If you’re reading this blog post, it’s probably to learn about supporting your headaches naturally!
In this post, we are going to share some things that cause headaches that you'll wanna avoid, and some natural remedies to combat your headaches. There are endless possibilities, but I stuck to 5 things in each category.
I'll be honest… it's not like I never reach for an ibuprofen anymore, but it's my last resort. I try all the natural remedies first, and I encourage you to do the same! So let's dig in!
Causes of headaches … tonight we will discuss 5 potential and common causes of headaches including diet, fragrance, chemicals, hormones and eye strain . I'd be curious to hear which cause you believe you suffer from the most.
Cause #1- Diet
This is a big one for me. I really have to watch how much dairy & gluten I consume, especially in the evenings. I found by trial and error that if I eat past 8 pm, especially if it's gluten or dairy, I suffer from a headache and upset stomach the next day and I'm usually spending my day on the couch. Next time a headache shows up, think about what you've recently eaten and consider if that may be the cause.
Cause #2- Fragrances
Did you know that thousands of chemicals can be masked under the word "fragrance"? The FDA allows companies to put this word on their labels and claim their ingredients as a "trade secret" so they don't have to disclose all the ingredients. Crazy right?! We found that getting rid of perfumes and candles significantly cut back on our headaches. But FRAGRANCE is found in so much more…. Beauty products & cosmetics, soaps, detergents, feminine products, and so much more. This is definitely something that I almost guarantee could be giving you headaches. Can I challenge you? Stop using fragrance products (especially candles and perfumes) for a month, and see if you notice a difference. If you don't, try using them again and see if a headache is triggered. You can easily swap out your perfumes for beautiful oil blends and candles for diffusers!
Cause #3- Chemicals
Chemicals are found in our everyday products. We are talking, again, beauty products & cosmetics, cleaners, soaps, toothbrushes, furniture, toys, etc. This could definitely be triggering headaches. My first suggestion is to ditch every cleaner under your sink and switch to Thieves Cleaner. This cleaner is plant based and will not irritate your skin or lungs, and will not trigger headaches. Start here, and slowly ditch & switch your other products.
Cause #4- Hormones
This is another common cause for me. I can always tell what time of the month it is, because I almost always get mild headaches for a few days in a row. So I support my hormones! My go-to for hormonal headache support is SclarEssence & Copaiba vitality in a capsule.
Cause #5- Eye Strain
Do you find that you get headaches from your screen time? A lot of that has to do with the blue light that can really strain your eyes and cause headaches. I'd encourage you to start using these 2 things: blue light glasses & Illumineyes. Blue light glasses block the blue light from getting to your eyes and Illumineyes is a supplement from young living that helps support your eye health in significant ways!
Natural remedies….
Let's chat about some natural support options for your headaches. There are so many natural remedies you can find on pinterest and even Instagram, but tonight I'm going to go over 5 with you including hydration, food, fresh air, grounding/earthing, and hot/cold compress.
Remedy #1 - Drink water
Proper hydration is often forgotten. Dehydration can lead to many problems, including headaches! (It's actually almost always the underlying cause of all types of headaches.)
Next time you have a headache, drink 2 glasses of water ASAP. You may also consider adding Vitality Drops for the electrolytes, which provide minerals your body needs to function properly!
Remedy #2 - Food
Sometimes a headache is triggered when you need to eat. If you haven't eaten yet and have a headache, try putting some food in your stomach to help your headache. There are also specific foods you may want to consume that have been found to help relieve headaches such as baked potatoes 🥔 (because of the high potassium), watermelon 🍉 (because of the water and magnesium content), coffee ☕ (IN MODERATION, because of the caffeine), whole grain toast 🍞 (because of the healthy carbs), almonds 🌰 (because of the magnesium), spicy salsa 🌶 (because it helps open up your airways) yogurt 🥛(because of the calcium), sesame seeds 🧧 (because of the nutritional punch they offer), spinach salad 🥗 (because it decreases blood pressure). Ready to stock your pantry?!
Remedy #3- Fresh Air
One of the reasons fresh air may help a headache is because you're exiting the environment that could contain fragrances and chemicals that caused the headache in the first place. In fact, there are some places we go that I always get a headache from because of the fragrances and chemicals used. So go outside and take a walk, and fill your lungs with that extra oxygen. If you can’t go outside due to weather, open up some windows and let the fresh air fill your home.
Remedy #4- Grounding/ Earthing 👣
If you've never heard of Grounding or Earthing, it's pretty fascinating. (watch this when you get the chance >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=44ddtR0XDVU&app=desktop )
Just touching the earth through your bare feet helps reduce inflammation significantly by calming the nervous system and improving blood flow. So many people have amazing testimonies of how simply walking around barefoot helped relieve their headaches. A great option for winter months and rainy days is an earthing mat, which can be purchased even on Amazon. So, next time you have a headache, get some fresh air and walk around barefoot. Double benefits!
Remedy #5 - Cool/Hot Compress
Sometimes a change in temperature on location can really relieve the pain. Cold compresses have a numbing effect, which may help dull the pain. Hot compresses help to relax the muscles and tension. So it really depends on the type of headache, but you could even alternate with each every 15 minutes or so. (You could also take a hot/cold shower/bath!) Which do you prefer- hot or cold?
OILS!
Okay, let’s talk about 5 specific oils that could help support your headache trouble. There are many that can help, especially depending on the type or cause of headache. We’ll talk about Lavender, M-Grain, Peppermint, Deep Relief, and Copaiba.
Oil #1- Basil
Basil oil is fantastic for muscle discomfort and tension. It’s historically known as a home remedy for its ability to relax and relieve. Because of it’s amazing abilities, it can be a great support for headaches caused by tension and tight muscles.
Oil #2 - M-Grain
I’ve heard so many great results from migraine sufferers who use M-Grain. It’s a powerful blend of Basil, Marjoram, Peppermint, Lavender, Roman Chamomile, and Helichrysum. This is a great oil to keep by your computer to apply when you start feeling that tension in your head and neck!
Oil #3 - Peppermint
This is one of my first go-to oils for headache support. The menthol is so soothing and comforting, and helps relax muscles and support pain levels. It’s actually one of the most popular uses for Peppermint, mentioned many times on the internet for natural headache support. For an extra umph, you could follow application of Peppermint with a hot/cold compress to drive in the Peppermint. Also, remember that Peppermint is an amplifier, so you could combine this with another oil for an extra boost.
Oil #4 - Deep Relief
This might be my favorite oil for headache support because it’s so convenient to apply! The roller makes it easy to roll on my forehead, temples, neck… anywhere that needs some deep relief! This is a blend of Peppermint, Lemon, Balsam Canada, Clove, Balsam Copaiba, Coconut oil, Wintergreen, Helichrysum, Vetiver, and Dorado Azul. Definitely a great one to have on hand!
Oil #5- Copaiba
This oil is wonderful for supporting your body in its natural defense against inflammation. You can apply it topically on location. My personal favorite way to use Copaiba is to take Copaiba vitality internally in a vegetable capsule. This also is an amplifier, so you may want to consider using it along with another oil as well.
SO, there ya have it! 5 causes, 5 remedies, and 5 oils. Thanks so much for joining me tonight, and I hope you learned some valuable information. What was your biggest takeaway? Have any other headache tips to share? I’d love to hear from you in the comments!