If you’re suffering from a headache, migraine, or stress, take 5 minutes to rub your temples with essential oils. These highly potent distillations can soothe tension and sinus headaches, and help ease pain and discomfort. Check out the best essential oils for headaches below.
Menthol Essential Oils
Tension headaches are best treated with essential oils that contain menthol, like peppermint oil, spearmint oil, tiger balm, and white flower oil. Menthol is known for its analgesic (pain-relieving) properties.
Sedative Essential Oils
If you’re trying to relieve a headache at night, then rub your temples with essential oils of lavender and Roman chamomile. These two essential oils have a high concentration of esters, which have sedative and anti-inflammatory properties.
Sinus Headaches
Peppermint essential oil clears away congestion, while lavender provides relaxation, pain relief, and antibacterial properties. Try a mixture of 6 drops lavender oil with 6 drops peppermint oil mixed with 1 ounce of a carrier oil, like sweet almond oil or jojoba oil.
Sweet basil is also prized for its decongestive properties and the boost it provides to mental clarity, but eucalyptus is best known for alleviating sinus headaches. Eucalyptus contains a high concentration of the oxide 1,8-Cineole, which is both an anti-inflammatory and an expectorant, meaning it helps to clear away mucous.
Tension Headaches
If you’re suffering from tension headaches try a blend of Roman chamomile, lavender, sweet marjoram, rosemary, clary sage, jasmine, or Melissa (an antiviral) essential oils. Always keep your essential oil blends in a cobalt or amber glass bottle to product the therapeutic properties.
How to Use Essential Oils
Massage a few drops of your essential oil blends on your temples for 5 minutes. Also apply to your forehead and back of the neck depending on the source of your headache.
Another option is to apply 1-3 drops of essential oil directly to a cotton ball and inhale, or use an aromatherapy diffuser.
