Precautions Side Effects And Interactions
Although its such a beneficial and effective remedy, there are some peppermint essential oil warnings to keep in mind. Can peppermint oil hurt you? Its considered safe when used appropriately.
When you are using peppermint on sensitive skin, always dilute it with a carrier oil first. If youre new to using peppermint oil, its a good idea to try a patch test on a small area of skin before applying peppermint oil to larger surfaces.
I dont recommend using peppermint oil on the face or chest of infants or young children because it can cause skin irritations. There also isnt enough evidence to recommend peppermint oil use for women who are pregnant or nursing.
Is peppermint oil safe for dogs? Because peppermint oil for fleas is so effective, its commonly used in dog flea repellents. Peppermint oil for dogs can also be used to cool sore muscles and soothe upset stomachs. Its recommended using peppermint oil topically for dogs by adding it to dog-friendly shampoos.
As for a related question you may be wondering: Is peppermint oil safe for cats? I dont recommend using peppermint oil for cats because it may cause adverse side effects. Instead, using spearmint oil on cats may help to relieve nausea, diarrhea and other digestive issues. When looking at peppermint vs. spearmint, peppermints flavor and fragrance is much stronger because it has a higher menthol content.
The following medications carry a moderate potential for interaction with peppermint oil:
Are There Brands Of Essential Oils That Are Better Than Others
You will find essential oils are all very different. Depending on the brand will depend on the quality of the oil. You want the oil to have the properties to help naturally relieve your headache. So buying quality is key, but you can find that even lesser priced oils can still get the job done.
As always know I am not a doctor and I cant guarantee full relief from this rollerball oil recipe. I have found personally it can help get rid of headaches and migraines. But I suggest giving it a try, and if you dont find relief try other methods or reach out to your health care provider.
Have you found success with using essential oils for naturally relieving aches and pains? If so let me know in the comments below.
Use A Peppermint Cold Compress
Making a peppermint oil cold compress is another popular technique to relieve the swelling, inflammation, and discomfort of a headache.
Simply add two drops of peppermint oil to a pint of cold water wherein six ice cubes have been dissolved. Soak flannel or a cloth in the water, and put it directly over your migraine pain.
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Essential Oils For Headaches And Migraine
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Essential oils are highly concentrated liquids made from the leaves, stems, flowers, bark, roots, or other elements of a plant. Aromatherapy often involves essential oils that can offer health benefits like reducing stress and improving circulation via sensory stimuli .
Essential oils can even help treat certain conditions like headaches or migraine. Different oils offer different benefits. They also provide benefits without the long lists of side effects that can accompany prescription headache and migraine medications.
Some essential oils can reduce stress, which can alleviate tension headaches, or soothe pain.
Essential oils must be diluted in a carrier oil such as coconut oil, olive oil, sweet almond oil, or jojoba oil before use. Add five drops of essential oil to 1 ounce of carrier oil. Essential oils must never be applied directly to the skin or ingested.
How Peppermint Essential Oil Works
Peppermint plants contain the organic compound known as menthol. This compound has anesthetic properties, which creates a natural cooling sensation. This cool feeling eases the pain and discomfort headaches cause. Peppermint oil also acts as a decongestant, has respiratory benefits and improves circulation, all of which helps to ease headache pain.
Peppermint oil is great for migraine headaches because it can reduce your sensitivity to noise and light. It can even help settle that sick feeling in your stomach and control vomiting that often goes along with migraines. In addition to easing the pain you feel, peppermint oil can actually help cure many headaches by eliminating the cause of the pain.
For example, the anti-inflammatory properties help to eliminate mucus and clear congestion that causes sinus headaches and the antibacterial and antiviral properties help to clear up infection. Using a diffuser is a great way to take advantage of these benefits. Add 3-6 drops of peppermint oil to your diffuser and turn it on for 30 minutes.
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Side Effects Of Peppermint Oil
Peppermint oil is generally considered safe in small doses. Possible side effects include:
- Heartburn
- Allergic reaction
- Rash or irritation when applied to the skin1
These are not all the possible side effects of peppermint oil. Patients should talk to their doctor about what to expect with peppermint oil as treatment.
Peppermint Is Used For Headaches And Other Types Of Pain
Peppermint is a cross between the water mint and spearmint plants, and it grows wild in Europe and North America. Peppermint oil is used in aromatherapy for headache as well as muscle and nerve pain.
This essential oil can be inhaled, applied to the skin after being diluted with a neutral oil, or taken by mouth in very small doses. Some pain studies show that peppermint oil used as aromatherapy for headache may allow people to use fewer pain medications.
Peppermint has menthol in it, and menthol has long been used as an analgesic it numbs the pain by triggering the pain fibers, says Lin. Triggering the pain fibers supersedes the actual sensation of the headache pain, she explains.
Peppermint oil has been shown to improve tension headaches and is considered a standard treatment for acute headaches, according to a 2016 review published in the journal Der Schmerz .
Peppermint is also used to reduce anxiety it calms the nervous system without sedating people, says Lin.
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How Can Tea Soothe A Headache
Headache can be defined as a pain in the head and neck, caused by different health problems or environmental factors such as loud noise, infections, stress, even dehydration. There are different types of headaches and there is not a single person who hasnt experienced at least one or few during their life. Some of them may be less serious and easily treatable, while others may be a symptom of a serious health condition. They are two groups of headaches primary and secondary. Primary headaches are tension headaches, cluster headaches and migraines, while secondary headaches appear as a symptom of some other disease or condition, such as dehydration or common cold.
Before deciding to treat your headache with tea, its important to know what kind of headache you are having. For example, headache caused by dehydration may be treated with re-hydrating yourself with fluids, including tea. For headaches caused by common cold or those caused by stress you may also find relief in a cup of tea. But serious headaches caused by serious underlying problems should not be treated at home.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. Its not intended to replace medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Every person is different and may react to different herbs and teas differently. Never use teas or herbs to treat serious medical conditions on your own. Always seek professional medical advice before choosing home remedies.
Essential Oils For Headaches & Migraine Relief
- 23 Apr, 2018
Instead of taking traditional migraine and headache medications, consider using essential oils to treat your headaches and migraines. Many people are now choosing to use essential oils because they come without the long list of side effects that most other medication comes with.
To use essential oils, it is very important to know that you must dilute the oil in a carrier oil of your choice. This can include coconut oil, olive oil, or other oils. NEVER apply essential oils directly to your skin or ingest them. A good rule to follow is to add 5 drops of essential oil for every ounce of carrier oil.
How to Use the Oils
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What Color Led Lights Help Headaches
Using low-intensity pure green LED lighting has been found to reduce chronic pain and migraine severity. Its inexpensive enough and convenient enough not to pass up if it means lessened pain. A study published in the 2016 issue of Brain shows that green LED lighting reduced pain intensity by 20 percent.
What Exactly Happens During A Headache
Tension headaches are the most common type of headache. They can cause a feeling of painful pressure on the head and neck. Tension headaches occur when the muscles in your head and neck tighten, often because of stress or anxiety. A few drops of peppermint oil can help relieve pain from both a tension-type headache and migraine attacks.
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How Does Peppermint Oil Help Headaches
Peppermint essential oil is a very effective natural pain reliever and muscle relaxant. Use it to soothe an aching back, sore muscles, and melting away a tension headache by adding a few drops with a carrier oil such as coconut or olive oil and rubbing on pain center.
There are a few reasons why aromatherapy with peppermint essential oil is so effective when it comes to headache relief.
First there is the cooling effect that can, in a way, replace cold compresses and that helps eliminate pain, not only when it comes to headaches but also sore muscles, painful joints, and other ailments.
And second, peppermint is a powerful analgesic that is the perfect aromatherapy oil if you struggle with regular headaches , no matter how mild or strong they tend to be. Paired with a gentle head, temple, and even face massage, it can offer significant relief in as little as 10 minutes. You will feel a numbing, slightly tingling sensation as soon as you apply it and you will actually be able to feel it work and slowly drain the pain away.
Not only is peppermint oil a pleasantly scented reducer of halitosis and clearer of congestion of nasal passages , but its also known to stimulate the senses, promote mental clarity, and relieve nausea.
Peppermint Tea For Nausea And Headaches
Migraine is far from just head pain. Its often accompanied by a whole range of other symptoms like light, sound & scent sensitivity and nausea.
Peppermint leaves and oil have been a popular natural remedy for head pain and tummy upset for centuries. While there is not a lot of research to support it, its believed peppermint works by opening up the blood vessels and sinuses. This increases blood flow and oxygen in the brain giving it its pain relieving properties. It also relaxes muscle spasms in the gut easing tummy upset. This is one of my favorite teas because its refreshing and soothing. Peppermint tea for headaches is popular for a reason.
As youre purchasing the best tea for migraine, look closely at labels to be sure there are no natural flavors or added artificial sweeteners added. You want only peppermint leaves here. I use Greenwise Organic Peppermint Herbal Tea which I purchase locally at Publix food stores. If you cant find it in your area there are many other brands that offer peppermint as the only ingredient. For instance, Twinings Pure Peppermint Herbal Tea looks good to me.
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How To Make Sure Your Oils Are The Real Deal
Heres the thing with essential oils: they arent regulated by the FDA, and there are no grading systems or certifications to look for on a bottle.
That means that basically anyone out there with a distiller could make a bottle of the stuff and sell it, which isnt the most comforting thought. Some of them could include an ingredient or filler that isnt on the label, or they may not have been harvested correctly.
They could also be contaminated. Heres how to avoid that situation:
I Turned To Essential Oils
I was so happy when I found peppermint essential oil and tried it for my headache. It is truly a miraculous solution for headache pain and gives relief in less than 30 minutes. And its all natural! Essential oils have been used for centuries they were used by the ancient Egyptians for medicinal purposes and beauty. Since the 20th century essential oils have gained popularity and today many people reap the numerous health benefits.
There are so many great ways to use essential oils for natural remedies, beauty products, and even cleaning.
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Directions And Instructions For Use
Get Rid Of A Migraine Instantly Using Frankincense Oil
Is there are simple cure for a migraine? The answer is YES. A single drop of quality essential organic frankincense oil put on the pad of the thumb and applied on the roof the mouth after that will do wonders for your health. With its help you will forget about the migraine in the blink of an eye.
Frankincense has been used by many nations for centuries. For instance, Ancient Egyptians used this oil for migraines, but they used it topically on the head. Since there are some people who cant stand the taste of this oil, they try to rub their head on certain points of the head in order to stop migraines.
This method is worth trying because youve got nothing to lose. Simply soak your fingertips in frankincense oil and massage the scalp, forehead and the back of the neck for a few minutes.
A scientific study has shown that frankincense is rich in mono-terpenes that have strong anti-inflammatory properties. With its help, people can soothe the swelling that occurs in the blood vessels and ultimately reduce the pain. Another scientific study has confirmed that this oil can lower the frequency and intensity of headaches in patients with severe migraines.
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So Which Essential Oils Are Best For Headaches In Particular
These are the oils that Rogers recommends for relief.
Can Essential Oils Relieve Headaches
If youre searching for relief from headaches, essential oils may be the organic treatment to try. Many clinical studies are proving that essential oil therapy helps reduce both tension headaches and migraines. Finding the right essential oil treatment for you can make all the difference.
The best essential oil for your needs depends on what types of headaches you experience and how you plan to apply the oil. You can use essential oils topically to relieve pain around specific areas, or you can inhale the oil through aromatherapy. Both methods are effective at reducing headache symptoms.
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How To Use Peppermint Oil For Headaches
This article was co-authored by Ritu Thakur, MA. Ritu Thakur is a healthcare consultant in Delhi, India, with over 10 years of experience in Ayurveda, Naturopathy, Yoga, and Holistic Care. She received her Bachelor Degree in Medicine in 2009 from BU University, Bhopal followed by her Master’s in Health Care in 2011 from Apollo Institute of Health Care Management, Hyderabad.There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 18,630 times.
With its distinct smell and cooling properties, peppermint oil is commonly used in alternative medicine to treat headaches. It has been shown to work just as well as over-the-counter pain medication for tension headaches.XTrustworthy SourcePubMed CentralJournal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of HealthGo to source To use peppermint oil, start by getting oil that is organic, pure, and safe for use. You can then use the oil by massaging it into your skin, inhaling it, or swallowing it in capsules when you have a headache. If you experience any adverse side effects or the oil is not working for you, be sure to see your doctor for guidance.
