Essential Oils For Headaches

by Erin Sweeney September 08, 2025

Essential Oils For Headaches

It’s a beautiful morning, and you’re ready to take the day by storm. You have a laundry list of people to see and places to be, so you head out, ready to seize the day. That is, until your head begins to seize up and pound.

It’s the dreaded headache, here to stop you in your tracks. Whether it’s a dull ache behind your eyes, throbbing temples, or a full-blown migraine, headaches are never convenient. But before reaching for another bottle of pain medication, consider natural remedies for headache relief, like essential oils for headaches.

We’ve been there, and we’ve gathered effective aromatherapy solutions that can help ease tension, soothe discomfort, and restore balance. Read on to discover the best essential oils for migraines, sinus headaches, and stress headaches.


What Causes Headaches?

Before tackling headaches with natural remedies, it’s helpful to understand what’s causing them. Here are the most common triggers.[1]


Trigger

Why It Causes Headaches

Dehydration

Lack of water causes blood vessels to narrow, leading to dehydration headaches.

Medication

Overuse of pain relievers may lead to rebound or medication-overuse headaches.[2]

Hormonal Changes

PMS, pregnancy, menopause, and birth control fluctuations can trigger hormonal headaches.

Food & Drink

Caffeine withdrawal, alcohol dehydration, and tyramine-rich foods (aged cheese) can trigger.

Sleep

Too little (or too much) sleep disrupts brain chemistry and often causes migraines.

Stress

Stress triggers muscle tension, the leading cause of tension headaches.

Sinus Issues

Sinus congestion and pressure often mimic migraine symptoms.


Note: Consult your doctor if headaches are severe or frequent.


How To Prevent Headaches Naturally

The best way to manage headaches is to stop them before they start. Follow these simple tips:

  • Drink plenty of water throughout the day
  • Take medication only as prescribed
  • Limit caffeine, alcohol, and trigger foods
  • Get 7–9 hours of quality sleep each night[3]
  • Avoid smoking and secondhand smoke
  • Practice daily stress management (yoga, meditation, deep breathing)
  • Maintain a balanced diet and regular exercise routine
  • Support hormonal balance naturally

By building these habits, you can reduce the frequency and intensity of headaches while supporting overall wellness.


The Best Essential Oils For Headaches

Finding natural headache remedies online can feel overwhelming. To make it easier, we’ve compiled the top essential oils for headache relief and how to use them.


Peppermint Essential Oil

  • Why it helps: High in menthol, Peppermint essential oil naturally cools, relaxes muscles, and improves circulation, making it ideal for tension headaches.
  • How to use: Apply a prediluted Peppermint roll-on to the temples, forehead, and back of the neck for quick migraine relief.
  • Extra tip: Use during the day for energy, but avoid before bed since it can be stimulating.


Lavender Essential Oil

  • Why it helps: Lavender oil contains linalyl acetate, a compound with calming, anti-inflammatory, and sedative properties. It’s excellent for stress-related and hormonal headaches.
  • How to use: Dilute 18–30 drops in 1 oz of carrier oil (like Jojoba or Almond oil) and massage onto temples and neck. Diffuse before bed to prevent sleep-related headaches.
  • Swap option: No Lavender? Try Clary Sage for similar benefits.


Eucalyptus Essential Oil

  • Why it helps: Rich in 1,8-cineole, Eucalyptus oil is anti-inflammatory and works best for sinus headaches. It helps clear nasal congestion while reducing pain.
  • How to use: Blend with Roman Chamomile oil (10 drops each in 1 oz carrier oil) and apply to temples and forehead.

Essential Oil Blends for Headaches

Sometimes the best headache remedies come in expertly crafted blends. At Edens Garden, these blends make headache care simple and effective.


Headache & Migraine Aid Essential Oil Blend

  • Aroma: Fresh, herbal, and clarifying
  • Best for: Soothing intense migraines, cluster headaches, and stress-related tension
  • Key ingredients: Ravintsara, Frankincense Serrata, Peppermint, Basil, Lavender Bulgarian, and Sweet Marjoram

How to use Headache & Migraine Aid:

  • Diffuse during early migraine onset to ease severity
  • Dilute and apply to temples, neck, and shoulders for tension release
  • Add a few drops to a warm or cold compress to calm pulsing headache pain

This powerhouse blend combines circulation-boosting Peppermint, calming Lavender Bulgarian, and anti-inflammatory Frankincense Serrata with Sweet Marjoram and Basil to relax tight muscles and ease stress headaches. Ravintsara adds respiratory and immune support, making this a go-to natural remedy for both headaches and overall wellness.


Head Ease Essential Oil Blend

  • Aroma: Minty, earthy, grounding
  • Best for: Migraines, tension headaches, and all-around pain relief
  • Key ingredients: Lavender oil, Peppermint oil, Rosemary oil, Frankincense oil, Basil oil, Chamomile oil, Ginger oil, Spearmint oil, and Helichrysum oil
  • How to use Head Ease:
    • Diffuse in your bedroom to recover from a migraine
    • Dilute with carrier oil for a tension-relieving temple massage
    • Add a few drops to a warm compress and place it over the forehead


Head-A-Sore-Us Essential Oil Blend (Kid-Safe)

  • Best for: Children 2+ (and the whole family)
  • Why it works: Specially formulated to be safe, gentle, and effective for little ones experiencing headaches.
  • How to use:


How To Use Essential Oils For Headaches

Essential oils can be applied in multiple ways for natural headache relief:

  • Topical application: Dilute with carrier oil and massage into temples, forehead, and neck.
  • Diffusion: Add a few drops of essential oil for headaches into an essential oil diffuser to inhale the therapeutic aroma.
  • Inhalation: Place 2–3 drops on a tissue, cup over your nose, and breathe deeply.
  • Compress: Add diluted oils to warm or cool water, soak a towel, and place it across your forehead or neck.


Natural Headache Relief with Essential Oils

Headaches don’t have to derail your day. By identifying triggers and practicing prevention, you can minimize discomfort. And when headaches strike, essential oils for migraines, tension, and sinus pressure offer a safe, natural, and effective support tool alongside over-the-counter medication.[4]

Whether you prefer Peppermint oil for quick relief, Lavender oil for stress headaches, or blends like Head Ease and Head-A-Sore-Us, Edens Garden provides high-quality, 100% pure essential oils that support your wellness journey.

Next time a headache comes knocking, reach for your diffuser or roll-on and experience natural relief the aromatherapy way.


SOURCES: 

  1. Recognizing a Dehydration Headache. https://www.healthline.com/health/dehydration-headache
  2. Medication overuse headaches. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/medication-overuse-headache/symptoms-causes/syc-20377083
  3. Sleep Deprivation and Migraines. https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-deprivation/sleep-deprivation-and-migraines
  4. Tension headache. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tension-headache/symptoms-causes/syc-20353977

Grab The Essentials Here:


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2 comments

Bonnie

November 18, 2021 at 9:05 am

Oh my goodness I am in love with Be Still… I have never become so happy to smell any oil like I have this one… I am 75 years old and I feel wonderful when I smell it… Can you make a room Spray with it ???? Bravo Ladies wonderful Oil Bonnie

Meg

September 16, 2021 at 8:39 am

As a sufferer of chronic migraines, I just wanted to add a little something. Many migraines are caused by low levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin, which is why SSRIs and SNRIs can be very effective. Other things that boost serotonin: chocolate and rosemary. Now, I haven’t tried your cocoa CO2 for a migraine, but I routinely diffuse rosemary essential oil to good effect. I’ve also noticed that ginger is effective too, although I’m uncertain if it effects serotonin or if it’s just helpful at keeping migraine-induced nausea at bay.

I am enjoying these health-related blog series!