How to Use Essential Oils to Treat Headaches

Aromatherapy is a safe, natural alternative remedy. It can be used to treat various ailments, including migraines, tension headaches and cluster headaches. There are different types of essential oils that can be used in aromatherapy for treating headaches, as well as several methods of using them. First, you will need to decide which oils, or oil blends, will work best in curing your particular type of pain.

Types of essential oils for treating headaches

These are a few of the more common aromatherapy choices for tension and head pain.

Peppermint: My personal favorite, peppermint has analgesic and anesthetic properties.
Lavender: This is another favorite. Lavender is one of the most widely-used herbs for pain relief, thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties and its ability to relax the body.
Chamomile: This oil has the ability to relieve pain and to relax the muscles.
Geranium: It has the ability to strengthen and invigorate the body.
Rose: Rose is a sedative, and has a relaxing effect on the nervous system.
Rosemary: This oil works because of its analgesic properties and nervine, a substance that strengthens, calms and soothes.

Essential oil blends for types of headaches

Sometimes essential oils work better when used in combination with others. If you frequently suffer from migraines, which is a vascular form of headaches often accompanied by nausea and photosensitivity, you might benefit from Migraine Relief. Available commercially, it contains a blend of six essential oils: aniseed, basil, lavender, marjoram, niaouli and peppermint. The combination of these oils has a number of benefits in migraine relief.

How to use essential oils to treat headaches

There are several procedures for using essential oils. These are just a few of the different methods:

1. Add a few drops of an oil to a carrier oil, like jojoba oil. Apply the mixture to the head, neck, shoulders or wherever needed. You can either massage it into the skin, or apply it with a compress. Or, place a few drops of the mixture to your pillow before bedtime.
2. Add the essential oil to facial oils and apply during routine facial care.
3. Add a few drops to a boiling pot of water. Move the pot away from the hot burner, and inhale the steam with a towel over your head to trap the steam.
4. Apply a few drops of your choice essential oil to a warmer. Breathe it in as the scent infuses the air with aromatherapy.
5. Combine aromatherapy with reflexology. Massage the oils into reflex points that correspond with your head, spine and neck, or wherever it seems the headache is coming from:

~For sinus headaches, firmly massage the fingers, toes and balls of feet.
~For tension headaches, firmly massage the fingers, toes, the reflexes for the spine and neck -- up the arches of the feet -- and the reflexes for the solar plexus and pituitary ( see chart ).
~For vascular headaches, massage the areas indicated for tension headaches, as well as the kidney reflexes ( see chart ).

References:
Essential Oils for Headaches , AltMD.com
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