Health providers would agree that aromatherapy is an excellent complementary therapy for migraine. It does not eliminate migraine headaches totally, but reduces the frequency and severity of the attack. Aromatherapy is used alongside traditional therapy and medication.
Migraine is due to the excessive dilatation or contraction of your brain’s blood vessels. It is often triggered by various allergens, stress, lack of or excessive sleep, and emotional or hormonal changes.
Aromatherapy uses plant-derived essential oils to achieve the desired therapeutic effect. To date, there are no known studies that specifically single out the mechanism of aromatherapy. According to some experts, it could be the scent or the chemical action of the essential oil itself that provides relief. It is because of this unknown factor that some physicians worry about negative reactions of the essential oil with standard drugs used in treating migraines. It has also been noted that the effects of scents differ from one individual to another. A specific scent may smell fine to you but not to others.
Here are things to keep in mind when trying aromatherapy to relieve migraines:
- Consult your physician before trying new things, especially if you are pregnant, epileptic, or sharing it with a child.
- It is best if you inquire from an experienced aromatherapist.
- Inform your physician when combining aromatherapy with your medications and watch out for adverse reactions.
- Purchase the essential oils from reputable dealers. For proper packaging, it should be in a dark container and should be kept away from direct sunlight.
- Using carrier oil or an aromatherapy diffuser is always a good idea. Avoid direct contact with your skin because essential oils are powerful irritants.
There are different ways of using essential oils. If you use them with an aromatherapy diffuser (which puts the scent in the air), breathe in and out for about 15 to 20 minutes, 2 to 3 times a day. These oils can be added to a large container of hot water, inhaling the aroma with eyes closed. Aromatherapy may also be added to bath, face, or massage oils and applied to the body, but it should only be done after consulting with a knowledgeable aromatherapist to be sure that the oils used are safe for skin contact.
Here are some of the most commonly recommended essential oils for migraine:
- peppermint
- eucalyptus
- sandalwood
- lavender
- rosemary
- clary sage
- ylang-ylang
- basil
- ginger
- marjoram
- chamomile
Today, there are numerous ways to alleviate migraine. But wouldn’t it be nice if you can control the pain using natural remedies? More so if you’ve tried millions of prescribed drugs and nothing seemed to work. Natural methods would definitely sound great to you.
If you then decide to try new things such as aromatherapy, research more about it and bear in mind that all things are good when done in moderation.
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