Best Essential Oils for Migraines and Headaches
Headache pain is often some of the worst pain you can suffer. It’s tough to concentrate on everyday tasks, let alone complex situations. And sometimes, your only option is to lay down in a dark room and try to sleep away the pain.
The Most Common Types of Headaches
- Tension Headaches – mild to moderate pain that comes and goes with no other symptoms.
- Migraine Headaches – intense pain, often throbbing, accompanied by other symptoms such as nausea or vomiting; light, noise, and smell sensitivity; loss of appetite.
- Cluster Headaches – Intense piercing pain behind or around one eye, they come and go over time.
- Sinus Headaches – Caused by a sinus infection, typically accompanied by runny nose, fever, or swelling in the face.
- Hormone Headaches – Women can get these headaches due to PMS, menopause, or pregnancy hormone changes.
Natural Ways to Ease Headache Pain
To ease the pain in a natural way, many people turn to essential oils for migraines and headaches. Essential oils can help by reducing stress, increase circulation, balance hormones, and stimulate the pain-blocking chemicals in the brain to provide relief.
Essential Oils to Try for Migraines and Headaches
Peppermint Essential Oil - is perfect for a migraine headache, as it also reduces nausea. Peppermint contains menthol, which relaxes muscles and eases pain. It can also help balance hormones, which is works well for headaches caused by PMS, pregnancy, or menopause.
Eucalyptus Essential Oil is great when sinus headaches are the root cause of your pain. It cleanses the body of toxins, opens the nasal passages, and relieves sinus pressure. It has powerful anti-inflammatory effects as well as pain blocking properties.
Lavender Essential Oil is known to reduce stress, which helps to ease the tension that can cause many types of headaches. It works with the central nervous system and regulates serotonin levels in the brain to reduce pain and cause deep relaxation.
Rosemary Essential Oil has been used to improve circulation for ages, which can be a cause of head pain. It has analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties and can help reduce stress. Rosemary also soothes nausea which can often accompany headaches.
Best Way to Use Essential Oils for Headaches
Nebulizing Diffuser – The most effective way to use essential oils for headaches and migraines is to use a nebulizing diffuser. Nebulizers deliver pure essential oils into the air without diluting with water so you can be sure you are inhaling a good amount of pure essential oil.
Necklace Diffuser – A necklace diffuser works well for people who are always on the go. A few drops of your favorite oil before you leave the house will give you up to 6 hours of relief.
Car Diffuser – Having a headache and being stuck in traffic is a bad combination and can often leave us in a foul mood. A good quality car diffuser and some lavender essential oil is the perfect way to end a long stressful day at work.
Whichever type of headache you have, the most important goal is to get rid of it. With the right essential oils, you can do just that.
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18 Responses
Remoni
Thanks for the suggestions. BECAUSE the oil is natural that out of harmfulness. The artificial air freshness causes many diseases, It’s perfectly understandable that you would like for the aroma of your home to smell lavish and welcoming, but at the same time, using synthetic scents is not the only option. Luckily, a recently introduced solution has gotten a lot of attention, and for perfect reasons. This is known as diffusing essential oils.
Alyssa Smith
Great info. Will ha e to try these next time I have a migraine.
gala
great and useful info, I noticed that Peppermint Essential Oil helps me often, should try others too
Amy D
I sure do LOVE my peppermint oil, but never knew that it is good for migraines. My husband suffers from migraines, and I will be sure to give him some the next time he gets one.
Scotty
Definitely have to show this to my wife. She managed to improve her migraines with magnesium supplements but they are not enough on their own. Thanks!
Cheryl
Thanks for another helpful and informative article.
Cory Malone
I’ve had migraines since I was 15. Using essentiaI oiIs has made a difference. I’m sharing this with my friends.
Allison
It’s beautiful and very quite!
Coline T.
When I have a headache I have a lavender essential oil for it. Strong scent makes me feel better and comfortable. Thanks for the list and maybe I should try another one :-)
Kristi Williams
Great information to know. As relaxation primarily helps me on the rare instances I have a headache come on, combining these particular oils in my treatment I feel will have added benefits. Thank you.
Danijela Zagar
Great info, thank you!
Irena Matković
Thank you, I need these!
Toni Sprouse
I just recently received my first bottle of peppermint and I actually have a roaring headache this morning so this article is a BLESSING to me! Thank you!
Lynne B
This is good information when I do get headaches.
Sharon
I have suffered from migraines my whole life and lavender has been helpful to me in so many ways. I have used it in a diffuser and often I put this essential oil in organic olive oil to apply all over my body, it is so extremely calming. I have seen research that shows lavender lowers cortisol levels. I also apply lavender directly to my scalp before I sleep. In addition I use it to heal burns on my skin it works great. I’ve never used peppermint for migraines but have used it for sore painful muscles or digestive issues, I love peppermint. I will have to try it for my migraines with the eucalyptus and rosemary. Thanks for the information.
Cristel
Great Info! Will put to use.
Cairine
I have used peppermint essential oil for my headaches but not the others. Wouldn’t hurt to try them.
Rina
August 09, 2018
Very useful article, thank you!