Essential Oils for Headaches: Also Relief From Tension & Migraines

Soothing Essential Oils for Sinus, Tension and Migraine Headache ReliefNo, no! Do you feel the dreaded pangs of a headache beginning or did it just come on like you’ve been hit by a bus? Turning to a painkiller isn’t your best, fastest, or even most cost-effective option when trying to rid yourself of a headache – essential oils are! Do you think it’s all witchy-poo voodoo? We dare you to give yourself a headache cure with the oils – not a hex!

Wondering what essential oils are good for headaches? While there are many essential oils that can contribute to healing the pains of a headache, we’ll tell you the specific oils that are notorious for this purpose.

We’ll even thrown in some bonus information on additional oils that can help, whether using Ethanol for headaches has legitimacy, and what cautions to be aware of. Dispel the bangs and pangs of headaches and embrace life as you knew it – pain and foggy free!

Essential Oil for Sinus Headaches

Eucalyptus Essential Oil

eucalyptusInflammation in the sinuses can cause that awful, dreaded pressure that makes for a perfect headache-inducing recipe. Eucalyptus is an expectorant, antiviral, antibacterial, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory essential oil. Basically, it’s equipped with everything you need to beat the sickness and the headaches that occur as a result. Open up your airways, relieve the pressure, boost your mood, and feel emotionally balanced!

What You’ll Need:

  • 2-4 drops of Eucalyptus
  • 4 oz of a carrier oil

How to Use:

Apply topically to the forehead, temples, back and base of the neck, and the chest.

Lightly massage in to promote distribution to clear airways, remove congestion buildup, and reduce nasal cavity inflammation.

Blend for Sinus Headaches

Edens Garden Head Ease Synergy Blend

Edens Garden Head Ease Synergy Essential Oil BlendTo relax contracting muscles that are causing you or your child headache pain, even when it’s caused by inflamed sinuses, use this all-natural solution to calm the senses and regain your pain-free state of mind. If you want something just for your kids, you may want to try Edens Garden’s Head-A-Sore-Us Synergy Blend to banish even a dinosaur-sized headache!

What You’ll Need:

  • 3-5 drops of Head Ease
  • Warm wash cloth

How to Use:

Add the drops to the wash cloth and place on forehead.

You can also massage a little Head Ease behind the ears and temples for relief.

For children, you can also add 5-10 drops to an atomizer for nebulizing diffusion.

Essential Oil for Tension Headaches

Peppermint Essential Oil

mintJust as unexpectedly and suddenly as a headache can occur, you can treat it with essential oils and get immediate, much-needed relief. But, it’s also important to show some love to your neck and shoulders to reduce sensitivity, inhibit throbbing muscle contractions, and prevent an almost permanent chronic tension-type headache!

What You’ll Need:

  • 2-3 drops of Peppermint
  • 4 oz of carrier oil
  • Ethanol (optional)

How to Use:

Apply topically to the forehead, temples, back and base of neck, and shoulders.

Lightly massage in for ultimate distribution for maximum blood circulation.

Immediate relief and desensitization to headache pain should be experienced.

Optional: Use a 10 percent Peppermint oil and ethanol solution instead of a carrier oil and apply topically.

Blend for Tension Headaches

doTERRA PastTense Tension Blend

doTERRA Past Tense Essential Oil Tension BlendThis powerful blend is loaded with renowned cooling, soothing, and calming oils for tension headaches. Conveniently packaged in a roll-on bottle, you’ll be set to fight off the symptoms of your headache whether you’re at work, running errands, or at school. There’s no need to tote anything larger than mascara for the daily relief you need.

How to Use:

Apply and lightly massage into the forehead, temples, back and base of neck, shoulders, and wrists when symptoms of a headache occur.

You can also apply to the temples and back and base of neck prior to nerve-wracking events such as presentations, meetings, and exams.

Essential Oil for Migraine Headaches

Lavender Essential Oil

lavenderMigraine attacks can be disabling, and it’s definitely something to anticipate with horror when you know you can’t get relief with sleep, medications, or a quiet stroll for some fresh air. Instead, use essential oils to minimize pain in the nervous system, calm your anxieties, aid sleep, and reduce muscle tension.

How to Use:

Add 5-10 drops of Lavender oil to a warm bath. Soak in the tub for as long as you want while taking deep breaths to allow Lavender’s sedative and headache-reducing benefits to take place to calm the entire body and mind.

You can also diffuse 5 drops into your diffuser or apply topically (diluted, of course) to your temples, back and base of neck, and to your wrists.

Blend for Migraine Headaches

Rocky Mountain Migraine Support Blend

Rocky Mountain Migraine Support Essential Oil BlendWhen your sense of smell has been over-sensitized, thanks to your migraine, it’s important that you have a fresh aroma without overwhelming your already delicate senses. This blend is a flawless addition to making your own massage cream to arise from your debilitating state. Don’t suffer in pain in a dark, silent room. Instead, discover peace, calmness, and relief with a migraine support massage cream.

What You’ll Need:

  • 30 drops of Migraine Support
  • 5 drops of Bergamot
  • 1 tsp of carrier oil
  • 1 cup Shea Butter

How to Use:

Melt the Shea Butter and mix in the carrier oil. Blend in the essential oils, transfer to a container, and allow to cool. Apply and massage 2-3 times daily or as needed.

Potential Side Effects of Using Essential Oils

There are few, if any, negative side effects to using essential oils for relief of headaches. The only thing you want to be aware of is where you’re applying the oils. When suffering from any type of headache, you want to minimize the pain in and around your forehead and temples. Because mucus membranes can be especially irritated by essential oils, always use the oils diluted in and around these areas.

You might also need to carefully look at each ingredient contained in blends for a specific oil you may be sensitive or allergic to.

As always, for safety measures, skin test first for sensitivity. If you react negatively, wash off and seek immediate medical care if necessary. Some allergic-reaction side effects can be:

  • Shortness of breath, wheezing
  • Skin rash, itchiness, and redness
  • Burning sensations on the skin
  • Eye and nose irritations if applied too close to the eyes and nose

Essential Oils for Different Types of Headaches

A headache is a headache right? Not necessarily. Have you discovered the trigger and root causes for your daily headaches? Do you even know what type of headache you suffer from? Popping a painkiller every time you feel that throb, tingle, or wave of nausea come over you may work temporarily, but it won’t treat the underlying cause. Switch to essential oils to treat headaches instead, and discover the relief that you can find with an all-natural solution! Here’s a quick brief on the types of headaches you may suffer from so that you can treat it appropriately with the right blend of essential oils for the fastest and safest relief.

Sinus Headaches

Sinus headaches can easily be confused with migraines, but there are some differences. A sinus headache can quickly occur after a cold or an upper respiratory infection. Look out for:

  • Pain and pressure in forehead, brow, and cheeks
  • Congestion such as stuffy nose and discolored nasal mucus
  • Toothaches
  • Fatigue
  • Unrelenting pain when lying down or leaning forward

The best essential oils for a headache resulting from sinus are: Eucalyptus, Lavender, Peppermint, Pine, Thyme, Tea Tree (Melalueca), and Rosemary.

Tension Headaches

woman with tension headache rubbing templesAh, the most common type of headache known to mankind, but it can quickly lead to chronic tension-type headaches and even trigger migraines. Stress is the most common trigger for tension headaches, and too often, it’s difficult for medication to treat psychological factors that contribute to your headaches because it can actually end up causing your headaches. Also, physical over-exertion, lack of sleep, poor posture, and anxiety are the major triggers for tension headaches, so treat your body, especially your head and shoulders, to some much-needed rest if you experience:

  • Sudden onset of headache
  • All-over headache pain
  • Scalp, neck, and shoulder tenderness
  • Heightened sensitivity to pain

To stop the worsening effects of tension headaches, no matter the trigger, use Peppermint, Rosemary, Basil, Clove, Eucalyptus, Frankincense, Lavender, Marjoram, and Patchouli. You might also like to use essential oils for anxiety and stress on a regular basis to prevent the headaches from occurring at all.

Migraine Headaches

These are the worst kinds of headaches because there’s literally nothing that seems to help except riding out the pain until it decides to go away – perhaps in a few days. But, that’s a few days too long! If you experience any of these symptoms, then you need to get on the essential oil band wagon immediately!

  • First warning signs of tingling, pressure, dull aching, and heavy brain fog
  • One-sided head and temple pain
  • Headache throbbing
  • Nausea with or without vomiting
  • Unrelenting pain even during attempted sleep
  • Light, smell, and visual sensitivities

To quickly get a head start on your migraine headache, use Lavender, Chamomile (all varieties), Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Rosewood, Marjoram, and Ginger essential oils.

Other Headaches

Sometimes headaches can occur from low blood sugar or when you’re weaning yourself off from various types of drugs. So, it’s not always necessary to turn to another drug to try to alleviate a headache from these triggers. Instead, Rosemary essential oil has proven to be extremely effective at relieving the pain from these types of headaches. Go ahead, give it a go!

Is it Safe to Use Ethanol for Headaches?

While alcohol, including ethanol or ethyl alcohol, has been a long-time ingredient in skincare products and cosmetics, it’s certainly gaining a bad rep. But, when it comes to treating headaches, there’s a reason behind its effectiveness.

Many studies have shown that it’s extremely effective when combined with Peppermint essential oil to dispel muscle contractions associated with headaches and reduce inflammation that contribute to headaches. How?

As an alcohol, it evaporates much faster and provides cooling effects along with the Peppermint to provide relief. But, isn’t ethanol used in gasoline?

Yes – when it’s had denatures added to it that make it toxic, poisonous, and unsafe for topical and internal use. The ethanol you want to use should be pure, undenatured, high proof, and derived from natural grain sources. These requirements are what provides its “food-grade” status. While you won’t be drinking it, it’s safe for topical use with Peppermint oil in the right amounts. You can find it online or at your local liquor store.

Beat the Bangs and Pangs the Natural Way!

The bangs and pangs of a headache can be annoying at the least. But, they can be very debilitating and can definitely interfere with your quality of life.

Use essential oils to avoid the side effects and dependency of medications while reaping in the many muscle relaxing, mood boosting, and mental clarity benefits that oils can offer. Now, you can beat the normal bangs and pangs of life without headaches adding to the mix!