7 Best Essential Oils for Headaches (Our 2024 Review)

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I try to use as many natural remedies as possible for any health problems that come up.

Over the counter medications can be a fine headache solution. When you must go that route, you can't beat their strength.

But I feel like treating my health in a more natural way is better for me unless the severity of the health issue is great enough to need only strong over-the-counter synthetic medicine.

This has led me to seek out the best essential oils for headaches.

Don't have time to read the entire essential oils for headaches post?

Here are our top choices for essential oils for headaches (plus their Amazon links)!

Peppermint CLICK HERE FOR PRICE
Eucalyptus CLICK HERE FOR PRICE
Rosemary CLICK HERE FOR PRICE
Lavender CLICK HERE FOR PRICE
Roman Chamomile CLICK HERE FOR PRICE
Clary Sage CLICK HERE FOR PRICE
Sweet Basil CLICK HERE FOR PRICE
Headache Relief Blend CLICK HERE FOR PRICE
Head Relief Blend CLICK HERE FOR PRICE
Migraine Support CLICK HERE FOR PRICE

Types of Headaches

Anyone (or everyone) who has suffered from headaches has an idea that not all headaches are the same. Some can be mild annoyances. Others can drive you to your knees with pain.

Here are the 10 different types of headaches:

  1. tension headaches
  2. cluster headaches
  3. allergy headaches
  4. sinus headaches
  5. migraine headaches
  6. hormone headaches
  7. caffeine headaches
  8. exertion headaches
  9. hangover headaches
  10. sinus headaches

If you suffer from headaches as I do, you want to be able to have a way to treat them without feeling like you are over-treating the problem. This is why I love to use essential oils instead of taking an over-the-counter pill.

Over-the-counter pills have a one pill fits all answer to headaches, but essential oils for headaches allow you to tailor the cure to the type of headache you actually have,

Additionally, I never feel guilty that I may be causing harm to another part of my body with the side effects of medication. Here, I will talk about the seven best essential oils for headaches, and how you can use them to relieve your pain.

How to get rid of headaches? What causes headaches, and how can aromatherapy and essential oils alleviate their effects?

Different things cause different types of headaches. For example, tension headaches occur when you have muscular contractions in your head and neck region. Several things can cause these contractions, such as various foods, stressors, and activities. In fact, some people even develop tension headaches after working on a computer for too long, or after driving a long distance.

Alternatively, sinus headaches are usually caused by an infection in the nasal passages that leads to inflammation. This causes congestion, which then causes pressure to build up in the forehead and underneath the eyes.

If you eat foods that are high in sugar, such as processed or prepackaged foods, your blood sugar will rise, leading to a sugar headache. Once your blood sugar spikes, your insulin follows suit to help excrete the excess sugar from your blood. Fasting, dieting too rigorously, and skipping meals can also trigger these types of headaches. In fact, delayed or irregular meals can lead to symptoms. This is typically due to people's blood-glucose levels dropping below normal.

When it comes to migraine headaches, the exact cause is still unknown. However, they are thought to be caused by abnormal brain activity that leads to a temporary change in the nerve signals, blood flow, and chemicals in the brain.

Because all of these types of headaches have different causes, they also have different solutions. How to get rid of headaches is not a question with a single answer. Some essential oils are more effective for specific headaches than others. 

Treat your headaches with the specific essential oils that will best alleviate the specific symptoms.

Seven BEST Essential Oils for Headaches

Essential oils are effective in the treatment of headaches because they are able to safely and effectively treat the trigger of a pain, meaning they get to the root of the problem rather than masking the pain temporarily. Also, there are no side effects when using essential oils for headaches, and you are able to remain in control of your dose depending on the type of headache you are having.

Unlike common pain relievers, essential oils are both effective and safe. They provide relief, reduce overall stress in the body, and aid in proper circulation. Essential oils also have a lot of other health benefits, such as boosting your immune system rather than causing damage to your vital organs.

Each type of headache has its own trigger. One common cause of headaches is hormonal imbalances. However, hormonal medications can actually worsen headaches, so opting to use essential oils is a much more gentle and natural treatment than more traditional medications.

Stress is another common headache trigger, which many people choose to treat with essential oils. A loss of sleep can also lead to headaches, but there are oils that work as a mild sedative to help people who are not able to get the sleep that their bodies need.

Headaches can also be caused by allergies, intense physical exertion, sinus pressure, and even certain foods. These triggers can be minimized and eliminated by using essential oils. For this reason, essential oils have been around for thousands of years, successfully treating people with health ailments.

Because there are a variety of causes that lead to different types of headaches, there are also a variety of solutions available to use for treatment. Here are the seven best essential oils for headaches.

1. Peppermint Oil

Peppermint oil is a common essential oil used to treat headaches for a variety of reasons.

One thing that peppermint oil is really helpful with is relieving sinus pressure, which can consequently relieve a headache. According to Dr. Axe, inhaling diffused peppermint oil can immediately unclog your sinuses and relieve pressure in your head.

Peppermint Oil

In this video, Dr. Axe shares some more tips on how to properly use peppermint oil to help relieve a headache.

Peppermint oil is also a great natural choice for helping migraine headaches go away. Peppermint is not only naturally calming, it is also numbing. Researchers believe that these properties make using peppermint oil beneficial for people who suffer from migraines. Applying the oil to the forehead and temples is an effective natural remedy for migraines.

Additionally, peppermint essential oil contains menthol, which can encourage muscles to relax, and ease pain.

As a slight anesthetic and numbing agent, using peppermint oil on any area of the head can help provide relief.

2. Eucalyptus Oil

Eucalyptus oil has many health benefits, including reducing headache pain. It is an anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, and decongestant, which can all help relieve pain. Additionally, it acts as a deodorant, antiseptic, and antibacterial.

Eucalyptus Oil

The antibacterial properties of this oil are beneficial for treating headaches because it can not only help prevent you from getting a cold in the first place, but it can also help cure a cold faster and help make sure that you don't continue to be reinfected with the same cold after you have healed.

If you are suffering from a sinus headache, this is a great oil to use. Using eucalyptus oil in a vaporizer can help keep nasal passages moist to treat nasal congestion and sinus pressure. It also promotes the secretion of sputum, which will further relieve sinus pressure.

Here are a few great ways you can use eucalyptus oil to benefit your health.

3. Rosemary

Rosemary oil is commonly used to relieve respiratory problems and reduce pain. It is also used as a stress reliever, which can help cure tension headaches.

2007 study showed that inhaling rosemary oil for five minutes significantly reduces the levels of cortisol in saliva.

Rosemary essential oil for headache relief

Cortisol is a stress hormone that is released during times of stress, and having excess cortisol in the body can lead to many health problems.

Massaging the head with rosemary essential oil provides quick pain relief. Some people also choose to take a vapor bath with rosemary oil because it has certain anti-inflammatory qualities that make it effective for relieving pain. It is also known to increase blood circulation, which can help relieve pain and promote healing.

Rosemary oil is great when it is applied directly to the temples for headache relief. This can help relieve migraines as well as tension headaches.

4. Roman Chamomile

Chamomile is one of the oldest medicinal herbs that people have used to treat health ailments. There have been a lot of different preparations of oils using Roman chamomile over the years, and it is often used as a relaxation tool because it is a mild sedative. A lot of people drink chamomile in tea to help relax at night, but it is also a great herb to use in an essential oil format.

Roman Chamomile essential oil for headache relief

Roman chamomile is an effective oil to use for stress headaches. It is an anti-inflammatory with anti-stress and analgesic properties. Its analgesic properties effectively reduce pain in muscles and joints while also decreasing the severity of headaches, toothaches, sinus pressure, and even bone injuries. Roman chamomile can also help relieve pain by constricting the blood vessels around the cranial nerves, which relieves pressure in the head.

One study proved the effectiveness of using Roman chamomile for anxiety, pain relief, and sleep. The study concluded that using Roman chamomile in aromatherapy is a helpful independent nursing intervention to help reduce anxiety levels and improve sleep quality.

5. Lavender

Lavender essential oil is both therapeutic and curative.

It has properties ranging from inducing relaxation to treating skin ailments. There is growing evidence that suggests that lavender oil may even be an effective treatment for several neurological disorders. It also has the ability to decrease anxiety and stabilize moods.

Lavender

Lavender is also a great treatment for both tension and migraine headaches. According to recent medical research, lavender oil causes a significant reduction in headache pain when it is inhaled for 15 minutes.

Many consider lavender oil to be the best “general” essential oil. It seems to have some sort of a positive effect on so many different health-related issues.

Specifically for headaches: Lavender oil is great when used in combination with other oils, such as peppermint, and applied to the nape of the neck and temples. Using just two drops of each oil is an effective pain-relieving remedy.

6. Clary Sage

When it comes to headaches, clary sage oil can help reduce blood pressure by relaxing the veins and the arteries, which in turn reduces stress and tension.

By reducing blood pressure, it also widens the blood vessels and encourages circulation, providing the body with more oxygen and boosting metabolic performance.

Clary Sage

It also reduces inflammation and has a calming effect that can reduce stress or anxiety and provide you with comfort.

Clary sage is also great for hormonal headaches. It helps to balance the hormones and decreases the pain that comes along with PMS and other hormonal causes of headaches.

This essential oil also has many therapeutic health properties, such as:

  • Antidepressant
  • Antispasmodic
  • Anticonvulsive
  • Sedative
  • Hypotensive
  • Antiseptic

7. Sweet Basil

Using sweet basil oil on strained muscles or an aching head can alleviate pain. You can also rub a few drops of this oil onto your forehead to help increase alertness.

Sweet basil oil can be used as a massage oil to help stimulate blood flow and soothe the headache pain.

Sweet Basil essential oil for headache relief

It is also a good tonic to help treat nervous disorders, stress headaches, migraines, and even allergies. It can be used to clear the mind and help people relax, while also promoting clarity and mental strength.

Basil is great to use for migraines, but it is also helpful in treating colds that are causing a headache. Here is a way that you can make sweet basil oil at home.

How to Use these Essential Oils

There are several ways in which you can use essential oils, and it really comes down to personal preference.

Topical Application

When applying essential oils topically, it is important to dilute them with a carrier oil so they do not come into direct contact with your skin. Some great carrier oils to use are coconut oil and almond oil. Using undiluted oils directly on your skin can cause damage and irritation.

To make a topical solution, simply mix three to four drops of your essential oil with your chosen carrier oil. You can then use this as a massage oil, or just put it anywhere on your skin where you can benefit from its aroma throughout the day.

Here is a great tutorial on making your own carrier oils.

Another way to apply essential oils topically is to use a roll-on bottle. Again, use a carrier oil and add a few drops of your essential oil of choice, and roll it onto your skin so you can smell it and benefit from its curative properties.

Using an Essential Oil Diffuser

Using a diffuser for your essential oils gets the oils into the air so you can breathe them and use them as aromatherapy. This is an easy and effective way to get the benefits from your essential oils in your home.

With a diffuser, you can add four to five drops of your essential oil of choice to the water and allow it to deliver its therapeutic aromatherapy throughout your house while also cleaning the air and making a fragrant environment. While there are other methods for using essential oils, using a diffuser is the easiest and longest-lasting way to reap the benefits.

Need an Essential Oil Diffuser?

If you don't have an essential oil diffuser (or want to grab a new one), then here are favorite three options. Just find the diffuser that looks interesting and then click the yellow button to get more information:

Best Overall Choice: Lux Blue Marble Diffuser by Rocky Mountain Oils CLICK HERE FOR PRICE
Best High-End Oil Diffuser: Aroma Tech AroMini CLICK HERE FOR PRICE
Most Budget-Friendly Option: InnoGear Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser CLICK HERE FOR PRICE

Bath

Run a warm bath and mix five to six drops of your essential oil or essential oil blend into the water. You can add in bath salts or other bath oils if you would like as well. Adding essential oils to a bath is effective because you can inhale the oils while the bathwater evaporates them into the air.

Three Essential Oil Headache Blends (Pre-made)

Companies often make pre-made blends using many of the oils listed above. They create products with different concentrations and mixes of essential oils in their own titled blends.

These blends might be a bit more expensive, but they also have the ability to target multiple causes/effects oof headaches because they mix (and properly proportion multiple oils.

PROS

  • You don't have to take the time to mix oils yourself or decide how much of which oil to use.
  • You only need to purchase one bottle if you only want to use essential oils for headaches.

CONS

  • You can't do much trial and error or experimenting with your own blends.
  • It is more cost effective to create your own blends.
  • Purchasing specific blends does not allow you to use your essential oils for multiple purposes.

Here are some popular pre-made essential oil headache blends that people have found to be very effective. A great solution for those who don't want to mess around with making their own essential oil headache blends.

1. Head Ease Blend

This minty blend helps to relieve headaches fast, and is very effective for both children and adults. It uses only top-quality ingredients in a superior cultivation to provide headache relief.

Head Ease Blend uses superior distillation and bottling care processes that make this oil aromatically superior to other oils on the market.

Head Ease Blend

If you want to know how to get rid of headaches in as simple a manner as possible. This might be the perfect choice.

2. Headache Relief Blend

This blend has a cool and minty aroma that contribute to a calming smell to help relieve headaches and migraines.

It works to soothe and calm the body and mind using only 100% pure, natural, undiluted oils with no additives, fillers, synthetics, or GMOs.

Headache Relief Blend

3. Migraine Support

This final essential oil headache blend has a sweet, minty, flowery scent that is both soothing and sharp. Its mild aroma doesn’t overpower, but it helps you feel calm while your headache melts away.

It also helps stimulate circulation and maintain a healthy circulatory system while soothing minor aches and pains that may result from the overuse of your muscles and joints.

Migraine Support

Did you enjoy this tutorial on using essential oils for headaches?

Going through a lot of trial and error myself to find the perfect natural relief for frequent headaches, these tips have helped me live pain-free without having to deal with the dangerous side effects of over-the-counter medications.

Hopefully you will be able to experience the same benefits and find the oil blend that works best for the type of headaches that you are experiencing.

In the comments below, please share your experiences on how to get rid of headaches. Particularly if you have your own experiences with essential oils for your headaches

Additionally, if you enjoyed this article, please share this article with others who you think could benefit from a natural remedy for their pain, on your favorite social media.

Use the Best Essential Oils for Headaches and learn how to get rid of headaches using aromatherapy. #essentialoils #essentialoilrecipes #aromatherapy #aromatherapyrecipes #headacherelief #headache #headacheremedies #stress #calm #natural #holistic

1 thought on “7 Best Essential Oils for Headaches (Our 2024 Review)”

  1. Glad you’ve found EO’s to help you out! DO you use a specific brand though? Depending on what you are using, there could be purer sources out there that get the job done even better!

    Peppermint for headaches though sure is helpful.

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