I have suffered from headaches and migraines for as long as I can remember. My dad has told me that when I was a baby learning how to talk, one of the first things I learned how to say was that my head hurt. I grew up taking pretty large amounts of acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Motrin) regularly for the pain. While I really dislike putting drugs in my body, when it comes to intense pain, I find myself turning to whatever brings relief.

The problem with headaches and migraines is that it is hard to identify why they happen. Sometimes, it is obvious; your head is stuffy from sinus pressure or you fell and bumped your head pretty hard. But most of the time, they just creep up on you over a few hours until you finally reach the point where any type of movement, noise, or bright light feels like a hammer smashing against your head.

The years of taking pain relievers have caused me liver damage. I’m not blaming them, because I have chosen on many occasions to put them in my body, and I’m sure will again do so in the agony of the moment. They help, most of the time, to ease the pain, and sometimes we just need to get to the next moment in order to move on.

But they don’t always help. Truth be told, I haven’t found anything, drug or natural, that completely removes my migraines every single time. However, I’ve found that by having an arsenal of different potions, one of them is bound to work for whatever kind of headache I happen to be having at the moment. Maybe one of these will help you.

Overlooked Causes for Headaches:

Low blood sugar

High / Low blood pressure

Low blood circulation

Toxic blood stream

Dilated blood vessels

Notice the connection between headaches and blood? Hmmm

Headache from high blood pressure

From Aajonus Vonderplanitz, The Primal Diet

Mix

2 oz naturally sparkling water

2 TBS UNHEATED honey

1 whole lemon, juiced

Add 6 ounces more of naturally sparkling water and drink.

Headache from low blood pressure

From Aajonus Vonderplanitz, The Primal Diet

Mix

2 oz naturally sparkling water

2 TBS UNHEATED honey

Add 6 ounces more of naturally sparkling water and drink.

Hormonal Headaches

Apply Dragon Time, an essential oil blend from Young Living, directly on the abdominal area and lower back.

or

6 drops of Dragon Time on the bottom of each foot and on the insides of ankles

Sinus Congestion Headaches

Peppermint oil can be used in many ways.

Peppermint oil #1

The simplest is to just put a few drops in the palm of your hand, cup it over your mouth and nose, and breath in deeply several times. This helps the stuffiness.

Peppermint oil #2

I generally apply the peppermint oil directly to my scalp, right where the pain is. Wherever it hurts the most is where I apply it. But I also will put some in the palm of my hand and dab a little on my fingertip to apply to above my eyebrows, behind my ears by the mandible, and all over my neck.

Be careful to not get it in your eyes or use that dabbing finger to rub your eyes later. If you do get some in, simply get out a little bit of vegetable oil and gently apply it to the burning area. It will stop the burning almost instantly.

Peppermint oil #3

I know people who have gotten rid of a headache by a single drop of peppermint oil on the nape of the neck. It hasn’t worked for me, but I’ve met too many people it has worked for to be skeptical.

Peppermint oil #4

Mix a drop of peppermint oil in with your shampoo and then again in your conditioner. The lather helps the oil to disperse easily over your entire head. The tingle feels so good that I don’t want to rinse it out. This feels nice even when you don’t have a headache, but if you do, it feels just heavenly.

Peppermint oil #5

Inhale it: rub on tip of nose, breathe deeply. Apply neat to forehead and temples, cheekbones, across bridge of nose, and around ears.

Roman chamomile oil

Apply to each of the points of the face and neck, basically wherever you feel sinus pressure. This has never helped me, personally, but we’re all made differently.

Low Blood Sugar

Check your blood sugar. If it is between 60 and 70, you can develop a light headache. If it is between 50 and 60, you are more likely to have a full blown headache, feel weak, tired, and irritable. My best friend gets a headache whenever her blood sugar drops. As far as I’m concerned, she is lucky, because as soon as she eats, her headache goes away.

Migraines and Liver

Using the theory that migraines are related to the liver, target the liver & head areas on your feet. Apply a few drops of Valor essential oil all over your feet, paying special attention to the back of the big toes, rubbing it in hard. Rub a drop or two of M-Grain on the back of your big toes as well as on the nail bed. The brain point is on the big toe.

The liver point is on the right foot. If you find the center of your foot (not including toes) and move out towards the part you step on, that’s where you rub. I rub a drop of M-Grain here as well, rhythmically rubbing it in for a few minutes. It’s easier to rub in with a few drops of olive oil.

Then massage the M-Grain on the Liver 3 point, which is on the top of the foot along the way from between the big toe and toe next to it all the way up to the ankle. Run a finger between those bones, rubbing the oil in.

Chemical headache

Toxins from chemicals, such as paint fumes, can cause a headache. Breathing in an essential oil, such as peppermint oil, can help to restore balance. Diffusing the oil is particularly effective here.

Dilated Blood Vessels

Caffeine constricts the blood vessels. Sometimes just drinking some coffee or Coke can help a migraine.

Other things to try:

Fresh wheatgrass juice

Fresh celery juice

Thieves essential oil blend

Apply one drop to your thumb and press on the roof of your mouth

Lavender oil & peppermint oil

Apply a drop of lavender oil to your temples and neck. Layer peppermint oil on top of the lavender. Sometimes the combination is stronger than an individual.

Grapefruit oil

By itself, it does nothing for me. However, when I layer it on top of other oils, it intensifies the effect of the other oils.

Here is another recipe for pain in general. But this one might knock you out, so don’t take it unless you are at home and able to rest. Valerian is classified as a mild tranquilizer and has a sedative effect on the body. It is called “Nature’s Valium” for a reason.

20 drops of Valerian oil

10 drops of Helichrysum oil

3 drops of Clove oil

3 drops of Peppermint oil

Fill an empty capsule or two, depending on the size of the capsule, with these oils and swallow with a glass of water.