ESSENTIAL OILS FOR HEADACHES
(Thanks to: Using Essential Oils for Headaches)
The types of headaches are listed below, along with the oils that are most helpful. These oils can be used either aromatically in a diffuser, inhaled directly from the bottle, or applied directly on the skin (dilute if called for). More information on how to use the oils is given at the end of the post.
General Headaches
The best general-purpose essential oils to have on hand for headaches are Peppermint and Rosemary followed by Basil, Clove, Eucalyptus, Frankincense, Lavender, Marjoram, and Patchouli. Often one drop of Peppermint over the spot that aches is enough.
(Another website recommended these oils for headaches: Lavender, Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Rosemary, Bay, Melissa, Jasmine. Four oils overlap in the 2 lists.)
Gastric
This type of headache can come on when you eat bad food. Lavender, Peppermint, and Rosemary are most effective.
Migraine
Migraine’s are most often produced by stress, lack of sleep, and/or dehydration, and can be combined with nausea and sensitivity to light. To treat migraine headaches you will find the following to be most helpful: Peppermint and Basil followed by Wintergreen and Ylang Ylang.
Tension
The most common type, tension headaches are caused by stress and feel like a dull pain on both sides of the head. Peppermint works best.
Make Your Own Essential Oil Blends
Under emotional stress? Prevent a headache by blending together 4 drops Sweet Marjoram, 4 drops Linaloe Wood, and 2 drops Neroli with 4 tsp carrier oil and massage into skin.
For prevention of a headache due to menstrual pain combine 4 drops Sweet Marjoram, 2 drops Valerian, and 4 drops Lavender with 4 tsp carrier oil and massage into skin.
For general headaches, combine 3 drops Lavender and 1 drop Peppermint. From this mixture take one drop and combine with one drop carrier oil, and massage over the area of your head that aches.
Applying the Blends
Headaches are best relieved with topical application. Essential oils are best used combined with a carrier oil, such as sweet almond, and massaged on the surface of the skin.
Headaches are most effectively dealt with by applying a single drop of Peppermint to the temples or area of your head that aches. However, blends diluted in a carrier oil can also be effective when massaged over larger areas of your head.
A good rule of thumb for frequent/daily massaging is a 1% solution. For occasional deep muscle aches, use 3% (and up to 5%).
1% solution would be adding 1 drop of EO to one teaspoon of oil; 2% solution would be adding 2 drops of EO to one teaspoon of oil, etc. To make a 1 ounce bottle use 5-6 drops for 1% solution; 10-12 for 2% and 15-18 for 3%.
Aromatic Use
You can also get headache relief by using the essential oils in a diffuser, or keeping drops on a nearby cotton ball.
The types of headaches are listed below, along with the oils that are most helpful. These oils can be used either aromatically in a diffuser, inhaled directly from the bottle, or applied directly on the skin (dilute if called for). More information on how to use the oils is given at the end of the post.
General Headaches
The best general-purpose essential oils to have on hand for headaches are Peppermint and Rosemary followed by Basil, Clove, Eucalyptus, Frankincense, Lavender, Marjoram, and Patchouli. Often one drop of Peppermint over the spot that aches is enough.
(Another website recommended these oils for headaches: Lavender, Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Rosemary, Bay, Melissa, Jasmine. Four oils overlap in the 2 lists.)
Gastric
This type of headache can come on when you eat bad food. Lavender, Peppermint, and Rosemary are most effective.
Migraine
Migraine’s are most often produced by stress, lack of sleep, and/or dehydration, and can be combined with nausea and sensitivity to light. To treat migraine headaches you will find the following to be most helpful: Peppermint and Basil followed by Wintergreen and Ylang Ylang.
Tension
The most common type, tension headaches are caused by stress and feel like a dull pain on both sides of the head. Peppermint works best.
Make Your Own Essential Oil Blends
Under emotional stress? Prevent a headache by blending together 4 drops Sweet Marjoram, 4 drops Linaloe Wood, and 2 drops Neroli with 4 tsp carrier oil and massage into skin.
For prevention of a headache due to menstrual pain combine 4 drops Sweet Marjoram, 2 drops Valerian, and 4 drops Lavender with 4 tsp carrier oil and massage into skin.
For general headaches, combine 3 drops Lavender and 1 drop Peppermint. From this mixture take one drop and combine with one drop carrier oil, and massage over the area of your head that aches.
Applying the Blends
Headaches are best relieved with topical application. Essential oils are best used combined with a carrier oil, such as sweet almond, and massaged on the surface of the skin.
Headaches are most effectively dealt with by applying a single drop of Peppermint to the temples or area of your head that aches. However, blends diluted in a carrier oil can also be effective when massaged over larger areas of your head.
A good rule of thumb for frequent/daily massaging is a 1% solution. For occasional deep muscle aches, use 3% (and up to 5%).
1% solution would be adding 1 drop of EO to one teaspoon of oil; 2% solution would be adding 2 drops of EO to one teaspoon of oil, etc. To make a 1 ounce bottle use 5-6 drops for 1% solution; 10-12 for 2% and 15-18 for 3%.
Aromatic Use
You can also get headache relief by using the essential oils in a diffuser, or keeping drops on a nearby cotton ball.