We all know the feeling; the aching throb and sharp pain of a headache radiating across the head with a vise-like quality. And unfortunately, headaches seem to hit at the most inopportune times! Here at EOL we’re big proponents of using all-natural remedies for common daily ailments when possible. Below are our three favorite ways to use essential oils to help ease and soothe headache pain - try these before popping an ibuprofen when you feel your next headache coming on!
Inhale Peppermint Oil With Steam
Some studies have shown that peppermint oil can help ease a headache, as it can help to control blood flow as well as open up the sinuses for improved oxygen flow. Breathing in steam from peppermint oil-infused hot water can do wonders for soothing headache pain. Here’s how:
Essential Oil Massage
Depending on the type of headache you are experiencing, a targeted essential oil massage might do the trick. If your headache is focused mainly behind the eyes, do this.
Diffuse Essential Oils
If you feel a headache coming on and there’s no time to apply essential oils topically or sit down for a steam session, try simply diffusing peppermint and lavender oil throughout your home or workspace. And if that’s not possible, you can even just inhale the essential oil directly from the bottle. It's simple but effective!
Tip: We always like to carry a roller bottle in our bags with a simple blend of peppermint oil mixed with an odorless carrier oil. 3-5 drops of essential oil per tablespoon of carrier oil is a good ratio to begin with. You can increase the potency with time as you prefer.
Don't like peppermint essential oil?
While peppermint essential oil is shown to be one of the best oils for headache pain management and prevention, not everyone can tolerate it. Luckily, there are a few other essential oils that can be used in the same way (including the methods mentioned above) to help manage and prevent headache pain. Our favorites are:
Depending on your personal preference these oils can be used alone or together to soothe your headaches away!