Essential Oils for Migraines
While essential oils smell delightful, they can also provide several health benefits. From relieving stress and promoting better sleep to boosting moods, various oils can relieve specific ailments. When used as aromatherapy, some essential oils can even provide headache, vertigo and migraine relief — without the side effects associated with prescription medications.
Whether you put these highly concentrated liquids into diffusers, rub them on your skin or place them in a pendant, there are many ways to reap the benefits. Learn more about the best essential oils for vertigo and dizziness, migraines and other ailments below.
1. Chamomile Oil
Many people swear by chamomile tea to help them wind down, so it only makes sense that the oil might provide similar benefits. Chamomile oil can relax muscles, therefore relieving the tension associated with headaches. It might also help treat insomnia and anxiety, which are common headache triggers. To use chamomile oil, add a few drops into a diffuser and water to dilute it. Then, breathe in the steam when you’re experiencing a headache or migraine.
2. Rosemary Oil
Alternative medicine practitioners rely on rosemary oil to treat various ailments. Some experts believe the oil has pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties often used to treat muscle pain and improve circulation. A 2020 study found rosemary was also helpful as an anti-anxiety remedy, which is a trigger for many people who experience migraines.
You might add rosemary oil to bathwater or rub it into your skin to experience its benefits.
3. Eucalyptus
If your migraines result from sinus issues, eucalyptus oil might be your solution. It can open your nasal passages and relieve sinus tension that causes headaches. You might apply eucalyptus oil to your chest to clear your sinuses or add a few drops to hot water and breathe in the vapor.
For migraine relief, massage eucalyptus oil into the areas where you frequently experience pain. The back of the ears, temples, forehead and back of your neck are typical places to alleviate headaches. Remember to dilute the eucalyptus oil with water or a carrier oil like olive or almond oil.
4. Thyme
If you have vertigo, you know the spinning feeling the vestibular issue can manifest. While further research is necessary to prove its efficacy, many have used thyme for holistic vertigo relief. Others rely on thyme essential oil for menstrual cramping instead of over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen. You can diffuse the oil or drink it in tea to reap the benefits.
5. Peppermint
Peppermint essential oil is extremely effective for vertigo because it can improve blood flow, which peripheral vertigo can affect. As a result, it is one of the many essential oils for dizziness and vertigo you might try. Additionally, peppermint oil can treat tension-type headaches since it contains menthol, which might numb pain. You can use peppermint oil for vertigo by inhaling it or applying to your skin, allowing you to use fewer pain medications.
Contact UCC-NY for Migraine and Vertigo Support
Upper cervical care is essential for many people who experience migraines and vertigo, as it can improve headache severity and quality of life. In addition, this treatment may help decrease the frequency of migraines and vertigo episodes.
UCC-NY offers comprehensive upper cervical care services, including a neurological assessment and treatment plans for those with migraines and vertigo. We also provide treatments for dizziness caused by other conditions, like Meniere’s disease, stroke and seizure disorders. By providing our patients with tailored care, we hope to help them live healthier lives with less pain and anxiety.
Contact us today to learn more about our services or schedule an appointment.