Migraines are more upsetting than your regular headaches. You know you have them when there is a severe throbbing pain mostly on one side of the head associated with nausea (and sometimes with vomiting), and sensitivity to light and sound, depending on the severity of the pain and the stage of migraine per se. What’s even bothering is that when migraine attacks, the severity of the pain gets worse and can last for hours or even days. Over-the-counter medications may need to be taken several times in order to effectively get rid of the pain. If you want to shift to a drug-free approach in easing migraine, then you might want to check out the following essential oils that are proven effective to bomb migraines.
1. Lavender Oil
Recent studies have shown that Lavender oil can quickly reduce migraine attack. For a quick relief, you can inhale for 15 minutes the vapour from 2 or 3 cups of boiling water with 2 – 4 drops of lavender oil. You may also opt to apply a few drops of the oil directly on your temples to get a stronger scent.
2. Peppermint Oil
Peppermint oil is one of the most popular essential oils to treat various conditions in alternative medicine, including headaches and migraines. Most people apply this oil on the forehead or temples to quickly relieve headaches. If applied topically, Peppermint releases a cooling or menthol sensation on the skin thus causing a slight numbing effect. In addition, the scent of the oil is stimulating that it can help in alleviating nausea as well as sinus pain or congestion.
3. Rosemary Oil
Rosemary oil is soothing enough that eases tension headaches fast as well as breathing or respiratory difficulties. Studies showed that by simply inhaling this oil for 5 minutes notably reduces the cortisol level in saliva making it an ideal aromatherapy for stress. This oil can be diluted with water or base oil like coconut oil and can be massaged over the forehead or temples to soothe migraine or you can simply add a few drops in a hot bath for a relaxing pain relief.
4. Eucalyptus Oil
Eucalyptus oil improves breathing by naturally exhibiting anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral effects causing sinus pressure while boosting emotional stability and mood. Two to four drops of eucalyptus oil needs to be diluted in carrier oil like coconut oil before massaging to back, chest, forehead, nape and temples to clear nasal airways and removing nasal build-ups that are usually the cause of tension headaches and migraine.
5. Chamomile Oil
The essential oil of Chamomile naturally contains an anti-inflammatory property that relaxes the muscles and eliminates stress. Studies showed that this essential oil is best natural remedy for insomnia, anxiety and even depression, which are the usual cause of tension headaches leading to migraine. To enjoy the relaxing and soothing effect of Chamomile oil, simply dilute a few drops in base oil and massage over the affected area or you can also add a few drops in hot bath and inhale its steamy aroma.
Migraines, especially the severe ones, can really be disabling. You may find it hard to cope with the pain and just want to miss work and sleep for the whole day, but simply doing nothing will only make things worse. The key here is to start by proper education then trial and error to find the perfect natural remedy for your pain. On the other hand, essential oils too can interact with some over-the-counter and prescription drugs, and may have risks if used in children, pregnant and breastfeeding moms. It is still best to see a specialist before using these essential oils to steer clear of any untoward effects that may worsen the symptom.
