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If you’ve ever had the displeasure of a pulsating migraine, you know these are not your common everyday “headaches.” It’s important to know where to apply your therapeutic essential oils for fast and effective relief!
There are particular points to apply essential oils to for faster migraine relief, such as the temples, neck, occipital ridge, feet, and any area of the head that feels tender. You can apply one targeted essential oil to these areas or a blend of essential oils that are effective for migraine relief.
A lot of the advice on aromatherapy for migraines only talks about which essential oils are effective for migraines, but hardly anyone tells you where to apply them. In this article, I will teach you where to apply your oils, so you don’t have to suffer from a migraine headache any longer than necessary.
What Causes Migraine Headaches?
If you’re a migraine sufferer, you know that migraines are NOT just headaches. Migraines are on a whole other level of head pain. In fact, many people suffer from nausea, vomiting, dizziness, fatigue, stiff muscles, pulsating or pounding head pain, muscle weakness, sensitivity to light and sound, visions of aura, flashing lights, and strange shapes.
Migraines seem to affect women more than men, and because of this, health professionals know that there may be a hormonal link to the onset of migraines, especially during certain times of a woman’s menstrual cycle.
Allergies to both food and environmental substances have also been known to bring on migraines for many individuals. Avoiding known allergens as well as taking treatment for allergies helps many people reduce the occurrence of migraine headaches.
My first and hopefully last migraine headache was caused by an overexposure to my known allergens. It was brutal. It felt at the time that the only solution to my pain was to just get a brand-new head lol. I discovered a newfound empathy for my many friends who chronically suffer from migraines.
Caffeine and alcohol have also been linked to causing migraines in some individuals. When omitted from the diet, individuals who have a sensitivity to caffeine and/or alcohol will notice an improvement in migraine symptoms.
Lack of sleep and chronic stress also have a strong link to the frequent occurrence of migraine headaches. Making certain efforts to improve the quantity and quality of sleep and getting a hand on chronic stress may be just what you need to calm down your frazzled nervous system. Improving these two alone will improve your health overall.
Which Essential Oils Are Effective for Migraine Relief?
There are certain essential oils that are effective for migraine headaches. The good news is these are common and affordable essential oils that you can find almost anywhere.
It’s especially important to buy only quality and pure essential oils. Don’t waste your money on artificial, expired, or inferior-quality oils. You want real PLANT MEDICINE.
LAVENDER– possesses antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties and has been known for its sedative effect and helping with anxiety and depression.
PEPPERMINT– has analgesic properties and is considered to be anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, anti-spasmodic, and antimicrobial. It is commonly used for headaches and muscle aches. It has a high menthol content and has a cooling and relaxing effect on the muscles.
EUCALYPTUS– anti-inflammatory, decongestant, analgesic, immunomodulatory, anti-septic, and anti-microbial properties. It also has a high menthol content and has similar effects as the menthol in peppermint oil, which relaxes the muscles.
ROSEMARY– is in the mint family and has antiseptic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic properties. It has a nice tingling and cooling sensation, allowing muscles to relax. It’s good for fighting fatigue and anxiety.
CHAMOMILE– is an anti-inflammatory, anti-anxiety, antidepressant, and analgesic oil that is often used for muscle pain and spasms.
FRANKINCENSE– has been used since ancient times and is considered to possess anti-cancer, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, immunomodulating, and pain-relieving properties. It fights the effects of physical and mental stress and is an effective anxiety remedy.
All of these oils are beneficial for migraines caused by either allergies, hormones, stress, or poor sleep. That’s the nice thing about plant medicine: they have more than one benefit.
Apply Your Essential Oils HERE For Migraine Headaches
Before applying your single note or blend of essential oils, make sure that you have properly diluted them.
| ESSENTIAL OIL | CARRIER OIL |
| 1 drop of Essential Oil | 5 drops of Carrier Oil |
| 6-10 drops of Essential Oil | 1 Tablespoon or 15ml of Carrier Oil |
*I prefer not to put peppermint, eucalyptus, or rosemary oil anywhere on the face. The skin on the face is much more sensitive than on the rest of the body. Use these oils only on the areas below that aren’t on the face.
- Temples
Apply to both temples but avoid getting the oil too close or in the eyes. If it feels good, you can do gentle and light circular massage strokes.
- Any area of tenderness
Apply the oil gently to areas of tenderness. Avoid massaging in this area. You can use a cotton ball to dab the oil onto the painful side of your head.
- Forehead
Apply the oil across the entire forehead; again, do not let the oil drip into the eyes. If it feels good, you can do light circular massaging. Apply a cold pack to the forehead for 15 minutes.
- Neck
Apply the oil on the back and sides of the neck. Muscular tension in the neck is often a contributor to migraine headache pain, so you can do some massaging here if you like. Moderate-pressure circles and kneading would be effective here. Apply a heat pad to the neck for 15 minutes.
- The base of the Skull (Occipital Ridge)
Apply the oil where your skull meets your neck. This is called the Occiput. We have small but hard-working muscles in this area that, if stressed, can cause headache symptoms.
- Behind the Ears
Apply the oil to the pulse points in the soft area just behind the ears.
- Insides of the Wrists
Apply the oil to both of the pulse points on the underside of both wrists.
- Soles of the Feet
This is an area you probably didn’t expect. The soles of the feet are a great place to apply essential oil due to the connections each part has to the rest of the body (according to Eastern Medicine), but the essential oils are rapidly absorbed through the skin of the feet due to the feet having fewer sebaceous glands.
Considerations When Using Aromatherapy for Migraines
The sooner you start with aromatherapy for a migraine, the better. Preferably, when you start noticing the signs of a migraine coming on, implement the use of your oils. Keep them prepared and ready for use at any time. Preblend your oils so you will not have to try blending them when you are already in the midst of a migraine attack.
You don’t need to massage the oils in for them to reach the brain, where they can change chemical activity. They do this by means of the olfactory system (inhalation through the nose) and are absorbed into the bloodstream through the skin, where they cross the blood-brain barrier.
Sometimes massage makes migraines worse. If you perceive that any type of friction will increase the migraine pain in your head, do not massage these areas. Just simply apply the oil without rubbing. You can massage tense muscles in your neck, back, and feet if it feels good.
These are the areas where I recommend applying diluted essential oils, both for the prevention and treatment of migraine headaches. Avoid any oil that you have an allergy to.
In addition to aromatherapy for migraines, I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to get to the root of the problem. If you have an allergy, hormonal imbalance, or suffer from chronic stress or insomnia, it’s important that you seek professional help to prevent the reoccurrence of migraine headaches.
If you would like to know how to incorporate essential oil aromatherapy into your wellness routine more often, then check out this article next! 9 MOST Common Essential Oils + HOW To Use Them
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MEDICAL DISCLAIMER
The content in this article is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of medical advice or treatment from a trained qualified physician. All readers/viewers of this content are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. Neither Galeano Massage nor the publisher of this content takes responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content. All viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, or supplements or those diagnosed with a medical illness should consult their physicians before implementing any of the self-care advice in this article.
