The Best Essential Oil Recipe for Headaches (2024)

Do you get headaches and feel frustrated with taking so many medications for them? Natural remedies are super helpful because they don’t contain chemicals. Try this Essential Oil Recipe for Headaches the next time you feel that familiar pain in your head.

Headaches happen for multiple reasons. From stress to hormonal surges to allergies to dehydration to low blood sugar, headaches can make an appearance when we least expect it. Identifying a safe and effective way to treat a headache can seem out of reach.

Lately I’ve been getting a ton of tension headaches and migraines. I always put it on hormones since they seem to be all over the place these days. But after bloodwork it seems that not only am I borderline dehydrated but I am also deficient in vitamin D! I NEVER would have pinned it on that but it’s amazing to find something that I can change to help keep these headaches at bay.

This 2018 study in the Journal of Clinical Neurology found that a larger number of monthly days with headache was related to vitamin D deficiency among migraineurs.

The Best Essential Oil Recipe for Headaches (2)

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Treat Your Headaches with Essential Oils

Some of us are not fans of taking pills and would prefer to pursue a more natural approach to relieving a headache.

Essential oils are an excellent alternative therapy for treating a headache and ranks highly among those who prefer to lead a naturalist life. Also, if you are one who prefers to leverage a combination therapy approach, essential oils are a fantastic augmentation or supplemental treatment.

These natural agents can treat various types of headaches including migraine headaches, tension headaches, and sinus headaches to name a few. Essential oils are particularly useful because they generally go to the source of the problem thanks to their unique ability to stimulate chemical releases in the brain that can generate feelings of calm, address pain, reduce stress, regulate hormonal surges, and improve circulation.

You can apply many of these oils topically, but many experts recommend using a diffuser when possible for best results.

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Best Essential Oils for Headaches

There are several essential oils that relieve symptoms associated with headaches. Finding the best oil for your needs will vary person to person, but do not be afraid to spend time discovering the essential oil that works best for you. Here are five essential oils that provide headache relief.

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Lavender Essential Oil

Lavender oil promotes relaxation and soothes our senses, enabling us to release pent-up tension and stress –all symptoms that can contribute to a throbbing headache. It functions as an anti-anxiety, antidepressant, sedative, and calming agent.

You can use this oil as a component of aromatherapy, or you may use it as a topical oil with dilution. Lavender oil is particularly useful in relieving migraine headaches. You can massage this oil into the temples and the back of your neck to treat symptoms.

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Rosemary Essential Oil

Rosemary oil aids in the reduction of pain and helps to relieve tension. Rosemary oil is an excellent natural stress reducing agent. Studies show that rosemary oil not only reduces tension but acts as a natural analgesic which helps to treat pain. Also, it can demolish other symptoms that may accompany headaches such as nausea and insomnia.

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Peppermint Essential Oil

When applied to the forehead, peppermint oil delivers a cooling sensation, stimulating circulation, and reducing muscle contractions. Peppermint oil is especially useful in treating tension headaches (American Family Physician). You can apply peppermint oil to your wrists, forehead or temples.

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Eucalyptus Essential Oil

Apply eucalyptus oil to the tip of your nose, chest, and temples to aid in relieving sinus tension while also opening your nasal passages. Eucalyptus has a rich history and reputation for getting the necessary results that help to reduce inflammation and eliminate blockage that accompanies sinus problems.

Oregano Essential Oil

Oregano oil can help to cure mild headaches as well as migraines. Its chemical ingredient carvacrol acts as a potent anti-inflammatory agent which aids in rapid relief. You can take this oil orally by placing a few drops beneath your tongue or apply it topically. Of course, when consuming any essential oil, make sure it is intended for oral consumption.

For best results, when using this oil topically, apply oil to your forehead and temples.

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Using Essential Oils

My favorite way of using essential oils for headache relief is to combine them in a roller bottle and roll onto my forehead, temples and back of my neck. It is not immediate relief, and may take up to 20 minutes to feel pain relief.

You can also add these essential oils with epsom salt to a bath and soak in the oils and breathe them in through the steam.

Each of these oils provides strong inflammatory and analgesic properties that can help you to take control of a mild or a chronic headache. You have the option to use each of these oils topically or orally. Next time you have a headache, try one of these oils for relief.

The Best Essential Oil Recipe for Headaches is Easy Too!

Here is my favorite roller bottle recipe for headache relief! I use this ALL the time as it’s soothing and calming and smells so good.

Ingredients
– 1 roller bottle (purchase here)
– 20 drops Peppermint essential oil
– 15 drops Eucalyptus essential oil
– 15 drops Lavender essential oil
– 15 drops Frankincense essential oil
– carrier oil such as jojoba or coconut oil

Instructions
Fill roller bottle with the essential oils and top off with carrier oil. Roll onto forehead, temples, and back of neck as needed for pain relief.

Where to buy essential oils

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I love Rocky Mountain Oils because of their quality 100% pure essential oils that require no minimum purchase and always supplies FREE shipping! Plus they always have specials going on!

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Rocky Mountain Oils stands behind the purity of their product and offer free online access to batch specific GC/MS test results. Simply enter your batch number. If you’re wanting to see results for an oil you’re considering and don’t already have, you can call and they will give you the appropriate batch number.

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The Best Essential Oil Recipe for Headaches (2024)

FAQs

The Best Essential Oil Recipe for Headaches? ›

For an on-the-go, pain relief roll-on recipe, add 4 drops each of lavender and peppermint oil plus 2 drops rosemary oil in a 10ml roller ball bottle and fill with jojoba oil. Dot on the temples and forehead, and massage into your skin. Experiment with different blend options to find out which works the best for you.

Which essential oil works for migraines? ›

One study found that lavender may also be effective in the management of migraines. Other research suggests that lavender can improve sleep quality in people,4 a possible benefit for those who suffer from sleep deprivation-related headaches.

What is the strongest essential oil for pain? ›

Which Essential Oils Are Best For Pain? One of Mother nature's most powerful painkillers, peppermint oil is frequently used for alleviating pain [1]. Closely related to peppermint, wintergreen oil boasts similar properties due to its methyl salicylate component.

How do you make peppermint oil for headaches? ›

Pour hot water into a bowl and add 3 to 7 drops of essential oil. Cover your head with a towel, close your eyes, and breathe through your nose. Do this for no more than 2 minutes. Steam inhalation can help with sinus headaches, especially if you also have symptoms of congestion.

What is better for headaches peppermint or lavender? ›

There are two essential oils specifically that may be helpful—lavender, which may help with a migraine, and peppermint, which may help with a tension-type headache.

Where do I put peppermint oil for a headache? ›

If you're unsure where to apply peppermint oil for headaches, follow the steps below:
  1. Mix the peppermint oil with a carrier oil.
  2. Dab a couple drops of the mixture onto your fingers.
  3. Massage onto your temples, back of neck, shoulders and chest.
Dec 24, 2023

What essential oil is like ibuprofen? ›

chamomilla essential oils are even better than commercial anti-inflammatory medicine (ibuprofen), via markedly down-regulating the expression of inflammatory cytokines, like cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in vivo.

What oil is most anti-inflammatory? ›

Flaxseed oil is the best oil source of omega-3 fatty acids, which help to reduce inflammation, lower "bad" cholesterol (LDL cholesterol), prevent blood clotting and benefit overall health. However, it should not be heated — in other words, use it in salad dressings, dips and marinades instead. Keep it refrigerated.

How do you make pain relief oil? ›

Heat mustard oil in a pan on medium heat and pour it into a glass bowl. Add freshly ground ajwain seeds or ajwain powder, followed by eucalyptus oil. Mix well and apply to the affected areas. Massage this DIY painkiller oil on the affected parts and derive the benefits of oil massage on body.

How do you use frankincense oil for migraines? ›

Try adding a few drops of frankincense oil to a hot bath, or using an oil diffuser or vaporizer. You can apply it to the skin as long as you dilute it with a carrier oil, with 2 drops of carrier to 1 drop of frankincense.

What pressure points relieve headaches? ›

One of the best pressure points to focus on when treating tension headaches is the skin between the thumb and the pointer finger. Dr. Renee recommends massaging this area for 20 to 30 seconds at a time using the thumb and index finger of your opposite hand, or simply pinching and holding it for 10 seconds.

How long does it take for peppermint oil to work for headaches? ›

Wait 15-30 minutes for the oil to take effect.

Try to relax and stay calm so the oil can take effect. You may experience a cooling sensation on your skin or nostrils, but it should go away as the oil dissolves. The peppermint oil should work for at least 15-30 minutes. You can reapply or inhale the oil again as needed.

Can too much essential oil cause headache? ›

Essential oils with proconvulsive properties such as camphor, eucalyptus, thujone and fennel may trigger and sustain cluster headaches.

Can you put essential oils on your head? ›

You can mix one or more types in a shampoo or conditioner. Or mix the drops into 2 ounces of a carrier oil. Be aware that if you put some essential oils directly on to your scalp, they may cause irritation. Read label instructions for how to dilute oils, and never use more than the recommended amount.

Does frankincense oil help with migraines? ›

Properties and Mechanisms of Action:

Anti-inflammatory: Like rose oil, frankincense also has anti-inflammatory properties, making it effective in reducing the pain and swelling associated with headaches. Cerebral Blood Flow: It's believed to improve cerebral blood flow, thus providing relief during headaches.

Is clary sage good for migraines? ›

Clary Sage Oil has an analgesic property which helps to alleviate pain and stress due to headache and migraine. Its anti-inflammatory property has a soothing and calming effect on your mind.

Can oil pulling helps migraines? ›

Oil pulling can have a positive effect on over 30 health concerns, including migraines, asthma and diabetes. Meanwhile, most studies about oil pulling focus on how the practice may improve dental and oral health.

References

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