Were you up all night finishing a vital presentation for work and now have a gigantic headache pounding in your temples? While you may pop an Advil once or twice, doing so on a regular basis can take a toll on your health.
Headaches can be caused by sleep deprivation, dehydration, tension, sinus congestion, or migraine attacks.
If you frequently have headaches, consider it a sign from your body that you have taken on too much, and it’s time to take a step back and relax a bit.
The immediate thing to do when you have a headache is to stop working and lie down in a dark room for a bit. If possible, you can even take a nap and wake up refreshed. However, when resting is not an option, you can try some home remedies, including aromatherapy.
Another popular remedy for headaches includes the use of headache balms. These balms work by providing instant aromatic and tension relieving benefits using essential oils that have real results.
While you may find a variety of headache balms in the market that claim to be organic, you cannot know for certain whether they are entirely chemical-free.
Additionally, these balms often contain fragrance oils that irritate your skin or even make headaches worse in some cases.
So, what do you do if you have a demanding job and suffer from recurring headaches?
Fortunately, we’ve come up with a solution for you. You can try out any of these DIY homemade headache balms made with natural oils to get rid of your headaches.
Contents
Method 1: Peppermint Balm
This DIY headache balm uses peppermint oil that contains menthol. It produces a cooling effect on your forehead and, in combination with its reinvigorating fragrance, will help reduce your tension and the resulting headache.
This recipe uses extra-virgin coconut oil as the base since it holds the essential oils well and enables the essential oils to work from within.
As a bonus, mixing your essential oils with a carrier oil, like coconut prevents your skin from being irritated by the potent essential oils.
Last but not least, this DIY homemade headache balm contains eucalyptus and frankincense essential oils that work to soothe you and alleviate your stress and tension.
Things you’ll need:
- Extra-virgin coconut oil, melted (nourishes and protects skin) – ¼ cup
- Peppermint essential oil (relieves tension) – 20 drops
- Eucalyptus essential oil (soothes and reinvigorates) – 12 drops
- Frankincense essential oil (soothes and relieves stress) – 10 drops
Step 1. Mix the oils well
- Pour ¼ cup of melted extra-virgin coconut oil into a bowl.
- Add 20 drops of peppermint essential oil.
- Add 12 drops of eucalyptus essential oil.
- Finally, add ten drops of frankincense oil as well.
- Whisk thoroughly to get a uniform blend.
Step 2. Put the oil blend in an airtight jar & let it solidify
- Transfer the oil blend to an airtight jar. Let it cool down before screwing on the lid.
- Let it sit for a few hours until it solidifies completely.
Scoop out a small amount with your fingers and massage it into your forehead to get relief from a raging headache within a few minutes.
You can store this DIY headache balm in a cool, dark, and dry place for up to 6 months.
Method 2: Lavender Balm
Who doesn’t love the scent of lavender? From milky puddings to potpourri, bath goodies and candles, the scent of lavender has permeated every facet of our lives.
But did you know that this light, floral scent can also help you get relief from a massive headache?
Lavender essential oil is often used in aromatherapy to relieve stress and tension. Just breathing in this delicate fragrance helps you envision endless fields of lavender, and you can feel all your burdens and anxieties melting away.
This recipe also uses extra-virgin coconut oil for its fatty goodness and some orange essential oil to perk you up.
Things you’ll need:
- Extra-virgin coconut oil, melted (nourishes and protects skin) – ¼ cup
- Lavender essential oil (soothes and relieves tension) – 20 drops
- Orange essential oil (reinvigorates) – 20 drops
Step 1. Whisk the oils into a nice blend
- Pour ¼ cup of melted extra-virgin coconut oil into a bowl.
- Add 20 drops each of lavender and orange essential oils.
- Whisk thoroughly to get a uniform blend.
Step 2. Put it in an airtight bottle & let it solidify
- Transfer the prepared blend to an airtight container.
- Let it cool down completely before you screw on the lid.
- Let it sit for a few hours until it fully solidifies.
Whenever you are afflicted with a severe headache, simply scoop out some of this DIY homemade headache balm and massage it into your forehead. You should feel relief within 3 to 5 minutes.
You can store this DIY homemade headache balm in a cool, dark and dry place for up to 6 months.
Method 3: Magnesium Oil Balm (for Migraines)
Did you know that magnesium oil acts a muscle relaxer and can also ease the pain of a headache? In fact, magnesium oil can be used to combat severe migraine attacks.
Magnesium is one of the most important nutrients required by the body. A magnesium deficiency can cause problems like hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and you guessed it right – headaches.
While it can be easily found in the market, we recommend that you make your magnesium oil, as it can be used in several ways for a variety of health benefits.
This DIY homemade headache balm also contains skin-soothing castor and olive oils, along with beeswax and mind-soothing essential oils like peppermint, lavender, and lemon.
Things you’ll need:
- Magnesium oil (acts as a relaxant) – ½ tablespoon
- Castor oil (nourishes and protects skin) – 1 tablespoon
- Extra-virgin olive oil (nourishes skin) – 2 tablespoons
- Beeswax (protects skin) – ½ tablespoon
- Peppermint essential oil (soothes and relieves tension) – 10 drops
- Lavender essential oil (soothes and relieves tension) – 5 drops
- Lemon essential oil (soothes and reinvigorates) – 5 drops
Step 1. Heat the olive oil and beeswax in a microwave
- Put ½ tablespoon of beeswax pellets in a Pyrex jug or any other microwave-safe container.
- Pour in 2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil as well.
- Microwave it for 1 minute or until the beeswax has melted entirely.
Step 2. Add the magnesium and castor oils
- Add ½ tablespoon of magnesium oil.
- Pour in 1 tablespoon of castor oil as well.
Step 3. Add the essential oils
- Add 10 drops of peppermint essential oil.
- Add 5 drops each of lavender and lemon essential oils.
Step 4. Whisk thoroughly, put it in an airtight jar & let it solidify
- Use a small motorized mixer to blend everything thoroughly.
- Transfer it to an airtight jar, and let it cool down completely before you screw on the lid.
- Let it sit for a few hours until it solidifies.
Store this homemade headache balm in a cool, dark, and dry place. Whenever you feel a headache coming on, just scoop some out with your fingers and massage it into your temples. You should feel the headache receding within a few minutes.
Tips to Keep in Mind
- Since extra-virgin coconut oil is most likely to be in a solid state, you will have to melt it to use in a headache balm. While an easy way to do so is simply microwaving it for 1 minute or so, you can also melt it in a double boiler without any loss of nutrients. If needed, check out this easy way to create a makeshift double boiler.
- If your headache is caused by dehydration, slowly drinking 1 to 2 glasses of water can also provide relief. Take small sips until you feel your headache going away and continue drinking water at regular intervals throughout the day.
- Avoid drinking alcohol and smoking if you suffer from persistent headaches.
- Practicing yoga and meditation can also provide headache relief, as well as help prevent them by calming your mind and body.
