Essential oils are unlikely to be the first thing you think about when you have a headache and in vain! Essential oils have a lot of health benefits and are often used in traditional medicine. They do more than create a pleasant smell in the room.
Each essential oil has its own properties. They can help ease muscle soreness, boost immune system function, and relieve migraines. But you may ask, why would you use essential oil instead of a pill? Pain medications often have a list of side effects and can damage your health when taken regularly. Using essential oils for the treatment of headaches and migraines is a great way to cut the use of medication while staying free of pain.
Below are 6 essential oils that can be effective for the treatment of both occasional headaches and migraines.
1. Lavender
Lavender is a popular option for the treatment of headaches and migraines. Lavender has a great soothing smell that can help you relax. When combined with a gentle massage, lavender oil helps reduce stress-indulged muscle tension in your neck and shoulders.
Tension and muscle stiffness in the neck and shoulders often cause headaches and even blood pressure problems. Lavender essential oils aromatherapy is recommended for tension headaches and migraine treatment.
2. Ginger
Fresh ginger is known for its ability to combat nausea and vomiting. But ginger essential oil also has a lot of health benefits. Inhaling ginger essential is shown to reduce inflammation and all sorts of headaches, including migraines. You may also dilute the ginger essential oil with a carrier oil and apply it to your skin if you don’t have an aroma lamp.
3. Peppermint
Peppermint oil is often used to treat headaches and migraines. Thai oil contains menthol that can help release muscle tension and ease the pain. When applying to the skin, peppermint oil causes a cooling effect that helps relieve muscle contractions in the head and neck area. Besides, peppermint oil stimulates blood flow, improving headache and migraine symptoms.
This oil can be used in several ways. You can dilute it with water and apply this solution to your temples whenever you have a headache. Another way to use peppermint oil is aromatherapy.
4. Chamomile
Chamomile essential oil has a soothing and relaxing effect on your body. It can help relax tight muscles and relieve different types of headaches, including migraines. Aromatherapy with chamomile essential oils helps relieve depression and anxiety that are also often linked to headaches. Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, chamomile essential oil can reduce pain and treat inflammation-related headaches.
5. Eucalyptus
Aromatherapy with eucalyptus essential oil is a good way to treat headaches related to sinuses’ congestion and inflammation. Inhaling eucalyptus oil can open your nasal passages and clear the sinuses. Besides, eucalyptus oil has a soothing and relaxing effect on your nervous system. This helps relieve headaches related to high levels of stress. You can mix eucalyptus oil with other oils or use it alone for headache-relieving aromatherapy.
6. Rosemary
Rosemary oil has powerful anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties. It can be used to reduce inflammation and improve blood flow to your head and neck. This can help you relieve headaches and ease the symptoms of migraines. Aromatherapy with chamomile essential oil improves the sleeping problems that are often linked to increased vulnerability to headaches and migraines. It can also relieve anxiety and depression, the common causes of headaches.
The bottom line
Essential oils are safe and have fewer side effects compared to headache-relieving medication. But it is important to use them correctly. Avoid applying concentrated essential oil to your skin. This can cause an allergic reaction or damage the skin. To rule out the risk of widespread allergy, be sure to perform a patch test. Apply a few drops of diluted essential oil to the small spot on your skin to make sure you don’t have an allergy.
You should also be careful if you have preexisting conditions like asthma or heart problems. In this case, it is recommended to consult your doctor to avoid complications. Use essential oils only for aromatherapy or topical. Essential oils aren’t intended to use in meals.
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