Self-care when headache attacks!

Have you ever experience being around someone who wears bad-smelling perfume, and the smell gave you a headache for the rest of the day? Millions of people across the world suffer from headaches every day for a variety of reasons and they’re often not sure what caused it!  

There are so many causes that trigger headaches including

• stress, fatigue, allergies, hormones, nutritional deficiencies, constipation, poor posture, low blood sugar, and alcohol or drug consumption.

There are a number of Over-The-Counter and prescribed medications available as painkillers for headaches. These medications are made by synthetic chemicals that can cause side effects, like kidney and liver damage, plus they don’t deal with the root of the problem. If you suffer from frequent headaches and struggle to find an effective treatment, you may look for natural remedies including Essential Oils.

How Do Essential Oils Treat Headaches?

Unlike painkillers that are commonly used to treat headaches and migraines today, essential oils serve as a more safe and healthy alternative. Essential oils provide relief, aid circulation and reduce stress. They also have a ton of other health benefits and boost your immune system.

Every headache has a trigger. One major headache trigger is stress, which can be reduced by using lavender and peppermint oil aromatically. Headaches may also be the result of intense physical exertion, allergies, sinus pressure (sinusitis), congestion, certain foods and sensory stimuli. All of these triggers can be minimized or even eliminated with essential oils. No wonder they have been used for thousands of years!

Here is the top 3 Essential Oils for Headaches

• Peppermint essential oil (Mentha piperita)
• Lavender essential oil (Lavandula angustifolia)
• Rosemary essential  oil (Rosmarinus officinalis ct. 1,8 cineole)

Let's look at them one by one.

1. Peppermint (Mentha piperita)

Peppermint has been used in alternative medicines for thousands of years. It is one of the most popular essential oils for treating headaches.

Peppermint oil uses and benefits include its long-lasting cooling effect on the skin, ability to inhibit muscle contractions and role in stimulating blood flow in the forehead when applied topically.

In a 1996 study, 41 patients (and 164 headache attacks) were analyzed in a study. The peppermint oil was applied topically 15 and 30 minutes after a headache began. Participants reported pain relief in their headache diaries, and peppermint oil proved to be a well-tolerated and cost-effective alternative to usual headache therapies.  (1)

Lavender essential oil has a variety of therapeutic and curative properties. It induces relaxation and relieves tension and stress — working as a sedative, antidepressant, anti-anxiety, anxiolytic, anticonvulsant and calming agent. There is also growing evidence that lavender oil serves as an effective treatment of neurological conditions and disorders.

According to researchers, aromatic and topical use of lavender oil affects the limbic system because the main constituents, linalool and linalyl acetate, are rapidly absorbed through the skin and are thought to cause central nervous system depression. For this reason, lavender oil can be used to treat headaches caused by anxiety disorders and related conditions.

Lavender oil benefits include relieving feelings of restlessness and disturbed sleep, two symptoms of headaches. It also regulates serotonin levels, which helps minimize pain in the nervous system that can lead to migraine attacks. (2)

3. Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis ct. 1,8 cineole)

Rosemary oil has powerful anti-inflammatory and analgesic (pain killing) properties. It’s been used in folk medicine for hundreds of years for stress reduction, pain relief, and improved circulation, which can all help headaches. It has a calming effect and improves personal orientation and alertness.

Rosemary oil also reduces stress and emotional triggers that can cause headache attacks. It also aids digestion and soothes an upset stomach, which can be a symptom of a severe headache. (3)

Using TRUESSENCE Headache Roller for Pain Relief

When creating essential oil blends, our approach is always 1+1>2. Creating synergy blends with different essential oils that have specific therapeutic properties result in powerful products. Peppermint, lavender and rosemary essential oil are the perfect trio for headache conditions. 

Migraine Headache

A migraine is a severe and painful type of headache associated with throbbing pain, nausea and heightened sensitivity to light. Migraines can be triggered by stress, anxiety, sleep deprivation and hormonal changes. Massage Headache roller into the temples and back of neck to relieve migraine headaches and ease feelings of nausea and anxiety.

Tension Headache

According to Medical News Today, it is estimated that more than half of the adult population worldwide experiences occasional headaches, with the most common type being a tension headache.

Tension headaches are typically brought on my feelings of pressure or stress. Use Headache roller topically on the temples, forehead and wrists to alleviate stress and reduce tension.

Sinus Headache

When the membranes of the sinus cavities become inflamed and swollen, you may experience pressure in the forehead area where these cavities are located, resulting in a sinus headache. Use Headache roller topically on the chest, top of nose and temples to open up the nasal passages and relieve sinus tension.

Here is the quick overview of the Headache roller ingredients and how they can help to relief various headache: 

Always take a precaution:

For any new product applied on your skin, do a quick patch test on a small area of skin before applying to larger areas.

Research references

• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8805113
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3612440/
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23122161