Aromatherapy Essential Oils for Headaches & Migraines
The 'sciency' bit! - How essential oils help headaches & migraines.
Essential oils work by being absorbed quickly by our smell receptors. These smell receptors are linked to our limbic system. The limbic system controls our heart rate, breathing, blood pressure and stress levels.
When the essential oils are inhaled, they can trigger certain responses in our body that help to relieve tension and anxiety, helping us to become more relaxed and calm.
This will help to treat your migraines or headaches. Depending on the type of headache or migraine you have, different essential oils may be more beneficial. Some essential oils can reduce stress, which can alleviate tension headaches, or soothe pain.
The 'useful' bit! - Which essential oils to use for what type of headache or migraine.
Let's start of by saying not everything will work for everyone as everyone will have a different reaction to certain fragrances. Peppermint, rosemary, lavender, chamomile, and eucalyptus are all helpful scents for reducing the symptoms of a headache. Be careful not to overdo it, though, as some people find that strong scents can trigger their headaches.
Tension Headaches
This is when you feel like you're head is in a clamp and someone's tightening it!
Peppermint oil diluted in a carrier oil and applied to your temples may begin to ease the pain within 15 minutes. The cooling effect of menthol, its main ingredient, can help to relax muscles and ease pain. Also good for migraine relief.
Stress Headaches
This is when
Lavender essential oil is commonly used for stress relief and relaxation. There’s also strong evidence that lavender can help treat headaches and migraine.
A 2013 study found that inhaling the scent of lavender essential oil can provide relief from migraine attacks. Effects were felt in as little as 15 minutes after inhalation. .
PMT/PMS Headaches
This is when
Geranium oil diluted in a carrier oil and applied to tummy.
Sinus Headaches
This is when …..
The go to for headaches caused by sinus issues. Eucalyptus essential oil will help to unblock your nose by opening up your nasal passages and clearing your sinuses which should then relieve the tension in your sinus that is causing the headaches.
Simply add a couple of drops of eucalyptus oil to a carrier oil and rub it into your chest to help clear your sinuses, You could also do a steam inhalation by adding a add a few drops to a bowl of hot water and breathing in the steam (better with a towel over your head).
The 'practical' bit! - How do you actually use essential oils to when you've got a headache or migraine.
How you use essential oils for your headache or migraine is kind of dependent on where you are! I mean, you wouldn’t be able to take a relaxing bath for a stress headache if you were in the office or out shopping! There typical ways you can use essential oils to treat your headache include
The forehead, back of the ears, back of the neck, and temples are common places to ease headaches. You can also massage it into the area where you’re experiencing pain the most. Before using, be sure to dilute the essential oil with a carrier oil, such as almond, olive, or jojoba oil. Keep out of your eyes!
Direct Application
You can apply a diluted blend of essential and carrier oil, such as grapeseed or sweet almond, directly to the areas that are in discomfort. Typically these include your forehead and temples, the back of your ears and neck and I find the soles of my feet is also a great place to apply the blend.
You can apply using a roller ball (if you’ve already got some blended) or just add up to 3 drops to 10ml of carrier oil (about a teaspoon) and massage in (making sure to wash your hands after!)
Inhalation & Diffusion
You can get an instant ‘hit’ of aromatherapy by adding a couple of drops of the oil onto a tissue or cotton wool ball and breathing in deeply, with the tissue under your nose (obvs!). You could also diffuse your oil (not eucalyptus tbc) using an aromatherapy diffuser.
Hot or Cold Compress
Soak a flannel or towel in hot/cold water and add a few drops of essential oil. Apply this as a cold compress to your forehead or a warm compress to the back of your neck.
Bath
Take a relaxing bath and add a few diluted drops of essential oil to a hot bath.
The 'recipe' bit! - Essential oil blend recipes for headache and migraine relief.
I've tried to give as many recipe options as possible as one may suit more than another.
Dilution Ratios
Maximum 10 drops of essential oils for every 30ml of carrier oil.
Maximum 3 drops of essential oil for every 10 ml of carrier oil
Frankincense & Peppermint
Add 10 drops of our Frankincense Dilute Essential to 4 drops of peppermint and put in approximately 10ml of grapeseed oil or your preferred blending oil. If it's easier put the blend in a roller ball and apply to your temples forehead and nape of neck as required when you feel the start of a headache coming on
Peppermint & Eucalyptus
The 'precautionary' bit! - What precautions should you take when using essential oils for headache or migraine.
The 'salesy' bit! - Why you should by SoulScents essential oils for headache and migraine relief.