Whether we’re the ones experiencing a headache or our kids are feeling discomfort, we want these painful symptoms to go away fast. However, we also want to use natural, sustainable sources of pain relief that are free of harsh chemicals. Essential oils provide the perfect resource when striking this delicate balance.
These are a few of the best essential oils that can help make your headache a thing of the past:
Peppermint Oil
We use peppermint for all sorts of different purposes. We enjoy the refreshing notes of it in our toothpaste, but this revitalizing scent can go so much further. When experiencing headache symptoms, reaching for some peppermint oil could be your new go-to.
The reason that so many people find peppermint oil to be a helpful headache treatment is primarily due to menthol. In fact, this ingredient is so prominent that it makes up approximately 44% of peppermint oil. Menthol, and by extension peppermint essential oil, has been used to treat many types of headaches for generations, but it is perhaps most popular for migraine relief.
This is because, while peppermint oil can help alleviate pain, it can also improve other classic symptoms of migraine attacks. Many of us who suffer from migraine pain experience nausea simultaneously, but menthol can work to soothe an upset stomach. If all this weren’t enough, peppermint oil aromatherapy could help to relieve stress, taking some of the tension out of your tension headache.
Eucalyptus Oil
Unfortunately, there are many types of headaches that people can experience. Luckily, different essential oils have their own strengths that allow them to target specific ailments.
For example, if you frequently suffer sinus headaches, then eucalyptus essential oil might be the right choice for you. Eucalyptus can work wonders to clear your sinuses naturally, without having to take any kind of medication. As a result, using this essential oil is also ideal for people who are experiencing congestion or post nasal drip.
Lavender Essential Oil
Of all the essential oils — and there are a lot of them — lavender might just be the most famous. This makes a lot of sense, considering that the smell of lavender is one that the vast majority of people find to be immensely calming and centering.
Lavender oil is such a tranquil aroma that we included it in our ZenPatch Mood Calming Stickers, along with a few other oils that also help promote relaxation.
If you are experiencing a headache brought on by a significant amount of stress, lavender oil is likely right up your alley. By relieving the source of the stress, your headache should begin to subside, and your blood pressure can even lower. Not only that, but clinical trials suggest that lavender could have positive effects on the nervous system.
Chamomile Oil
Like many of the other essential oils on our list, chamomile makes great strides in relieving stress for those who use it. It also has the ability to soothe general pain, which is something we all need when we’re experiencing a headache.
Chamomile essential oil is so calming that it can help us get a full, restorative night’s sleep. Once your body has gotten the rest it needs, you’re likely to feel significantly more like yourself when you wake up.
Rosemary Oil
Rather than taking an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory, perhaps try essential oils that might have anti-inflammatory properties of their own. Rosemary is an oil that presents these potential health benefits, so it could help you fend off a headache.
Frankincense Oil
The best way to relieve a headache is to not get one in the first place. In this sense, frankincense essential oil is an excellent tool in the fight against pain. Frankincense helps to lower stress levels, meaning that you are much less likely to get a stress-induced headache in the first place. At the same time, this oil’s many anti-inflammatory benefits could help eliminate a cluster headache.
How Do You Use Essential Oils for Headache Relief?
Whether you are dealing with a sinus headache, tension headaches, or migraine headaches, essential oils have the power to help us feel better fast and all-naturally. Which specific essential oil works best for you will depend on the individual, as well as the type of headache they are experiencing.
Your preferred method of using these beneficial oils will also depend on the individual and their preferences. Some dilution of the oil with the use of either water or a carrier oil like coconut oil is always necessary. However, it could take some trial and error before finding the perfect and natural analgesic blend just for you.
Not only should you experiment with one or more essential oils to discover what works, but you also have options for how to use them. Eventually, you should be able to discover what combination and delivery method works best to fend off head pain.
Topical Treatment
Some people prefer to apply essential oils directly onto the skin in order to receive its benefits, but you should take some precautions before doing this. For instance, if you plan to put peppermint oil on your temples to soothe your pain, be sure to dilute the oil significantly first. Topical essential oil treatments can be diluted with a skin-friendly oil.
In a Bath
Maybe the single most relaxing way to use these substances is to use them in a bath. Oils aren’t water-soluble, so putting a few drops into the bath will leave you with an unpleasant film on the water’s surface. To get around this, you might want to try bath bombs with essential oils or an essential-oil infused bubble bath.
The warm water will make any aches and pains feel better, and the aromatherapy from the oil will help you reach a state of utter tranquility.
With an Essential Oil Diffuser
Essential oil diffusers quickly spruce up a room and can also serve as a humidifier if you need some more moisture in the room. Add water and a few drops of one or more essential oils to your diffuser, and then bask in the calm.
What Are the Other Benefits of Essential Oils?
Clearly, essential oils have so much to offer us when it comes to headache pain and other types of pain relief. Thankfully, there is also a multitude of other ways that these oils and aromatherapy can serve as natural remedies.
These oils help us feel better totally naturally while helping us steer clear of the many potential side effects that we associate with typical over-the-counter options.
In terms of home remedies for various discomforts, you will be hard-pressed to find a pain-relieving method that smells nicer. And it’s no secret that in a home with kids, pleasant smells are a more than welcome change.
At The Natural Patch Co., we harness the many abilities of essential oils to help with everyday challenges that all parents face. That’s why our patches are engineered for both kids and adults. After all, why should children be the only ones getting in on the fun?
They Improve Sleep
Since essential oils are so inherently calming, it stands to reason that they would help lull people to sleep. This is the principle behind our SleepyPatch Sleep Promoting Stickers. A special blend of oils in the form of an adorable sticker will soothe both kids and adults into a tranquil slumber.
They Boost Focus
For an all-natural focus aid, look no further than FocusPatch Focus Enhancing Stickers. By cultivating the perfect mixture of oils, these patches will create an aura that is conducive to calm yet rapt attention.
These Oils Are Essential
With such a wide range of uses, it’s easy to see how these oils got the name “essential.” Whether you’re using them to help with a headache, create a calm vibe, or for any number of other wellness purposes, these natural scents can provide.
Sources:
Peppermint Oil for Migraine and Headache Relief | Healthline
Lavender and the Nervous System | National Institutes of Health
Essential Oils Used in Aromatherapy: A Systemic Review | ScienceDirect
Headaches: Types, Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis & Treatment | Healthline
