What Essential Oil is Good for Headaches

What essential oil is good for headaches and are they effective? There are in fact a number of Essential Oils that are good for headaches .

Essential Oils are a realistic, effective and somewhat gentler alternative to traditional drug based remedies. Natural plant based remedies for headache tend to produce less side effects and other issues than other medications. These include products such as aspirin, paracetamol and ibuprofen for example.

Side effects that can occur as a result of taking drug based headache preparations. These can include drowsiness, confusion, vomiting and nausea amongst others. Many people are content taking these medications and do not suffer any ill effects and are happy with the results they achieve.

There are also more and more people who are beginning to question the long term effects that chemical based medications may be having on their bodies. As a result there are a growing number of people who are beginning to look for natural pain relief remedies.

Before you begin thinking about how to cure headaches naturally you need to understand a little more about headaches and what causes them.

What is a Headache?

Headaches are one of the most common ailments. For example around about seventy five percent of all Americans are likely to suffer from a headache at least once every year. The majority of headaches do not cause the sufferer any major trauma and they recover relatively quickly. There are however a significant number of individuals that experience severe or chronic pain from headaches to the point that it has a serious affect on their lives.

Classes of Headache

Headaches can basically be described as being either Primary or Secondary Headaches.

A primary headache is one that is not caused as a result of another disease or health issue. These can often occur as a result of the individual eating or drinking certain things (red wine for example). Changes in sleep patterns, or sleep deprivation, poor posture and stress can also be a cause of a primary headache. A secondary headache is one which is caused as a side effect of another underlying problem.

Sinus headaches (pain behind the forehead or cheek bones) are generally classed as a secondary headaches. This is because it occurs as a direct result of a problem with the sinus itself becoming inflamed or blocked.

Types of Headaches

There are three basic types of headache. These are Tension Headaches, Cluster Headaches and Migraine Headaches!

What are Tension Headaches?

Tension headaches are the most common type of headache. In most cases the individual will be suffering from some form of stress. Typically there will be additional symptoms such as pain in the back, neck and shoulders. The resulting headache is likely to feel like a tight band encompassing the skull resulting in a dull pain in the forehead, back of the head or in the neck region.

What are Cluster Headaches?

Cluster headaches can be extremely painful. The pain is present throughout the whole of the head. In addition there are often also small localised pockets of extreme pain. These clusters can manifest themselves in, or around, one eye and extend down one side of the head.

On the side where the headache occurs you are also likely to suffer from nasal congestion, runny nose and a reddening of the eye. There is also likely to be a swelling of the eyelid, eyelid droop and a reduction in the size of the pupil. The sufferer is also likely to experience some sense of agitation and restlessness.

There is often a series of attacks over a period of time. The attacks can last one or two weeks. In extreme cases these attacks can however last for up to three months.

The sufferer will then probably have a headache free period of a few weeks before the cycle begins all over again.

What are Migraine Headaches?

Anyone suffering from Migraine Headaches is likely to experience severe throbbing pains in one side of the head, or even in both sides. There are usually a number of other symptoms that accompany the headache. These can include blurred vision, vomiting and nausea. It is also not uncommon for migraine sufferers to become extremely sensitive to light, sound and even strong odours. Anyone suffering from migraine can also have problems with their mobility and sense of balance.

Migraine headaches can last for periods of up to 48 hours in very extreme cases.

How do you Prevent Headaches from Occurring?

Knowing how to treat a headache is important. It is however also important to try to prevent headaches from occuring in the first place if you possibly can.

There are a number of things that are likely to trigger a headache. The bulk of them are related to lifestyle choices we make. Making a few subtle changes to the way we live can help in becoming headache free.

What Might Set Off a Headache?

• Sleep Deprivation – Being over tired can result in headaches.
• Not Eating Regularly – Missing meals or not sticking to a regular eating pattern can cause headaches.
• Not Getting Regular Exercise – Not getting enough exercise can cause a number of health issues, including headaches.
• Stress – It can be difficult to avoid getting stressed from time to time. Avoiding stressful situations can however reduce the likelihood of ending up with a headache.
• Drinking Too Much Coffee – There is a lot of caffeine in coffee. Caffeine is a stimulant which can have benefits in certain cases but it can also be the roof cause of a headache. Cutting down on your daily consumption of coffee may reduce your headaches.
• Consuming Too Much Alcohol – Drinking excess, or even moderate, amounts of alcohol can cause headaches. Cutting out or reducing your alcohol content could help to prevent a headache.
• Over Medicating – There is a tendency to take medication for a huge number of minor complaints. Excessive use of over the counter medication, regardless of what it is being taken for, can result in side effects such as headaches. This can also be the case, to some extent, with medication prescribed for you by your doctor.
• Not Drinking Enough Liquids – Becoming dehydrated can easily trigger a headache.

How to Cure a Headache

The cure for your headache will to a large extent depend on the type of headache you are suffering from. There are a number of pain relief products that are sold over the counter designed specifically to treat the symptoms of headache. The medication you require will depend on the type of headache you have. If you describe the symptoms to your doctor or pharmacist they should be able to recommend the most appropriate treatment.

There are also a number of techniques that you can employ yourself that may help to ease the pain from a headache.

Migraine sufferers often find that resting in a darkened, quiet room, can help to ease the pain. Placing an ice pack or cold wet cloth on the forehead or at the base of the neck can bring relief. In some cases simply drinking a couple of glasses of water can help if the headache is a result of dehydration.

How to Cure Headaches Naturally

There are increasing numbers of people who are beginning to look for natural remedies to get rid of headaches. If you want to get rid of headaches naturally the most popular, and effective, method is to consider herbal treatments. Or alternatively an essential oil solution to the problem

Certain herbs such as Feverfew and Butterbur are considered to be helpful in reducing the symptoms of headache.

Some studies suggest that taking a 50-150mg daily dose of Feverfew may reduce the frequency of headaches. Other studies however dispute these findings and suggest that Feverfew has little effect on treating headaches. It is however generally accepted that Feverfew is safe to take providing the recommended dose is not exceeded.

Taking a 50-150mg of Butterbur extract has been shown to reduce the symptoms of headache in both adults and children. There is some controversy surrounding Butterbur and it is suggested that some caution is advised when taking it. Taking unpurified forms of Butterbur are thought to increase the chances of liver damage. Other long term effects are not known.

There are also several other herbs that are regularly used in herbal headache remedies. These include rosemary, fennel, willow bark, chamomile and mint.

What Essential Oil is Good for Headaches?

There are several essential oils that relieve headaches. Many of them can be applied topically or alternatively some of the essential oils for headaches can be used in a diffuser as aroma therapy.

Here is a list of some of the more common essential oil headache treatments that are widely used.

What Essential Oil is Good for Headaches – Peppermint Oil

One of the most commonly used essential oils for easing pain that is caused by headaches or migrain is Peppermint Oil.

Peppermint oil contains menthol which helps to relax muscles and ease pain.

When applied to the skin peppermint oil has a pleasant numbing effect. It can however be quite strong and a great deal of care needs to be taken if you are intending applying it neat (undiluted).

In order to reduce the chances of burning or skin rash most people prefer to dilute the peppermint oil in a carrier oil.

Generally speaking a couple of drops of peppermint oil mixed into a teaspoon full of carrier oil will be about right. If you prefer to be a little more precise the recommended ratio is between 3 and 5 drops of peppermint oil to one fluid ounce of carrier oil.

The resultant mixture is applied by massaging the oil into the skin with your finger tips. Areas that can be treated for the best results include the temple, sinuses, and neck.

If you do not want to apply the oil directly to the skin it can also be inhaled using a steam inhaler or via a diffuser. Peppermint oil is particularly effective for soothing tension headaches.

The cooling effect of Peppermint oil can also be beneficial in relieving other health conditions such as sore and aching muscles.

What Essential Oil is Good for Headaches – Treating Headaches with Lavender Oil

Another of the essential oils that helps with headaches is lavender oil. It can be used in a similar way to Peppermint oil. The oil can be massaged into the skin for rapid relief. It is advised that the oil is diluted at a concentration not exceeding 5% using vegetable or nut oil as a carrier when used in this way.

For quick relief lavender essential oil can be inhaled. Between 2 and 4 drops of oil should be added to two to three cups of water. Inhaling the vapours helps to relieve your headache or migraine relatively quickly.

Lavender oil can also be sprinkled onto a handkerchief and placed inside your pillow at night. The aroma of the oil helps to promote relaxation and aids sleep. Improved sleep patterns help to prevent the onset of headaches and migraines.

Lavender oil is also widely used in aroma therapy for the calming and sedative properties that it can add to a room.

What Essential Oil is Good for Headaches – Relieve Headaches with Chamomile Oil

There is no real evidence that Chamomile Oil is one of the essential oils that reduce pain, not directly at any rate. It can however have an indirect beneficial effect on headaches and migraine.

Chamomile is known to have the ability to relax the body and soothe muscles. A large number of headaches tend to be stress related or can be connected to other problems such as insomnia, depression or anxiety. By alleviating these problems you are increasing the chances of preventing headaches from manifesting themselves.

Chamomile is also used in other ways to improve health. For example Chamomile infusions (chamomile tea) are widely used to help alleviate various types of conditions. These include cold symptoms, menstrual pain, reducing inflammation and to lower blood sugar.

What Essential Oil is Good for Headaches – Eucalyptus Oil

Eucalyptus is used to treat, or relieve, a wide number of health conditions. It is often used to clear mucus from the chest and to help in silencing a cough. Many of the ‘over the counter’ vapor and chest rub preparations contain eucalyptus.

Eucalyptus may also help in fighting off harmful bacteria that are responsible for causing illnesses. It is also used in the treatment of cold sores and as a general breath freshener. Other uses include bug repellent, disinfecting wounds and controlling blood sugar.

Using eucalyptus oil can be particularly effective in relieving a headache that are as a result of sinus problems. Eucalyptus Oil quickly helps to relieve the tension that is the root cause of the throbbing headache. It does this by opening up blocked nasal passages and clearing the sinuses.

Eucalyptus oil is generally used by placing it in a diffuser or inhaled through a steam inhaler. It can be applied, with care, directly to the skin around the neck. Eucalyptus oil can also be appled to the forehead or to the sinusregion. It should however always be used diluted, never directly from the bottle.

What Essential Oil is Good for Headaches – Relieve Headaches with Rosemary Oil

Rosemary essential oils have been used for many years as a natural headache remedy and to improve circulation.

There have been a number of studies that support the use of Rosemary oil to treat headaches. It is a common ingredient in folklore medicines due to its alleged antispasmodic, analgesic, expectorant and diuretic properties amongst others.

In addition Rosemary oil can safely be used to treat sore muscles, sprains and strains, rheumatism and arthritis.

Rosemary and Eucalyptus essential oils both contain a compound known as cineole. Various studies have concluded that cineole may be helpful in breaking up mucus and reducing inflammation and reducing stress.

Like many of the other essential oil remedies for headache Rosemary oil can be gently massaged into the skin in the areas of the pain. Rosemary oil should be diluted in a carrier oil. Five drops of oil to one teaspoon of carrier oil creates an effective salve.

If you wish to inhale Rosemary Essential Oil to relieve a headache it can be done in a couple of ways. You can simply inhale the vapour directly from the open bottle or sprinkle a few drops onto a tissue or handkerchief and hold it close to your face. It can also be used in a diffuser which distributes the aroma around the whole room.

Treat Headache with Blended Essential Oils

Possibly the best solution if you want to relieve headaches with essential oils is to use a number of essential oils blended together. You can do this yourself at home or alternatively you can purchase the oils already blended.

The main benefit of buying pre-blended essential oils is that the recipe will have been tried and tested to ensure that the combination, and ratios, of oils used will provide the maximum amount of relief.

In most cases there will also be testimonials from other users that will describe their experiences and overall satisfaction.

What Essential Oil is Good for Headaches – Conclusion

From the information that is available there are a growing number of people who are seeking natural alternatives to drug based headache remedies.

Plant based essential oils are, generally speaking, safe to use and are unlikely to have any lasting unpleasant side effects. Bear in mind however that every individual is different. What works for one person may not necessarily work for another.

There is a lot of evidence that suggests essential oil headache treatments are at least as effective as many of the ‘over the counter preparations’ that are available. Remedies formulated from natural ingredients are also less likely to produce unwanted side effects. If you are a headache sufferer then it is at least worth investigating essential oil pain relief a little further to see if it could help you.

Anyone considering using essential oils should make sure that the oils they choose are good quality and that all of the ingredients used in their preparation are listed. If you are considering applying the oils directly to your skin always proceed with caution. Apply a limited amount of the oil initially to be sure that you are not going to have any reaction to it. Be particularly careful if you are considering using the oil undiluted for some reason! The same applies if you are going to inhale the vapours of the oil. Start by inhaling for a short period only and then increase the time of exposure gradually.