How To Get Rid Of Headaches With Essential Oils
Whether they are occasional or chronic, essential oils are an effective and safe choice to prevent and treat common headaches.
We all suffer from a headache at times, but according to the World Health Organization, more than a third of men and more than half of women suffer from chronic headaches in developed countries.
There are different types of headaches. The two main ones are tension-type headache and migraine. Headache that originates from tension is the most common and can appear occasionally or very frequently. In this case we speak of a chronic headache.
Tension headache or migraine
Both in the case of tension headaches and migraines, the pain can set in suddenly or progressively, spread throughout the head or remain localized in one area and be more or less intense.
The main causes of headaches are stress, lack of sleep, tiredness, alcohol, the menstrual cycle, high blood pressure, eye fatigue, poor posture and contractures in the neck or jaw. The discomfort can last only a few hours or last for a week.
The migraine is often perceived as a throbbing pain on one side of the head. Sometimes other symptoms may appear such as nausea, vomiting, visual disturbances, sensitivity to light, noise and odors. These discomforts, which improve with rest, can last between a few hours and three days.
The exact causes of migraine are unknown. There is a hereditary predisposition and it is known that the neurotransmitter histamine or the variation in intracranial pressure produced by a sudden change in blood flow are determining factors in its appearance.
One in seven people have a migraine, and it is more common in women than men, probably due to hormonal factors.
Headache trigger foods
In one in ten people with a headache, it can be caused by foods rich in tyramine, a substance that dilates blood vessels. It is abundant in some foods of animal origin such as aged cheese, sardines or herring, but it is also found in nuts or chocolate.
Another possible cause is the deficient activity of the enzyme diamine oxidase (DAO), which metabolizes histamine produced by the body itself or ingested with food. It is more common in women because female hormones interfere with its activity.
They contain histamine or stimulate its production, among others, fermented dairy and vegetables, cured meats, alcoholic beverages, canned fish, tomatoes, aubergines, spinach, pineapples, bananas, strawberries and citrus fruits.
How to treat a headache and migraine with essential oils
Conventional allopathic treatment consists of administering acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin), ibuprofen, or paracetamol. But they can have negative side effects. Aromatherapy is interesting as a natural alternative or as a complement.
The two most reputed essential oils (EA) for relieving headaches are peppermint ( Mentha x piperita ) and lavender ( Lavandula angustifolia ), which are also perfectly effective in tension headaches. Combining them in a vegetable base for topical use, they will act both cutaneously and olfactory.
Studies on the effectiveness of aromatherapy
The efficacy of peppermint oil in relieving tension headaches is proven by several scientific studies. A trial carried out at the neurological clinic in Kiel, in Germany, confirms that a preparation based on peppermint essential oil (10% solution in ethanol), applied to the forehead and temples, produces a rapid analgesic effect comparable to aspirin or paracetamol. The authors consider it the treatment of choice after six years of age.
Lavender oil relieves migraine pain, according to a study conducted at Mashhad University in Iran. Other research from the Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, also in Iran, confirmed the efficacy of rose and feverfew essential oils on the intensity of migraines.
Headache Blend
Ingredients:
- 15 drops of peppermint AE
- Lavender AE 35
- 8.5 ml jojoba vegetable oil
App:
Put 4 drops of the mixture on the forehead and temples every 20 minutes until noticeable improvement is obtained, with a maximum of 5 applications in a row.
As a complement and as long as it is not annoying, I would recommend using a diffuser with lavender essential oil.
Ylang ylang to treat migraine
For migraines I would add other essential oils, since it is a more intense and throbbing pain. Complete ylang ylang ( Cananga odorata ) EC is the most indicated for this type of pain. Rosemary camphor ( Rosmarinus officinalis qt camphor ) and German chamomile or feverfew ( Matricaria recutita ) have also proven helpful.
Ingredients:
- 15 drops of peppermint AE
- 10 drops of lavender AE
- 10 drops of rosemary camphor AE
- 5 drops of German chamomile AE
- 10 drops of ylang ylang AE
- 8.5 ml of jojoba vegetable oil.
App:
It works as with the previous mixture: massage the forehead and temples with 4 drops of the mixture every 20 minutes.
Formulas for specific symptoms
Stress: to combat it, the mixture of bitter orange leaf and peppermint essential oil is indicated. Apply a pure drop of each to the temples and forehead. Repeat the application if necessary.
Cervical stiffness: combines the essential oils of rosemary leaf, camphor and katrafay ( Cedrelopsis grevei ). Apply a pure drop of each to the temples, forehead, and nape. Repeat the application if necessary.
Hypertension: in both cases, peppermint essential oil is contraindicated. Use lavender oil: apply a couple of pure drops on the temples and forehead. Repeat the application if necessary.
