Essential Oils for Head Tension

🤯 Pressure, tension, stress… they all stack up and can cause some nasty head tension at times!

Being a headache sufferer, I’ve learned to balance using oils as a preventative, and these work a treat!

💧 Our favourite oils for head tension

🌿 Peppermint – Rub a drop on your temples and on the back of your neck. Make sure it doesn’t go into your eyes! If it does, rinse with milk or a carrier oil (not water) and the stinging will ease. Peppermint can also be used on the roof of your mouth: put one drop on your thumb and press it there for about 6 to 10 seconds.

💜 Lavender – Same trick as Peppermint, a drop on the temples and massage in. Plus try a drop of Peppermint and Lavender together massaged into your big toes, as these relate to your brain and head in reflexology. (Lavender with Vetiver is also an effective sleep trick!)

❄️ Past Tense Blend – This roller was one of my early dōTERRA “aha” moments. I find rolling it on the back of my neck after a really busy day, or if I haven’t had enough sleep, really helps. The Wintergreen and Peppermint (plus others) give your skin a beautiful cooling sensation that helps melt away that tight, pressured feeling.

🌸 Frankincense – One drop on the thumb and press onto the roof of the mouth, like Peppermint. It’s lovely for calming the tension and pressure that head tension brings.

🙆 A simple head tension routine, step by step

1. Stop, step away from the screen and drink a big glass of water. Dehydration is a sneaky trigger!
2. Roll Past Tense across the back of your neck, along your hairline and on your temples (avoiding your eyes).
3. Rub a drop of Lavender between your palms, cup them over your nose and take 5 slow, deep breaths.
4. Gently massage your temples, the base of your skull and your shoulders in small circles for a couple of minutes.
5. If you can, lie down in a dark, quiet room for 10 to 15 minutes.

🌿 Everyday prevention

– Drink plenty of water through the day
– Take regular screen breaks and check your posture
– Prioritise good sleep
– Magnesium-rich foods (hello raw cacao! 🍫) are lovely support for tight muscles

If you have recurring, frequent head tension, we suggest seeing a Bowen therapist or similar bodyworker, as something could be out of alignment.

⚠️ Always see your doctor about headaches that are sudden and severe, different from usual, or that come with other symptoms. Wintergreen isn’t suitable for children, during pregnancy, or if you’re on blood-thinning medication or allergic to aspirin.

Happy discovering what works for you! 💙