How To Use Essential Oils For Headache and Migraine

Take a natural approach to ease headache and migraine pain with essential oils.

Are the usual painkillers not easing your headache pain anymore? If so, it may be time to take a natural approach to alleviate headache and migraine pain.

Learn how to use essential oils to for headaches and migraines, and find the best essential oils that work for you!

However please note that while headaches may be a common ailment, they can be quite debilitating and disruptive if they increase in severity or occurrence. Make sure to monitor the severity and frequency of your headaches and migraines, and check in with your doctor if there has been a change. And while using essential oils like peppermint oil for headaches might help with pain relief, it is also important to note down headache and migraine triggers. To reduce triggers, try recording your symptoms and categorizing your headaches so you can accurately identify them and find the best method of pain relief for each type.

Check out - Peppermint Essential Oil For Headaches And Migraine

Many essential oils contain analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and calming properties that can help alleviate headache pain and discomfort. And while these naturally occurring properties are certainly helpful in easing general headache pain, different types of headaches or migraines can require a more specialized approach. That is why we have compiled a list of the best essential oils for different types of headaches and pain symptoms.

Best Essential Oils For Headaches and Migraines

Best Essential Oil For Tension Headaches

Peppermint oil is commonly identified as one of the best essential oils for headaches, general or otherwise. It is especially good at providing pain relief for tension headaches since it help alleviate symptoms like fatigue, tension, or stress. The menthol content in peppermint oil can also have a cooling effect on the skin and muscles, which can further help alleviate pressure, discomfort, or pain. 

As a result, peppermint oil can help relax and release tension in the muscles in the head, face, neck, temples, and shoulders. This release of this tension and easing of muscle contractions can help soothe tension headache pain as well as other types of headaches. The essential oil’s capacity to increase blood flow and promote circulation is also great at reducing pent-up pressure in the head region which can often cause headaches. 

Check out - Peppermint Essential Oil Benefits, And Uses

Best Essential Oil For Sinus Headache

Sinus headaches are usually triggered by an inflammation in the sinus cavity during times of allergy flare-ups, illness, or dry weather. The mucus buildup in the sinus cavity can cause sinus pressure, which in turn converts to a sinus headache. 

Eucalyptus oil is a great essential oil for sinus headaches. It is particularly effective in reducing sinus headaches pain and discomfort by opening up congested nasal passages. Both eucalyptus radiata and eucalyptus citriodora can help reduce inflammation and promote easier breathing by helping break down mucus buildup and alleviate sinus pressure. Eucalyptus oil’s anti-inflammatory, analgesic, decongestant, and antimicrobial properties can also help your body fight off infections, reduce tension, and alleviate painful symptoms that can correlate with or cause sinus headaches. 

Best Essential Oil For Migraines 

Unlike your typical headaches, migraines are often more severe and debilitating for those who suffer from a chronic migraine condition. They can often be triggered by external environmental changes, stress, sleep deprivation, as well as other things. Although the cause can be more varied for people with more complex conditions, migraines are often caused by changes in the brain or blood vessel constriction. 

Most known for its calming and relaxing properties, lavender oil is one of the best essential oils for migraines. It is known to help users reduce tension and stress in their daily life. It is also incredibly helpful at nighttime and is popularly used as a sleep aid. By helping reduce tension and stress, as well as helping you get a longer, deeper, and better quality sleep, lavender oil can help you avoid some of the triggers that can start migraines. It can also help reduce the pain and severity of the migraines. 

Lavender essential oil also has powerful analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, which help make it one of the best essential oils for migraine headaches. These properties can help provide pain relief as well as reduce any inflammation or tension triggering the migraines, making lavender a great essential oil to help with migraines, their triggers, and their symptoms. 

Also Read - Lavender Essential Oil Uses

How To Use Essential Oils For Headaches And Migraines

Inhalation 

A great way to get the maximum effects of essential oils is to directly inhale the oil from the bottle. This way the scent and oil will be at its strongest - undiluted by any carrier oil - yet still used safely. 

You can also inhale the essential oil with steam. Simply add 5 drops of the oil to a bowl of hot water. Place a towel over your head and lean in close to breathe in and inhale the steam.

Topical application 

Dilute and topically apply the essential oil to your temples, neck, shoulders, or head region to help relieve pressure, improve circulation, and relax muscles. Topically applying can also help reduce stress, improve digestive function, stabilize hormones, and ease menstrual cramp pain, which can in turn help reduce headaches. 

You can even use your favorite essential oil in roll-on form for easier, more on-the-go application. 

Diffusion

Diffuse a couple drops of your preferred essential oil to help improve mood, reduce stress, and ease fatigue. Diffusing essential oils for headaches can help relieve headache symptoms, ease headache pain, and reduce headache triggers.