How Throbbing Can That Headache Be?

Headaches are caused by many factors, ranging from stress to tension, underlying health conditions, and psychological issues. A singular thing that comes to mind first when we experience a headache, no matter how mild or severe it may be, is popping an over-the-counter pill. This is because all that we desire at that moment is peace, calm and quiet in our heads, right?

However, these pills sometimes come with a long list of side effects that can affect different body parts. Sometimes, the body gets used to these pills when you have overused them, such that they no longer function as they should.

This is why researchers have ventured into the search for a more natural way of treating headaches, especially debilitating ones like migraine, and what did they find?

They found amazing essential oils that can improve headaches faster and more effectively than some over-the-counter medications.

Essential oils are made from some plants’ leaves, flowers, or seeds. These oils are mostly applied to the skin, inhaled, or used as a cold compress, as the case may be.

However, since these oils can cause skin reactions when applied directly to the skin, it is recommended to dilute them with carrier oils like coconut oil and olive oil, among others, to reduce the irritation it might cause on the skin.

In addition, even after diluting them, you should go ahead to do a patch test with the oil on a little part of your skin and watch that part of the skin for about 10 to 15 minutes to check for reactions. If there are none, then you can go ahead and apply the oil to your skin.

Using essential oils for migraine is quite easy, as there are different modes of applying these oils for migraine. Some of these methods include;

• Putting a few driblets of the oil in humidifiers and inhaling them from the damp air. This way, not only will your migraine vanish, but your home will also smell nice.
• Applying diluted essential oils to your foreheads.
• Add a few driblets of the oil to cold water and use a towel to apply the mixture to your forehead like a cold compress.

All of these methods have been scientifically proven to be effective. All you ought to do is give them a try. You might be wondering why you should use oils to treat headaches when there are thousands of pills in pharmacies that can help with your migraine.

Well, you will never fully understand the benefits of these oils on your migraine until you take the first bold step of giving them a trial.

Not all essential oils can treat headaches, especially severe headaches like migraine. However, this article will help you identify which oils are effective in the treatment of migraine.

Essential Oils That Can Improve Migraine

The following are oils that are scientifically proven to be effective remedies for headaches;

Peppermint Oil

This oil tops the list of oils that can improve headaches as seriously as migraine. This is because it has a wealth of properties like menthol, an active agent that helps relax the brain and cool muscles.

Studies have shown that applying diluted peppermint oil to the forehead or inhaling it through a damp towel can help improve migraine significantly. It can also help you relax, ease your pain and rest your brain.

People who use peppermint oil for their migraine have reported that it improves their heads twice as fast as the over-the-counter medications they used to buy for their migraine, and they stopped taking those pills as soon as they found out how effective peppermint was.

All you need to do is you must apply the oil to your foreheads. You have to dilute it with carrier oils like olive oil or coconut oil to prevent skin irritation. You need not worry, as peppermint oil (just like every other essential oil) will still be effective even when diluted.

Lavender Oil

Lavender oil is one perfect oil that helps you relax and sleep after a stressful day. It has a sweet fragrance that helps you relax and cool your brain. Not only does lavender oil help you sleep and relax, but it also helps relieve stress and psychological conditions like depression and anxiety.

Most times, migraine is believed to be triggered by these conditions (stress, anxiety, and depression), and lavender oil has been confirmed to be effective in eliminating these factors that trigger migraine. You do not have to dilute lavender oil before you use it. This is because you do not have to apply it to your forehead before it can become effective.

All you need to do with lavender oil to improve your migraine is inhale it. You can add a few drops of the oil to your humidifier and inhale it from the moist air, or you can put a few drops in a towel and inhale from the towel. However, ensure that while doing this, it does not come in contact with your skin.

Rosemary Oil

Rosemary oil, just like lavender oil, is effective in treating migraine, stress, anxiety, and depression. It is one of the best oils for aromatherapy. This is because it improves circulation, reduces pain, and eases muscle tightness. This makes it one of the best oils for migraine.

Coupled with these, inhaling rosemary oil has also proven to be effective in boosting memory. Studies found that students who inhaled rosemary oil a few minutes before the beginning of their exams had better scores than those who did not. But that is, by the way.

Using rosemary oil for migraine can be quite easy as you can either dilute it with a carrier oil and spread it to your forehead or add a few drops of the oil to warm water and bath with it. While doing the latter, it is important to ensure that the oil does not come in contact with your eyes and mouth.

Eucalyptus Oil

Eucalyptus oil has proven to be effective in both treating mild and severe headaches. Studies have shown that applying eucalyptus oil under the nose can treat nasal congestion, clear up the sinuses and bring relief to the head.

It also helps you relax if you are stressed and prevents you from experiencing the throbbing headache that comes with stress (migraine).

In addition, just like other essential oil that has been mentioned above, eucalyptus oil is an effective oil in the reduction of pain. This is why it is mostly used to massage areas of the body that ache badly. What is more? Eucalyptus oil can also help lower blood pressure, a health condition that can trigger a severe headache.

Thus, inhaling or applying diluted eucalyptus oil performs not just one function but many. It helps relieve you of the stress you are undergoing, eases your pain, clears your sinuses, eliminates your headache, and regulates your blood pressure! Isn’t this a miracle?

Chamomile Oil

Although more people know chamomile as a tea than an oil. However, both the tea and the oil perform the same function. Thus, if you need an extremely swift response to your migraine, inhale chamomile oil and drink the tea. The oil and the tea are considered great sedatives.

They eliminate every factor that may trigger tension headaches. Some of these factors include; sleep issues, stress, anxiety, and depression, among others. In other words, not only will this oil calm your body, it will calm your mind and help you relax, sleep and wake up healthy and strong.

Chamomile oil can be diluted and applied to the forehead for better results. However, to stamp out all possibilities of skin irritation, you can inhale the oil in a towel by adding a few drops of the oil to the towel.

You can also boil the leaves of the plant and bathe them in the water from the boiling process. Whichever method you adopt is twice as effective as over-the-counter medications for migraine.

Lemon Oil

Most people might be wondering if lemons have oil. Well, yes, they do. The oils are mostly gotten from the peel of the citrus fruit, and just like other above-mentioned oils, lemon oil is an effective remedy to headaches, no matter the severity. Although more research is needed to confirm its height of effectiveness.

However, a group of women who were experiencing premenopausal symptoms and were also complaining of tension headaches inhaled the oil and reported that they could sleep better, their flares reduced, and their headaches vanished completely.

It has also been discovered to be effective in boosting mood, especially for women in their premenopausal stage. In addition, it is effective in improving psychological disorders like anxiety and depression.

Conclusion

Essential oils are potential remedies for different health conditions. They work beyond just being sweet-smelling oils. If you are in desperate need of oils to improve your headache, you should consult this article.