Aromatherapy For Migraines — Can it Help?

By Caryn Gehlmann

No one likes to get a headache… but migraines, especially chronic migraines, can be downright debilitating and impact your quality of life. Thankfully, researchers have come a long way recently studying migraines — what triggers them, how to avoid them, and how to treat them. Before we dive into some of that research, you can watch this short Q&A with Caryn where I answer this question: “I’m getting frequent headaches. Can aromatherapy help prevent or soothe my headache… even if it’s a migraine?”

I hope you discovered an aromatherapy tip or two in the video you can use to help get some relief, whether you have a tension headache or a migraine. Now let’s go back to discussing migraines in a little more depth. This will help you see how you can strategically use aromatherapy to get some much-needed relief.

I found the article, Let’s Talk About the Symptoms and Causes of Migraine, really fascinating! I especially thought it was good to understand the three distinct stages of a migraine and how you can best use aromatherapy at each stage.

Stage 1: This is known as the prodrome phase which can start a few hours or even a couple of days before and can cause you to feel extra tired, have trouble focusing, or get cravings for sweet or salty foods.

Aromatherapy tip for Migraine Stage 1. Now’s the time to listen to your body and get some rest! Some e3 customers say if they use the right essential oil or blend during this phase, they can cut it off at the pass and don’t end up with a migraine after all! If you can, lie down and rest while letting your diffuser run in the background. (If you don’t have a diffuser, put essential oils on a cotton ball or tissue and put it under your pillowcase.)

Stage 2: This is the attack phase, and oh boy don’t you know it! Nerves inside the brain start sending signals to other parts and a flood of chemicals leads to inflammation in the brain’s covering and dilation of the blood vessels, causing the throbbing pain. This also amplifies sensory information which can create migraine auras, queasiness, dizziness, or becoming extra-sensitive to light, sound, or smells.

Aromatherapy tip for Migraine Stage 2. Since you do tend to be more sensitive to smells during a migraine, you may want to avoid applying diluted essential oils to your skin with a roll-on or lotion until you’re sure it’s a scent that agrees with you. Start slowly by first placing the EO or blend of your choice on a tissue or cotton ball so you can see how your body reacts. If you have a negative reaction, stop using it! You want something that’s soothing and relaxing during this stage.

Stage 3: After the migraine, the postdrome phase can last from 4 to 72 hours. You feel wiped out and it can take a while to fully recover.

Aromatherapy tip for Migraine Stage 3. Give your body some time to recover by pacing your activities. Take time for some extra self-care like an aromatherapy bath or self-massage with aromatherapy lotion.

Which Essential Oils Should You Use for Migraine Headaches?

While this isn’t a complete list, the top single essential oils that I’ve seen provide migraine sufferers with relief are Lavender, Basil, Rosemary. The e3 Essential Oil Blends I recommend are Migraine and Head Soothe. The Migraine blend has essential oils that were carefully selected for their therapeutic properties to ease pain and inflammation and increase circulation. Many find the refreshing, light scent helps relax the tension that often accompanies a migraine. For a more comprehensive list please read my blog, Essential Oils for Migraines & Other Headaches. You will also find easy DIY recipes you can customize to suit your needs.

If you’re someone who deals with migraine headaches on a regular basis, you’ve probably already learned the wisdom of listening to your own body. Aromatherapy has been effectively used by many to find soothing relief, so I encourage you to give it a try and see what scents you respond to. If you’re new to aromatherapy, download our free introductory ebook, Listen to Your Nose – An Introduction to Aromatherapy.