Millions of people across the world suffer from headaches every day for a variety of reasons, and they’re often not sure what to blame! There are so many causes, which include stress, fatigue, allergies, hormones, nutritional deficiencies, constipation, poor posture, low blood sugar, and alcohol or drug consumption. Then, of course, there’s the wicked combination of a couple of those causes. If you suffer from frequent headaches and struggle to find an effective treatment, there are no shortage of natural headache remedies out there. But perhaps you haven’t tried the one option, the one principle ingredient/s that can make the biggest difference? I’m talking about essential oils for headaches.
The
most common headache treatment is a painkiller, but these pills come
with a host of ugly side effects, like kidney and liver damage; plus
they don’t deal with the root of the problem.
Essential oils serve
as headache treatments because they safely and effectively treat the
headache trigger, getting to the root of the problem instead of
minimizing the pain temporarily. Plus, when using essential oils for
headaches through a diffuser, there are no nasty side effects and you
are in complete control of your dose — adjusting it for the type of
headache you experience.
How Do Essential Oils Treat Headaches?
Unlike pain relievers that are commonly used to treat headaches and migraines today,
essential oils serve as a more effective and safer alternative.
Essential oils provide relief, aid circulation and reduce stress. They
also have a ton of other health benefits and boost your immune system
instead of wreaking havoc on your vital organs.
Really,
there are few safer, more beneficial ways to soothe headaches than by
using essential oils for headaches. It should come as no surprise
considering aromatherapy has long been used to treat pain and headaches.
Every headache has a trigger. One major cause of headaches is
hormonal changes in women. Fluctuations in estrogen can trigger
headaches in many women, especially immediately before or during their
periods when estrogen levels drop.
Some
women develop migraines during pregnancy or menopause due to hormonal
imbalances. Hormonal medications can even worsen headaches, so using essential oils as
a gentle and natural treatment is recommended. Lavender and rosemary
oils, for instance, are soothing oils that relieve pain and ease
tension. Both oils are used to treat PMS symptoms and hormonal imbalances, including headaches and migraine attacks.
Another
major headache trigger is stress, which can be reduced by using
lavender and peppermint oil aromatically. Changes in sleeping patterns
can also lead to a headache — luckily, lavender works as a mild sedative
that helps people suffering from insomnia or a lack of sleep.
Headaches may also be the result of intense physical exertion, allergies, sinus pressure (sinusitis),
congestion, certain foods and sensory stimuli. All of these triggers
can be minimized or even eliminated with essential oils. No wonder they
have been used for thousands of years — these miracle oils have the
ability to treat just about any health condition.
Top 4 Essential Oils for Headaches
- Peppermint oil
- Lavender oil
- Eucalyptus oil
- Rosemary oil
1. Peppermint
Peppermint oil uses and
benefits include its long-lasting cooling effect on the skin, ability
to inhibit muscle contractions and role in stimulating blood flow in the
forehead when applied topically.
Applying peppermint essential oil topically across the forehead and on the temples effectively alleviates a tension headache.
In a 1996 study, 41 patients (and 164 headache attacks) were analyzed
in a placebo-controlled, double-blind crossover study. The peppermint
oil was applied topically 15 and 30 minutes after a headache began.
Participants
reported pain relief in their headache diaries, and peppermint oil
proved to be a well-tolerated and cost-effective alternative to usual
headache therapies. There were also no adverse side effects reported
after peppermint treatment. (1)
Another important study was conducted in 1995 and published in theInternational Journal of Phytotherapy and Phytopharmacology.
Thirty-two healthy participants were evaluated, and essential oil
treatment was investigated by comparing the baseline and treatment
measurements. One effective treatment was a combination of peppermint
oil, eucalyptus oil and ethanol.
Researchers
used a small sponge to apply this mixture, which has a muscle-soothing
and mentally relaxing effect, to the participants’ foreheads and
temples. When peppermint was mixed with just ethanol, researchers found
that it reduces sensitivity during a headache. (2)
In order to improve blood circulation, reduce pain and relieve tension, dilute two to three drops of peppermint oil with coconut oil and rub it into the shoulders, forehead and back of neck.
2. Lavender
Lavender
essential oil has a variety of therapeutic and curative properties. It
induces relaxation and relieves tension and stress — working as a
sedative, antidepressant, anti-anxiety, anxiolytic, anticonvulsant and
calming agent. There is also growing evidence that lavender oil serves
as an effective treatment of neurological conditions and disorders.
According to researchers, aromatic and topical use of lavender oil affects the limbic system because
the main constituents, linalool and linalyl acetate, are rapidly
absorbed through the skin and are thought to cause central nervous
system depression. For this reason, lavender oil can be used to treat
headaches caused by anxiety disorders and related conditions.
Lavender oil benefits include
relieving feelings of restlessness and disturbed sleep, two symptoms of
headaches. It also regulates serotonin levels, which helps
minimize pain in the nervous system that can lead to migraine attacks. (3)
A 2012 study published in European Neurology found
that lavender essential oil is an effective and safe modality in the
management of migraine headaches. Forty-seven participants were
investigated in this placebo-controlled clinical trial. The treatment
group inhaled lavender oil for 15 minutes during a migraine headache.
The patients were then asked to record their headache severity and
associated symptoms in 30-minute intervals for two hours.
The
difference between the control and treatment groups was statistically
significant. From the 129 headache cases in the treatment group, 92
responded entirely or partially to lavender oil inhalation. In the
control group, 32 out of 68 recorded that headache attacks responded to
the placebo; the percentage of responders was significantly higher in
the lavender group than the placebo group. (4)
To
reduce muscle tension, boost mood, aid sleep and relieve stress,
diffuse five drops of lavender oil at home or in the office. You can
also apply lavender oil topically to the back of neck, temples and
wrists to relieve stress or
tension headaches. To relax your body and mind, add five to 10 drops of
lavender oil to a warm-water bath and take deep breaths so the sedative
properties begin to take effect and reduce headache tension.
3. Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus
works as an expectorant — it helps cleanse the body of toxins and
harmful microorganisms. It also opens the nasal airways and eliminates sinus pressure that can lead to a nasty headache, all while promoting emotional balance and boosting mood.
A clinical trial published in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine states that inhaling eucalyptus oil can
decrease a person’s pain and blood pressure. The study involved 52
patients who recently underwent total knee replacement surgery.
Eucalyptus oil treatment promoted emotional stability in the patients,
reduced edema formation and had anti-inflammatory effects. These
pain-reducing and relaxing effects can be beneficial to people suffering
from tension headaches. (5)
A
2011 study conducted in Israel evaluated the efficacy of eucalyptus oil
when used on patients with respiratory conditions that can lead to
cough, sore throat and tension headaches. Patients reported that
eucalyptus oil improved breathing and reduced runny nose.
Researchers
reported that the oil showed anti-inflammatory effects when used to
treat respiratory conditions. It exhibited antibacterial, antiviral and
antimicrobial properties that alleviate sinus pressure caused by an
inflammatory response. (6)
Dilute
two to four drops of eucalyptus oil with a carrier oil, and apply it
topically to the chest, back of the neck, temples and forehead. This
eliminates nasal buildup and clears your airways — alleviating the sinus
tension that leads to a headache or migraine attack.
4. Rosemary
Rosemary essential oil has been used in folk medicine to treat headaches and poor circulation because of its stimulating, anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. It has a calming effect and improves personal orientation and alertness.
Rosemary
oil also reduces stress and emotional triggers that can cause headache
attacks. It also aids digestion and soothes an upset stomach, which can
be a symptom of a severe headache. (7)
An interesting 2013 study published in Addiction and Health evaluated
the efficacy of rosemary oil as a form of herbal therapy for the
alleviation of withdrawal syndromes in patients with a history of opium
abuse. Some opium withdrawal symptoms consist of dysphoric mood, nausea,
muscle aches, headaches, fever and insomnia. Rosemary treatment proved
to reduce these symptoms when taken internally for four weeks. It
reduced tension and muscle jerks, alleviated pain, improved sleeping
patterns, and treated convulsions. (8)
Take
one drop of rosemary oil internally by adding it to tea, water or soup
when experiencing headache or migraine attacks. To reduce headache pain,
mix two drops of rosemary oil with two drops of peppermint oil and one
teaspoon of coconut oil, and rub it into the temples, forehead and back
of neck.
You
can also blend these top four essential oils for headaches with
chamomile essential oil, cineole oil, spearmint oil and other oil blends
that include other hydrosol flowers.
read more https://draxe.com/essential-oils-for-headaches/ 
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