Does your sudden, unexpected migraine attack prevent you from doing your chores and enjoying your day? Do you find it difficult to cure it with just an ordinary pain reliever? Do you want a surefire way to reduce, if not eliminate, your throbbing headache? The power of aromatherapy might just be the solution you are looking for!
What is Aromatherapy?
Aromatherapy is a practice in which natural oils are being used to soothe any discomfort in the body and improve the condition of a sick person. More popularly known as “essential” oils, these natural oils usually come from aromatic flowers, leaves, roots, stems, barks, and other parts of a plant that are believed to help enhance a person’s physical well-being. They are meant to be inhaled, stimulating the functions of the brain to easy any discomfort.
Aromatherapy Oils for Migraine
Because there are literally hundreds of essential oils being used for aromatherapy, it is believed that such practice can cure any illness. In this article, let us focus on using aromatherapy to prevent, minimize, and cure migraine and other related conditions such as tension headache, depression, anxiety, panic, and even sleep problems.
First, evaluate your migraine attack. Does it cause you to have difficulty in sleeping? Or does it make you feel depressed? Depending on the situation, there are aromatherapy oils that you should use. Below is the list of oils according to the condition that goes with your migraine.
Essential oils for migraine and mild headaches:
- Lavender
- Peppermint
- Bay
- Melissa
- Jasmine
- Eucalyptus
- Rosemary
Essential oils for depression:
- Orange
- Bergamot
- Lemon
- Lemon Verbena
- Lemongrass
- Melissa
- Petitgrain
- Orange Blossom
- Chamomile
- Grapefruit
- Mandarin
Essential oils for anxiety and panic:
- Bergamot
- Chamomile
- Neroli
- Lavender
- Cedarwood
- Ylang Ylang
- Sandalwood
- Frankincense
- Clove
- Clary Sage
- Patchouli
Essential oils for relaxation and sleep:
- Bergamot
- Chamomile
- Lavender
- Mandarin
- Sandalwood
- Frankincense
- Clary Sage
- Juniper
- Marjoram
- Jasmine
Using Aromatherapy to Minimize Migraine
To apply aromatherapy in treating migraine, mix one or more essential oils as stated above with carrier oil. As the name implies, carrier oil is a vegetable oil taken from the fatty parts of plants whose function is to “carry” the essential oil to the skin. Ideal carrier oils include sweet almond, apricot kernel, avocado, coconut, and sesame oil.
Mixing the carrier oil with the essential oil can be done in two ways; one is mixing of small portions just before you engage in aromatherapy, and the other is mixing the oils in large amount in a bottle. Once they are properly mixed, you or another person can start applying and massaging the oil in your body while you relax and just enjoy the aroma of these oils.
Other Ways of Aromatherapy
Aside from aromatherapy massage, there are other ways to enjoy the benefit of essential oils. One is through the use of an aroma lamp in which the scent of the oil will be dispersed across the room when the lamp is lighted up. Other forms of aromatherapy include scented candles and lotions mixed with essential oils.
While pain relievers and medications are available to ease you from your migraine and headache attacks, you may want to try natural healing through aromatherapy first as you can be sure that the ingredients used in aromatherapy are all natural and safe. Additionally, you can even enjoy a relaxing massage and sleep when you do the therapy just before you go to bed.