How aromatherapy works for Headaches and Migraine?

Essential oils are highly concentrated liquids made from leaves, stems, flowers, bark, roots, or other plant elements. Aromatherapy often involves essential oils that can offer health benefits like reducing stress and improving circulation via sensory stimuli (scent). Essential oils can even help treat certain conditions like headaches or migraine. Some essential oils can reduce stress, which can alleviate tension headaches, or soothe pain.

Best essential oils to help with headaches

Peppermint:

Peppermint oil is one of the most commonly used essential oils to treat headaches and migraine attacks. It contains menthol, which can help relax muscles and ease pain. Research suggests that peppermint oil likely can help with symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, may also help indigestion and may soothe tension headaches.

Rosemary

Rosemary oil has powerful anti-inflammatory and analgesic (pain-relieving) properties. It’s been used in folk medicine for hundreds of years for stress reduction, pain relief, and improved circulation, which can all help with headaches .A 2013 study Trusted Source even found that rosemary oil used along with other medications helped with withdrawal symptoms. It also helped reduce insomnia and relax muscles, which can help with headaches.

Lavender

Lavender essential oil is commonly used for stress relief and relaxation. There’s also strong evidence that lavender can help treat headaches and migraine. Breathing in the scent of lavender essential oil can help the acute management of migraine attacks. One 2013 study Trusted Source found that people reported a significant reduction in pain after only 15 minutes of inhaling the lavender oil.

Chamomile

The essential oil of chamomile relaxes the body and soothes muscles, and for this reason, it can be a great aid in treating tension headaches. It can also help treat anxiety and insomnia, which are common causes of headaches.