08/21/2024
Headaches May Respond to These Oils
Just as there are a number of different types of headaches, there are several different essential oils you may consider to help relieve your pain. Pharmaceutical relief usually comes with a price to your health, experienced as short- and long-term side effects.
You may want to consider using essential oils that not only help relieve your pain but come with additional benefits as well. Consider trying each of these oils separately or in combination until you find what best helps relieve your headaches.
Lavender — This essential oil is derived from lavender flowers and is often used to help reduce stress, anxiety and depression, all of which are triggers for tension headaches. There is growing evidence it may also be effective in the treatment of neurological disorders.
In a placebo-controlled clinical trial using lavender in the treatment of migraine headaches, researchers found inhaling lavender for 15 minutes reduced the severity of symptoms and concluded the "inhalation of lavender essential oil may be an effective and safe treatment modality in acute management of migraine headaches."
Massage with lavender oil may improve sleep quality, reduce anxiety and promote better concentration. Lavender has also been effective in reducing agitation in people suffering from dementia and is routinely used by aromatherapists for the treatment of headaches and exhaustion. Interestingly, lavender has also demonstrated improved pain control following surgery.
Frankincense — The root of cluster headaches and migraines is thought to lie in the chemical activity of your brain, nerves and blood innervation, or in the muscles supporting your head and neck. Frankincense oil is a potent treatment for these debilitating headaches, likely because of the anti-inflammatory activity of the bioactive compounds found in the essential oil.
Monoterpenes are the compounds found in essential oils that researchers have concluded demonstrate pharmacological potential to act as anti-inflammatory drugs. Frankincense has 34 different monoterpenes, increasing the potential benefits. Oral frankincense has also been tested on a small sample of individuals who suffered from chronic cluster headaches.
The results demonstrated evidence of reduced frequency and intensity of headaches in the participants. Keep in mind essential oils should never be ingested if you are in any way unsure about their quality and purity. It's highly recommended you work with a qualified aromatherapist who can guide you on the safe and appropriate use of the oils.
Topical administration is typically recommended and is far safer. You may administer the oil by adding a couple drops to your fingers and massaging your temples until the oil is absorbed.
Rosemary — This oil is traditionally used to improve circulation and in the treatment of headaches. One study using an animal model demonstrated the effectiveness of the oil as a painkiller and an anti-inflammatory agent.
Another study demonstrated rosemary oil was beneficial in the treatment of opioid withdrawal symptoms, reducing pain and treating insomnia. In this way, rosemary may help reduce the pain of your headache and improve your sleep, a common trigger for further headaches.
Chamomile — Chamomile tea and essential oil are calming, used to help you relax, unwind and drift off to sleep more easily. Not surprisingly, the oil that helps you relax has also demonstrated effectiveness in treating anxiety and depression.
Many tension headaches are triggered by high levels of stress and anxiety, so it follows that you may prevent these by reducing your stress levels. Chamomile also has anti-inflammatory properties and can be used as a topical relief for your headaches.
Peppermint — This is one of the more popular essential oils as it has a number of health benefits. Applying and massaging it to your temples and forehead helps to reduce tension headaches. The active ingredient, menthol, may relieve migraine headaches when applied to your temples as a gel.
But the benefits don't stop with headaches. The oil helps eliminate bad breath and kill the germs on your teeth and gums that cause tooth decay, can reduce nail fungal infections, reduce stress, and may help clear your respiratory tract if you suffer from an upper respiratory infection.
Eucalyptus — This oil has traditionally been used to clear your nose and sinuses. If you suffer from headaches as the result of a cold or flu, lightly massaging this oil on your chest may help clear those areas and reduce your headache.
Jasmine — Jasmine has a light scent used by aromatherapists to help balance hormones, for pain relief and to improve mood. Women suffering headaches as the result of fluctuating hormones may find jasmine oil helps to reduce the number and intensity of the headaches they experience.
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