This content was updated for accuracy and relevance on November 12th, 2020

To have experienced migraines is to dread them. They come in all sizes and originate from different spots in the head. Some begin at the back of the head, while others grow between the eyes. But, one thing that all migraines have in common is their unpleasant nature.

If you’re a fan of natural remedies, you may be wondering what essential oils are good for migraines.

While migraines can strike at any moment, this doesn’t mean you can’t be prepared. With the right EOs, you can build a fortress to defend your head against migraines. The question, of course, is  which essential oils are right for helping decrease migraines. Let’s explore the answers below!

First Line Of Defense

While not all migraines have a specific cause, there are a few best practices you can take to avoid them:

• Treat stress – Stress isn’t just mental—it can affect your entire body as well. Inflammation, muscular tension, poor sleep and other results of anxiety can raise your risk for a migraine or stress headache. That’s why it’s so important to take action when you’re feeling overwhelmed.

• Stay hydrated – Some evidence suggests that physical exertion can lead to headaches. While exercise is important for your overall health, make sure you drink plenty of water after exerting yourself, whether it’s with yoga or yard work.

• Avoid alcohol and caffeine – Many people rely on coffee to wake up and a glass of wine to go to sleep at the end of the day. However, both of these substances can alter your brain chemistry and potentially lead to migraines. Reach for natural pick-me-ups and sleep aids instead.

Not sure where to get started? The following essential oils can help prevent the conditions that lead to migraines.

1. Anxiety Ease Synergy Blend

Sometimes a migraine can start out of pure stress and anxiousness. Re-establish your stillness and peace with this Edens Garden synergy blend. Anxiety Ease contains some of the best stress-relieving essential oils nature has to offer.

These oils include:  

• Sweet Orange

• Ylang Ylang

• Lemongrass

This specially-formulated blend helps to calm these symptoms, lending a hand in soothing an oncoming migraine.  

Try it by:

• Applying it to your wrists and temples with pre-diluted Roll-On essential oils

• Using it in a personal pocket inhaler

• Using a diffuser in your workspace

Steal back your day from the vise-grip of a migraine with Anxiety Ease.

2. Texas Cedarwood

A favorite pure essential oil for migraine relief and headache relief, smoky, aromatic Texas Cedarwood imparts cool, grounded confidence. Extracted from drought-resistant trees that thrive throughout Texas and the Southwest, this essential oil helps you stand up to tough conditions.

A 2011 study in the Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medicine studied the effect of Cedarwood (amongst other essential oils) and found that this oil can help soothe nerves and reduce daily stress. 

Thanks to its musky, sophisticated aroma, Texas Cedarwood works well as a daily essential oil or added to a jewelry diffuser.

3. Lavender

Imagine this: It’s the end of a long day, and you sense the inklings of a migraine. It might be the perfect time to reach for your bottle of Lavender Around The World essential oil.

This essential oil offers a high percentage of esters (linalyl acetate) and anti-inflammatory properties. Because it features sedative properties, Lavender essential oil is great for evening hours, offering you the opportunity to sleep off whatever head pain might be brewing.

Second Line Of Defense

If you’re prone to headaches, you might start to notice warning signs up to two days in advance of a particularly debilitating migraine. According to the Mayo Clinic, possible early indicators include:

• Hunger and thirst – If you notice that you’re suddenly craving snacks and you can’t seem to drink enough water to quench your thirst, your body might be trying to store up energy in preparation for a migraine.

• Mood changes – In some instances, a case of the blues—or even a sudden rush of joy—might be an early warning sign that a headache is on its way.

• Neck stiffness – Headaches and neck tension are deeply related. In this case, it’s a “chicken or the egg” situation. Neck stiffness might cause a migraine, or an impending migraine might present itself as neck stiffness.

If any of these potential precursors arrive, you might also start to feel a faint headache coming on, meaning it’s time to take immediate action. 

Luckily, essential oils can come to your aid in these moments, too.

4. Indian Peppermint

Yep, that’s right — Indian Peppermint essential oil isn’t just a popular flavoring. This essential oil contains a significant amount of menthol, which is known to help relax and ease tension headaches. Use with caution, as Peppermint is an energizing oil that can interfere with sleep.

5. Spearmint

Offering many of the same benefits of Peppermint, Spearmint is a great substitute if Peppermint isn’t your favorite aroma. When your migraine begins inching into the higher registers of pain, diffuse some Spearmint, or dilute it with a carrier oil and apply it topically.

6. Eucalyptus

Containing high quantities of the oxide 1,8-Cineole (acting as both anti-inflammatory and expectorant), both Eucalyptus-globulus and Eucalyptus-radiata can help ease headaches. However, it should be noted that Eucalyptus essential oil specializes in easing sinus pressure and headaches.

Last Line Of Defense

Sometimes, a migraine headache comes on despite your best efforts. In these cases, you might experience:

• Sensitivity to light and sound

• Nausea

• Throbbing

• A visual aura around most objects

In cases like these, you need to bring in the most potent pain relief possible. The best essential oils for migraines are:

7. Head Ease Synergy Blend

When your migraine is in full bloom, reach for the specially formulated Head Ease synergy blend. This essential oil blend offers a minty, earthy aroma and is an all-natural remedy to headaches.

Head Ease contains:

• Lavender oil

• Peppermint oil

• Rosemary oil

• Frankincense oil

• Basil oil

• Chamomile oil

• Ginger oil

• Spearmint oil

• Helichrysum oil

Use it in an essential oil diffuser while you spend a little time in bed healing up. 

8. Quiet Time Synergy Blend

Banish your migraines and soothe the ruckus of the day with a bit of Quiet Time. Subtle and soft with layers of floral notes, this synergy blend is specially formulated to sand down the edges of head pain.

In addition, it might help you get some much-needed rest. When you’re experiencing a bad migraine or tension headache, sleep might be the best solution.

9. Head-A-Sore-Us

Adults aren’t the only ones that have to contend with the occasional migraine. Look out for your children by keeping the kid-safe Head-A-Sore-Us on hand. This synergy blend is part of our OK For Kids collection–our line of essential oils for kids–and is at the ready to make headaches go extinct. This blend works great for adults too.

Using Essential Oils For Migraines

When you’re suffering from terrible headache pain, the last thing you want is to exacerbate the situation by using so much essential oil that you feel irritated or nauseous.

Because migraines cause changes to your sense of smell, it’s best to use caution with essential oils. 

Our top tips are as follows:

• Remember to use diluted essential oils before topical application. Also, avoid eye contact with essential oils when applying them to the temples, forehead, or scalp.

• Be sure to use Peppermint oil, Eucalyptus oil, and Spearmint oil conservatively, as they are incredibly potent oils that can fill a large room and may exacerbate the symptoms of your migraine if you’re sensitive to aromas.

• Remember that essential oils can ease the effects of a migraine but are not a catch-all solution. If you frequently get migraines, we recommend reaching out to your doctor and seeking further medical advice.

• Beware of essential oils that can further irritate migraine symptoms. Remember, not all EOs are created equal in soothing migraines.

Essential oils are our favorite natural headache remedy so we hope these tips helped you decide on a migraine-easing aromatherapy blend! Start taking advantage of the anti inflammatory properties today by diffusing essential oils. Now that you know about the best oils for migraines you can even create your own blends by reading our blogs on DIY essential oil recipes.

Sources:

1. Lee, Yuk-Lan, Ying Wu, Hector W.H. Tsang, Ada Y. Leung, and W.M. Cheung. “A Systematic Review on the Anxiolytic Effects of Aromatherapy in People with Anxiety Symptoms.” The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine 17.2 (2011): 101-108. https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/acm.2009.0277   
2. “Migraine.” The Mayo Clinic.  https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/migraine-headache/symptoms-causes/syc-20360201