Most Effective Essential Oils To Help Get Rid Of Headaches
Rather than popping a pill every time you have a headache, why not try an all natural remedy. Learn about the top essential oils that work to combat different forms of headaches so you can be pain free, safe and natural all at the same time.
(THIS POST PROBABLY CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS. OUR FULL DISCLOSURE POLICY IS LONG & BORING BUT, YOU CAN FIND IT HERE.)
Most Effective Essential Oils For Head Aches
Headaches can really take a toll on your body and be very physically draining. Especially those who suffer from chronic head pain. They can take over your life.
Things like bright lights and loud noises are a way of life for most people and can cause that head ache to just be unbearable.
Not everyone has the luxury of laying down and trying to sleep off head pain. Popping a pill is the next solution for most people but did you know that taking a pain killer will mostly take away the pain, but does not address the reason for it?
Essential oils effectively get to the core root of the problem instead of just covering up the pain.
Causes of Head Aches
There are a lot of different reasons for head aches.
- Stress
- Lack of sleep
- Hormone changes
- Dehydration
- Muscle tension, like neck pain
- High blood pressure
- Sinus issues such as sinus pressure and sinus congestion
All of these can be a contributing factor to your head pain.
Aside from doing things like yoga to prevent stress, drinking lots of water, getting plenty of sleep to prevent head aches in the first place, there are a few other things we can do to help the pain go away naturally.
What Type of Headache Do You Have?
Did you know that there are different kinds of headaches? Figuring out what kind of headache you have will help you determine which essential oils to use.
Migraine Headaches
A migraine headache is when an individual has moderate to severe pain, often referred to as a pounding or throbbing feeling. It can also cause nausea.
Migraine headaches can be on one side of the face only or can be located in the neck, head or face. In some cases the pain is all over.
Usually migraines are associated with sensitivity to light, sound and sometimes strong scents.
Migraine attacks can be triggered by stress, sleep deprivation, hormonal changes or anxiety.
Sinus Headaches
Due to allergies, common cold or the flu, our sinus cavity can become inflamed and swollen. This may cause mild to severe pressure in the forehead area by these cavities and nasal passages.
Tension Headaches
Tension headaches (also known as stress headaches) can feel like a dull pain all over the head with some pressure. These headache symptoms are not sharp or throbbing like some of the others.
This tension-type headache can be triggered by food, dehydration, excessive eye strain, fatigue, lack of sleep, or even poor posture in the back of the neck.
Cluster Headaches
These types of headaches form behind one of the eyes or side of the face. You would have sharp pain which sometimes is followed by swelling, redness and sometimes sweating in the affected area.
They are called a cluster head ache because they happen in a cluster of time. Sometimes it happens 3 to 4 times in one day lasting anywhere from 15 minutes to 3 hours. They then disappear and then reappear some other time during that same day.
The exact reason for these headaches is not yet known. Anything can bring them on and cause them.
How Do Essential Oils Work
Essential oils are basically plant extracts. When inhaled, the scent molecule travels to the brain through the olfactory nerve. They also can be absorbed through the skin. Different essential oils have different properties and therefore can do different things.
Essential oils can be antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anti fungal just to name a few. They are known as miracles oils and have been used for centuries to cure all sorts of aliments.
Best Essential Oils For Headaches
There are several essential oils that work great for headaches. Here are a few of the best ones.
Lavender Essential Oil
Lavender has anti-inflammatory properties and analgesic which makes it a helpful sedative, anti-anxiety, antidepressant and a calming agent.
It is great for reducing stress which can be a huge headache contributor. And it also aids in relaxation and helps tension.
Lavender has been known to help with restlessness and disturbed sleep which is another known cause of headaches. Lots of studies have shown that lavender is very effective in both headaches and migraines.
Peppermint Oil
Peppermint oil is known for its cooling effects on the skin, stimulating blood flow and blood vessels and for its ability to inhibit muscle contractions.
It is best for tension headaches and migraines. And it can also help balance hormones which is another factory in getting headaches.
Peppermint contains menthol which helps relax the muscles and ease pain. It is also a great way to help with blood flow and lessen inflammation.
Eucalyptus Oil
Eucalyptus can work as an expectorant which helps clean the body of toxins and harmful microorganisms. This oil has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial. antimicrobial, and antiviral properties.
It is great for tension headaches because it helps to relax muscles and reduce inflammation which can cause much tension in the body.
Rosemary Oil
Rosemary oil has stimulating properties that have been known to help boost circulation and improve alertness. Great for tension-type headache and migraines.
It is anti-inflammatory and also analgesic (which gives sedative effects). It helps reduce stress, relieve pain, and improve circulation which can all help with headache relief.
Rosemary oil has also been known to help with insomnia and relax tense muscles. Because of this it can also help with withdrawal symptoms.
Carrier Oils
When you are putting essential oils onto the skin and body you need to use what is called a carrier oil. Essential oils can cause skin irritation or an allergic reaction if placed directly on the skin. Pure essential oils are very strong and need that carrier oil to help your skin.
Two thing to look for in a carrier oil is that they say they are cold pressed, which means it retains its beneficial properties, and that they are unrefined, which means they retain their strength. Different oils have different properties. You can look those up and decide which is best for you.
I like to use Coconut Oil in a lot of my recipes but it can be any of the following oils:
- Coconut oil
- Avocado oil
- Emu oil
- Sweet almond oil
- Olive oil
- Argan oil
- Jojoba oil
- Apricot Kernel Oil
Making Our Own Headache Roller With Essential Oils
We’ve identified the essential oils that are best for headaches and talked about carrier oils. Now we get to combined the two items together to make our all natural headache roller.
Materials Needed
You will need the following items to make this headache relief stick.
- Glass roller container
- Lavender essential oil
- Peppermint essential oil
- Eucalyptus essential oil
- Rosemary essential oil
- Carrier oil ( I used coconut oil )
- a small funnel ( Optional )
How To Make Headache Relief Stick
- Fill a glass roller tube about 3/4 of the way full with carrier oil. You can use a small funnel or just pour directly into the glass container.
- Next you want to put 8 drops of each essential oil into your glass roller.
- Put the roller ball into the glass roller and then shake gently.
- Roll your new blend where ever you have head pain. On the back of the neck, your temples, the forehead etc. Let that soak in or if you would like, massage it in with your finger in a circular motion.
- If you need relief ASAP hold roller directly up to nose and take multiple big sniffs from it.
That’s it! It is so simple and is such an effective treatment for different types of headaches.
Most Effective Essential Oils For Headaches
Headaches really can be debilitating. Next time you feel one coming on, get out your new headache roller and roll some on the pain filled spot. It is such an effective way to treat your head pain without the use of drugs. I love using my roller and hope you will too.
Have you ever tried essential oils to get rid of a headache? Which oils did you use? Let us know in the comments.
