Last Updated on June 24, 2019 by Ellen Christian
For the past few weeks, Marty has had a headache more often than normal. He’s always been prone to migraine headaches, so this isn’t new for us. It just seems like he’s been having more of them. Part of it is the changing schedule as we adjust to my son’s new job and the upcoming start to my daughter’s final semester in college. Part of it is probably the weather. While we do use medication for headaches when necessary, we prefer to try other things first.
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Herbal Remedies for Headaches and Migraines
There are many herbal remedies for headaches and migraines. Different options may work for different types of headaches. I am sharing the ones that have worked for us. I am not a doctor, and this is not medical advice, so please consult a professional when making your decisions. I find it easiest to use the essential oil for each herb, but you can certainly make your own.
- Lavender essential oil. Lavender smells incredible and it can help you relax which may be beneficial if your headache is caused by stress. It can be inhaled or applied topically.
- Peppermint essential oil. Peppermint oil is one of my daughter’s favorite remedies. It has vasoconstricting and vasodilating properties which means it helps control blood flow. Many headaches are caused by inadequate blood flow. Inhaling peppermint oil can also help ease sinus pressure.
- Basil essential oil. Basil oil has muscle relaxing properties, so it’s another frequent choice for stress headaches and tension.
- Feverfew. As the name suggests, Feverfew is known for reducing fevers however it’s also frequently used for headache prevention. You can buy Feverfew capsules at places like Amazon and Walmart.
- Butterbur. Studies have shown that Butterbur has been effective in preventing migraines. You can purchase capsules to take the purified root extract Petasites.
- Caffeine. People in ancient China used caffeinated teas to treat headaches. Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system and allows more oxygen into the brain. Try a cup of Yerba Matte.
- Coriander Seeds. While this is untested, coriander seeds are anti-inflammatory and may be helpful for migraines.
Headaches and migraines are no fun at all, and they are something that some people regularly have. We use a variety of these remedies for Marty and my daughter. We’ve also found it very helpful to track headache symptoms to figure out what some of the triggers are. Just click the photo below to get a free printable migraine tracker.
We also use my homemade headache salve to help treat headaches. Click the photo for instructions.
I’ve always been fascinated with how our bodies work which is what got me interested in various herbal remedies. If you share my interest, relax for a while and watch Hunting the Nightmare Bacteria or Brave Neuro World on Netflix.
Repin for future reference:
Ellen is a busy mom of a 24-year-old son and 29-year-old daughter. She owns six blogs and is addicted to social media. She believes that it doesn’t have to be difficult to lead a healthy life. She shares simple healthy living tips to show busy women how to lead fulfilling lives. If you’d like to work together, email info@confessionsofanover-workedmom.com to chat.
Thank you so much for sharing these. I get the worst migraines but I hate to take any meds for them.
Glad to share. Hope they help!
I have lavender and peppermint oils and they really do help. My mother suffered from migraines from the time she was 16 till she was 50, after turning 50 they stopped, thankfully I’ve never suffered from them. I do have a killer headache from time to time and I thank you so much for this, because I hate to use medicines.
Glad to share. Essential oils are some of my favorites.
Thanks for that headache tracker – it’s a good idea to track symptoms as much as you can before you go to the doctor, so that you can give them as much info as possible. I hope Marty feels better soon!
Thank you so much, Beeb!
I go through caffeine withdrawals and it gives me headaches, so I always use it to remedy it. Vicious circle!
It definitely is, Scott.
I have never heard of this treatment for headaches and migraines before! I love to try natural treatments before OTC treatments.
It’s definitely helping us!
I loev herbal remedies, especially zinc for sore throats.
And I do use caffeine for headaches, every morning!
Zinc is definitely a great one!