and alcohol consumption. Unfortunately, the cause can also be a combination of the causes mentioned above.
When people think of a headache, the first thing they think of to treat it with is a painkiller. However, bear in mind that painkillers can have severe side effects such as liver and kidney damage.
Also, they do not deal with the cause of the problem, they just solve it at the moment.
The next time you experience a headache, or maybe you experience headaches frequently, consider solving the problem using natural remedies. Perhaps you have already tried some, but have you tried the right one? We are recommending essential oils.
Why essential oils? Because they effectively and safely treat the trigger of a headache, at the same time they can get to the cause of your problem. Remember that essential oils do not work temporarily.
Also, you can have control of the amount and the dose of the essential oils; you can adjust it yourself according to your headache.
The Way Essential Oils Helps
In the case of a migraine and headache people most commonly used pain relievers. However, essential oils are a safer and more efficient alternative.
The essential oils can reduce stress, help circulation, and can provide relief. Other than the numerous health benefits essential oils also boost the immune system.
In women, hormonal changes are one primary cause of a headache. How? Well, what can trigger a headache are the fluctuations in estrogen, especially during or before their period. Because that is when the levels of estrogen drop.
Also, there are some women who because of hormonal imbalances have migraines during menopause or pregnancy. But you should know that hormonal medications might make the headaches worse, that is why we recommend essential oils.
The essential oil treatment is natural and gentle, unlike drugs. Soothing oils that are used to help with hormonal imbalances and PMS symptoms such as migraine and headaches are rosemary oil and lavender. Rosemary and lavender oil can ease tension and relieve your pain.
Stress is a major trigger of a headache. You can reduce stress by using peppermint and lavender oil aromatically. Also, the change in your sleeping patterns can cause a headache.
In such a case, you can use lavender oil due to the fact that it works like a mild sedative. The lavender oil can help if you lack sleep or suffer from insomnia.
Sinus pressure, specific foods, allergies, and intense physical exertion can also trigger headaches. You can eliminate or at least minimize the triggers with essential oils. These astonishing oils can treat almost any health problem.
Essential Oil For Headache Relief
1. Lavender Oil
Lavender oil has many therapeutic properties. It works as a sedative, anticonvulsant, calming, anti-anxiety, antidepressant, and anxiolytic agent and also as a sedative. That is why it can relieve your tension and stress and also prompt relaxation.
There is evidence that is effective for neurological disorders and conditions.
Researchers report the topical and aromatic use of lavender oil because its primary constituents linalyl acetate and linalool can affect Healthline. The primary constituents absorb rapidly into the skin. Also, it can lead to depression in the central nervous system.
That is why headaches of anxiety and similar conditions can be treated with lavender oil.
The benefits of this oil are that it can relieve the feeling of disturbed sleep and restlessness, known symptoms of headaches. The lavender oil can also regulate the levels of serotonin which can help to minimize the pain in the nervous system which may cause a migraine.
To relieve stress, help with your sleep, to boost your mood, and to reduce your muscle tension you can diffuse 5 drops of lavender oil in your office or at home.
You can typically use the lavender oil to relieve tension and stress headaches, just apply it to your wrists, temples, or the back of your neck.
To relax, just add 5 to 10 drops of this amazing oil to a warm-water bath and inhale and take deep breaths. That is how the sedative properties shall start to kick in, and it can reduce your headache tension. That is how you will relax your body and mind at the same time.
Studies on the effect of lavender oil
In 2012, European Neurology published a study that made the discovery that this particular oil is effective and can manage migraine and headaches. In this clinical trial that was placebo-controlled, there were 74 participants.
In this group i.e. treatment group when they had a migraine headache for fifteen minutes they inhaled the lavender oil. The patients then had to record the severity of their headache and symptoms in intervals of 30-minute, for 2 hours.
There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups. In the treatment group from 129 cases of headache, 92 partially or entirely responded to the inhalation of lavender oil.
On the other hand, in the control group from 68 headache cases, 32 responded to a placebo. There were more responders in the group that used lavender and fewer in the placebo group.
2. Rosemary Oil
Even in folk medicine rosemary oil was used for poor circulation and headaches. Rosemary oil has analgesic, stimulating, and anti-inflammatory properties. It can improve alertness and your personal orientation. This oil also has a calming effect.
This oil can also reduce emotional triggers and stress. In addition, can soothe your upset stomach and also can help you with your digestion, which is considered to be a symptom of a headache.
In 2013, Addiction and Health published a study that made an evaluation of the efficiency of this oil as an herbal therapy for the reduction of withdrawal symptoms in patients that had a history of opium abuse.
Some symptoms of opium withdrawal are insomnia, fever, dysphoric mood, muscle aches, headaches, and nausea. So the treatment with rosemary can reduce these symptoms.
The patient four weeks took it internally. This treatment treated convulsions, eased the pain, reduced muscle jerks, and tension, and improved the sleeping pattern of the patients.
Next time you have a headache or a migraine you can take the rosemary treatment internally, just by adding it to your soup, water, or tea. If you want to reduce the pain of your headache, you can mix one teaspoon of coconut oil with two drops of rosemary oil with two drops of peppermint oil.
Use the mixture to massage your forehead, temples, and the back of your neck.
3. Peppermint Oil
The benefits of peppermint oil are its ability to inhibit muscle contractions, its cooling effect on the skin that is long-lasting, and its role to stimulate the blood flow in the forehead in case of topical use.
You can use it topically to ease a tension headache. Just use this miracle peppermint essential oil and apply it to your temples and forehead.
To improve your blood circulation, relieve tension, and reduce pain you can dilute two drops of peppermint essential oil with coconut oil and rub it on the back of the neck, your forehead, and shoulders.
Studies on the effect of the peppermint oil
In 1996 there was a study that made an analysis of 41 patients and around 164 headache attacks.
The patients were analyzed in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. They applied it topically 15 to 30 minutes after a headache began.
Patients said that they felt relief. And peppermint essential oil proved to be a cost-effective and tolerated alternative when it comes to headache therapy. No adverse side effects were reported after the use of this essential oil.
In 1995, the International Journal of Phytotherapy and Phytopharmacology published a study in which the researchers investigated the treatment of essential oil.
This study had 32 participants that got evaluated, and they made an investigation of the essential oil treatment by comparing the treatment and baseline measurements.
The treatment that was effective was the combination of ethanol, eucalyptus essential oil, and peppermint essential oil.
The researchers applied the mixture above mentioned to the participant’s temples and foreheads with a small sponge. The mixture had a mentally relaxing and muscle-soothing effect.
When the researchers mixed the ethanol with peppermint oil, they came to the discovery that it reduces the sensitivity during your headache.
4. Eucalyptus Oil
Eucalyptus acts as an expectorant and cleanses your body from harmful microorganisms and toxins. Also, it eliminates pressure in your sinus and helps with the nasal airways, which can cause a severe headache. At the same time, it promotes emotional balance and also boosts your mood.
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine published in a clinical trial. The clinical trial reports that inhaling this oil can lead to a decrease in pain and also in blood pressure.
Fifty-two patients were involved in the study, and these patients recently underwent knee replacement surgery.
The oil stimulated emotional stability which resulted in anti-inflammatory effects and reduced the formation of edema. These relaxing and pain-reducing effects may be beneficial to those with tension headaches.
In 2011, there was a study in Israel that made an evaluation of the efficiency of the oil when it is applied to patients that have respiratory conditions that often cause sore throat, tension headaches, and cough. According to the patients, the eucalyptus oil reduced their runny noses and improved their breathing.
According to researchers, the oil had anti-inflammatory effects because it was used to help with respiratory conditions. The oil exhibited antimicrobial, antiviral, and antibacterial properties that eased sinus pressure. The inflammatory response can cause this.
To eliminate nasal build-up and to clear your airways you can dilute carrier oil with 2 to 4 drops of this oil. Then apply it topically to your temples, forehead, back of the neck, and your chest.
How to Use Essential Oils for Headache Relief
1. Sugar Headache
A headache caused by Dr. AXE. Mix an equal amount of coconut, rosemary, and lavender oil.
Apply it topically to the forehead, temples, and back of the neck. Also, for internal use, you can add one drop of rosemary essential oil to a cup of soup or smoothie.
2. Migraine Headache:
This migraine is a painful and severe type of headache that connects with sensitivity to light, pain, and nausea. Hormonal change, stress, anxiety, and sleep deprivation can trigger migraines.
To reduce migraine headaches and to ease the feeling of anxiety and nausea you can massage peppermint or lavender oil into the back of your neck or temples.
3. Sinus Headache:
A sinus headache happens when membranes of the sinus cavities swell or inflame; you feel pressure in your forehand. To relieve sinus tension and to open your nasal passages you can topically add eucalyptus oil to your temples, nose, and chest.
4. Tension Headache:
Tension headaches i.e. stress headaches are known as constant, dull pain, or pressure. The feelings of pressure bring them. To reduce tension and alleviate the stress you can topically use peppermint or eucalyptus oil on your wrists, forehead, and temples.
Also, you can add five to ten drops of lavender oil to a warm-water bath to ease your mind and relax.
Side Effects of These Oils
- You need to do a test on a small area of the skin before you apply any of the oil mentioned above to larger areas. This quick patch test is a must especially if you have never used essential oils before.
- Remember always to dilute the oil first before you use it. Especially in sensitive areas such as the forehead and nose.
- For internal use remember that 1 to 2 drops are enough.
- Do not exceed use oils of more than 4.
- Always take a break for at least a week.
Source Healthline | Draxe | WebMD | Mayo Clinic | Medicine Plus