I really was quite convinced up to this point, that natural headache relief was just not possible. Because of my failed attempts at getting rid of my headaches naturally in the past, I have not been opposed to a few ibuprofen tablets for an absolutely debilitating, occasional headache.
However, being 33 weeks pregnant and have suffered from headaches more this pregnancy than I did in the 3 years between this one and my daughter, I became desperate to find something that works without causing harm to the baby.
So yesterday, after WAKING UP with the familiar head pounding, I did some searching and decided to try the following protocol during my daughter’s nap time. To my disbelief, it ACTUALLY got rid of my headache! (Oh, and YES, you may need to actually R-E-S-T for it to work.)
Green Drink Diaries’ NATURAL Headache Relief:
8 drops peppermint essential oil
4 drops lavender essential oil
1 Tbsp olive oil
ice pack to go around head or neck or bag of frozen veggies
hand towel
strong green tea or caffeine of choice (equivalent of 40-60 milligrams. Check your tea and coffee labels)
Directions: I began this protocol by putting my daughter down for her nap and shutting all of the lights and blinds off in the house. I propped up some pillows on the couch since being hugely pregnant, I can’t lay flat on my back.
1. Mix the oils together in a small bowl.
2. Gather the hot and cold packs and hand towel for covering your face.
3. Lay down, putting the cold pack behind your neck.
4. Rub the oils together between your fingers and rub on your temples, behind your ears, around your eye sockets, at the bridge of your nose, etc. Do this for 4-5 minutes paying attention to any aching you may feel. Massage any tension out. (I found that I could feel my headache tension at the side of my right eye socket.)
5. Lay the hot pack over your eyes and cover with the hand towel. Inhale the scents of the oils for 5 or so minutes.
6. Remove hot pack off of your face and massage more oil on tense areas of the face and temples, behind ears and at nape of the neck.
7. Switch the hot pack so that it is behind the neck and place the COLD pack over the eyes. Be careful not to put ice directly on skin. Cover with hand towel and inhale the aromas.
8. Concentrate on breathing deeply and allowing tension to release. Massage temples if you choose. Relax jaw. Do this for 5 minutes.
9. Change up the cold and hot pack again, placing the hot pack back onto the face and cold pack behind the neck. Relax and breathe deeply for 5 more minutes.
10. After doing this, I put peppermint oil directly onto the bottom of my nose at its entrance just above my lip. Be careful of putting essential oils directly onto the skin, but I found that this did not hurt me and really helped my headache relax.
11. Try to avoid bright lights. Immediately begin drinking a strong tea (I prefer green) or strong caffeine source such as coffee. Caffeine will help contract the blood vessels and relieve the headache permanently.
I was completely relieved of my headache within 90 minutes of completing this protocol. It may not be a quick fix, but it’s MUCH less harmful for our bodies, especially if you are pregnant. (:
A few more tips:
To prevent headaches altogether, at the first sign of any headache pain:
1. Drink a large glass of water.
2. Rub peppermint oil at the bottom of your nose, even up into your nostrils! Also rub on temples. (You may want to dilute with olive oil if you have sensitive skin.)
3. Drink a strong cup of green tea.
4. Suck on a mint (I like Trader Joe’s organic peppermint with under 0.5 g sugar per mint)
I have used a Chinese remedy that a friend told me about since 2006 called, “White Flower”. It is essential oils. I also use Young Living Peppermint Essential Oil. I just rub it over whatever part hurts., For really bad headaches I will rub it over my entire head, neck and shoulders. I don’t usually have the time to lay down, I keep going. I may have to do it more than once, but unless it is a horrible headache, once does the job.
Thanks for the suggestion, Sandra!
A word of caution for pregnancy and green tea consumption. “The active antioxidant in green tea, epigallocathechin gallate (EGCG), is of concern for pregnant women. A study done by British and Spanish scientists and posted in the March 2005 issue of Cancer Research proves that EGCG can affect pregnancy. Though it provides many health benefits, EGCG inhibits the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), which is responsible for the uptake of folic acid. Even before a pregnancy, women who are trying to conceive are advised to take folic acid to reduce the risk of neural tube birth defects, such as spina bifida.” http://www.greenteabase.com/green-tea-and-pregnancy/
Hi Daphne- Thanks for the comment/ concern. I think that it is important to weigh risks vs benefits in a case like this. I’m wondering if taking a folic acid supplement at a different time than you’re consuming green tea would make a difference? OR maybe INCREASE your folic acid intake if you’re using green tea as part of this headache protocol in the first trimester. I think it’s important to also consider this is ONE study, so unless convicted about your green tea consumption, I would just be cautious during the first trimester when spinal bifida and other neural tube defects would take form.
Overall- I think this may be (in my opinion) an insignificant concern compared to so much of the common American dietary consumption during pregnancy. If I were to pick my battles, green tea during pregnancy wouldn’t be one of them.