Top 10 Essential Oils for Migraines and 9 DIY Recipes For Headaches

May 22, 2017

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A migraine is a severe recurring vascular headache that occurs more frequently in women than men. When conventional medicine fails to battle the constant headaches, it is time to turn for help to nature and try to use essential oils for migraines.

Prevalence is high between twenty-five and fifty-five years. Statistically, an estimated thirty million people have migraines, and approximately ten million people have chronic headaches on a daily basis. It is characterized by severe pain on one side of the head. Research suggests that 93% of men and 99% of women have had a migraine headache during the course of their lives.

The two most popular types of migraines are migraines with aura and migraines without aura.

When you have a migraine with aura, you will have an aura ten to thirty minutes before an attack

You will experience the following neurological symptoms: trouble thinking, speech problem, numbness, visual blind spots, and traveling tingling sensation. When you have a migraine without aura, you will have an aura without other migraine symptoms.

Normally, if you are a young patient with a migraine, you may have no idea of what is happening to you. You should not be terrified that you have a stroke or a brain tumor. Over the years, migraine has been a poorly understood disorder. However, you should know that a migraine is a manageable neurological condition. There are different migraine treatments that you can use. Though, it is advisable to use aromatherapy for headaches.

The therapeutic use of essential oils headache relief through diffusion, topical application, and direct inhalation is the most effective way of managing migraine headaches. A migraine can be a painful and a debilitating neurological condition that can cost you a lot of money, lost workplace productivity, and reduced quality of life. You can avoid all these by using aromatherapy for migraines. As essential oils are effective in many other diseases: cough, colds, ear infections, sore throat and other.

Top 10 Essential Oils for Migraines

1. Eucalyptus Oil

Eucalyptus essential oil is steam distilled from the leaves of the tree, and it has a fresh, medicinal, woody aroma. The oil has the following health benefits: mucolytic, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-infectious anti-rheumatic, expectorant, and decongestant. Traditionally, it has been used to treat respiratory problems that are associated with headaches and migraines.

It treats headaches, sinus congestion, muscular aches, cold, cough, fever, flu, and joint pain. It has a balancing and invigorating effect on emotions. Eucalyptus oil can be used in an inhalant, a diffuser and applied topically. Eucalyptus oil is not for regular use in bath or massage, as skin irritation may occur. Avoid the oil if you are suffering from high blood pressure.

2. Peppermint Oil

Peppermint essential oil is steam distilled from the leaves of the plant, and it has a minty scent. This is one of the most effective essential oils for a migraine because of its stimulating and regulating effect on emotions. Peppermint oil is purifying, expectorant, decongestant, astringent, antispasmodic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-infectious, antifungal, antibacterial, and analgesic.

You can use peppermint essential oil for headaches in massage, as an inhalant, in a diffuser, in a bath, and as a compress. It alleviates mild headaches, stress, sinus congestion, nausea, mental fatigue, fever, flu, dry cough, cold, lack of mental concentration. You should not use peppermint oil for a topical application if you have hypersensitive skin, and during pregnancy and lactation.

3. Lavender Oil

Lavender essential oil is steam distilled from the flower spikes, and it has a fresh, floral, herbaceous, slightly fruity aroma. It has a balancing and soothing effect on emotions. It is universal oil because it supplements many other natural oils and it is highly resourceful.Uses of lavender oil include sleep-inducing, immune-stimulant, deodorant, calming, antispasmodic, antimicrobial, anti-infectious, antifungal, antidepressant, antibacterial, and analgesic.

Lavender oil soothes insomnia, headaches, nervous tension, sinus congestion, strains, and stress. You can use it directly on your skin or in a bath/ compress/ diffuser, in massage, and as an inhalant. You can prepare a quick migraine treatment by sprinkling two drops of lavender oil on your pillow and sheets. Then go into deep sleep for the oil to take effect.

4. Melissa Oil

Melissa essential oil is steam distilled from the leaves and tops of the plant. It is colorless natural oil with dry, sweet, floral, herbaceous odor. The oil is useful for treating: headaches, migraines, insomnia, hypertension, depression, anxiety, hysterics, tension, and chronic cough, cold associated with a headache, anger, and stress.

The oil is sedative, antibacterial, spasmolytic, febrifuge, diaphoretic, and carminative, making it the best essential oil for headaches, rheumatism, nervousness, and gastrointestinal disorders. When applied topically, used in a diffuser or inhaled directly, it instills optimism and lifts the spirit. You can use Melissa oil internally for minor spasms, digestive disorders, irritability, restlessness, and tenseness. Add two drops of the oil to a cup of steaming hot tea and inhale the vapor before drinking the tea.

5. German Chamomile Oil

German chamomile essential oil is steam distilled from the flower petals, and it has a deep, woodsy, smooth, warm, balsamic scent. It is a relaxant, tonic, decongestant, and antispasmodic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-infectious, and analgesic. The essential oil of German chamomile is generally useful for treating emotional problems, in an aroma diffuser, as a massage oil, and as a bath oil.

The oil helps with tension, headaches, menstrual problems, and stomachache. When used in aromatherapy, it calms feelings of irritation and anger as it promotes clarity, peace, and patience. You should not use German chamomile and any other chamomile oil if you are pregnant because it can cause skin irritation.

6. Sweet Marjoram Oil

Sweet marjoram essential oil is steam distilled from the dried flowering herb, and it has a warm, herbal, spicy fragrance. It is useful during migraines, headaches, insomnia, emotional exhaustion, nervous tension, and anxiety attacks. The oil is best used in a relaxing bath or blended with bergamot and lavender.

Add a few drops of marjoram oil to massage oil for migraine headaches with tense neck muscles. When used as an inhalant, the oil is beneficial for treating nasal and sinus congestion associated with headaches. The essential oil of marjoram is an ideal stimulant for preventing intestinal cramps and flatulence. You are advised not to use marjoram oil in a topical application without diluting with carrier oil. This is a necessary precaution due to the possibility of skin sensitization.

7. Grapefruit Oil

Grapefruit essential oil is cold compressed from rinds of the plant, and it has a fresh, crisp, bright, citrusy scent. It is one of the most popular essential oils for headache relief. It is an antidepressant, detoxifying, cleansing, and stimulant. Apart from easing stress and depression, it is an effective migraine headache remedy.

You can use it for diffusion, topical application, direct inhalation, and internal consumption. However, you are urged to dilute it with an equal proportion of carrier oil before application. You can create a better migraine treatment by blending grapefruit oil with one or more of the following young living essential oils for migraines: lavender, rosewood, rosemary, and jasmine oils.

8. Myrrh Oil

Myrrh essential oil is steam distilled from the resin of the plant, and it has a warm, earthy, woody fragrance. The general properties of this essential oil are tonic, vulnerary, expectorant, antiseptic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, astringent, antiviral, antispasmodic, and antifungal. The oil is highly resourceful for alleviating cold symptoms, cough, and headaches. To soothe headaches, cough and cold symptoms add three drops of myrrh oil in a diffuser and breathe deeply. Add a few drops of the oil into a hot bath to experience the uplifting, balancing, calming, and relaxing effects.

9. Orange Oil

Orange essential oil is cold compressed from rinds of the plant, and it has a cheeringly citrusy aroma. The oil has an uplifting quality tied to relieving stress and lifting depression. It is one of the most efficient essential oils for migraine headaches because of its antidepressant properties. This is the oil you should use when you are stressed, anxious or nervous since it can bring you back to a more focused mood. Mix one tablespoon of coconut oil, one drop of orange oil, and one drop of cinnamon oil. Use the mixture to massage your scalp for quick relief.

10. Clary Sage Oil

Clary sage essential oil is steam distilled from the flower tops and leaves of the plant. It is one of the most gentle and tolerable doterra essential oils for headaches. It is predominantly calming and relaxing. The calming quality makes clary sage oil a convenient addition to any essential oil treatment blend. You can use it for direct inhalation and topical application. However, you must dilute it with carrier oil before application.

9 Best Migraine Essential Oil Recipes

Recipe #1: DIY Calming Blend

Ingredients:

3 drops of ylang-ylang essential oil
3 drops of marjoram essential oil
3 drops of lavender essential oil
3 drops of neroli essential oil
1 ounce of sunflower oil

Directions: Combine all the oils for headaches in a clean dark glass bottle and mix. Use an aromatherapy diffuser to disperse the blend into the atmosphere of your room.

Recipe #2: Migraine Relief & Sleeping Blend

Ingredients:

2 drops of clary sage essential oil
5 drops of Roman chamomile essential oil
7 drops of lavender essential oil
10 drops of chamomile essential oil
15 drops of coconut oil

Directions: Blend all the essential oils for headaches with coconut oil. Then draw a hot bath and add the oil to the hot bath, step in, and relax.

Recipe #3: Migraine Headache Treatment Blend

Ingredients:

4 drops of peppermint essential oil
3 drops of oregano essential oil
2 drops of cedarwood essential oil
2 drops of lavender essential oil
1 tablespoon of jojoba oil

Directions: Mix all the oils in a clean, dark-colored glass bottle. Then shake the bottle to blend the oils. Apply the mixture to your scalp as necessary, using circular motions to massage into skin.

Recipe #4: Calming Vanilla Mist

Ingredients:

6 ounces of distilled water
4 drops of vanilla essential oil
15 drops of lavender essential oil
15 drops of chamomile essential oil

Directions: In a clean, dark glass bottle, add all the ingredients and mix. Add the mixture into a glass spray bottle. Shake well before spritzing the blend into the atmosphere of your room. This calming vanilla mist is what you need when you experience a mild migraine headache.

Recipe #5: Eucalyptus Energy Spritz Recipe

Ingredients:

6 ounces of distilled water
5 drops of spearmint essential oil
5 drops of Petitgrain essential oil
10 drops of lemon essential oil
10 drops of eucalyptus essential oil
20 drops of lavender essential oil

Directions: Mix all the essential oils for headache relief, and then add the mixture to distilled water in a spray bottle. This blend treats a migraine headache, uplifts your spirits and invigorates your mind. The combination of spearmint, eucalyptus, lavender, and lemon essential oils have a calming effect.

Recipe #6: Relaxing Massage Blend

Ingredients:

1 drop of cinnamon essential oil
4 drops of lavender essential oil
4 drops of marjoram essential oil
4 drops of pine essential oil
15 ml sweet almond oil

Directions: Add all essential oils to a colored bottle and shake well to mix. Use the mixture to massage your scalp for quick relief.

Recipe #7: Calming & Relaxing Diffuser Blend Recipe

Ingredients:

20 drops of orange essential oil
20 drops of marjoram essential oil
10 drops of Roman chamomile essential oil
10 drops of German chamomile essential oil
20 drops of lavender essential oil

Directions: Combine all doterra essential oils for migraines in a colored glass bottle. Add 5 to 10 drops of the blend to an aromatherapy diffuser.

Recipe #8: Diffuser Blend for Balancing & Calming

Ingredients:

4 drops of myrrh essential oil
2 drops of Rose Otto essential oil
6 drops of clary sage essential oil
2 drops of patchouli essential oil
2 drops of clove essential oil
10 drops of frankincense essential oil
6 drops of sandalwood essential oil

Directions: Combine all essential oils in a dark-colored glass bottle and shake well. Add 6 to 10 drops of the blend to an aromatherapy diffuser.

Recipe #9: Headache Relief Shower Gel

Ingredients:

8 ounces unscented shower gel
8 drops of ginger essential oil
12 drops of orange essential oil
12 drops of eucalyptus essential oil
40 drops of peppermint essential oil

Directions: in a clean glass bowl, mix the essential oils for headache relief and then add the mixture to the shower gel. Apply a small amount of the gel to a shower pouf and enjoy your bath.

Essential oils for migraines have been used as a natural remedy for headaches since ancient times. Even with the numerous over-the-counter pills for headaches, you might want to consider go natural and try aromatherapy for a change.