If you suffer from headaches and take painkillers often, maybe it's time for a natural alternative. This headache salve smells amazing and is made with peppermint and lavender essential oils. These two aromatic powerhouses have been used for centuries for their healing properties, when combined, they create a soothing remedy that can ease headaches and nausea. When I was pregnant, I felt nauseated every single day for the whole pregnancy. Using or even just taking a whiff of my little jar of headache salve got me through a lot of night shifts at work. So if you know a pregnant mama who isn't feeling great right now, you have to make this for her!
So here are 5 reasons why you should make some of your own headache salve. Give it away as gifts, and keep some for yourself. I have a really simple recipe that can easily be multiplied into bigger batches.
1) Natural Pain Relief:
Peppermint essential oils contain menthol, which has natural analgesic (pain relieving) properties. Lavender essential oil on the other hand, is known for its calming effects. When these oils are combined, they work together to ease tension, reduce pain, and promote overall relaxation. Applying the salve to your temples, neck, and forehead can help relieve headaches caused by stress, sinus congestion, or tension.
2) Soothing Muscle Tension:
Many headaches are caused by muscle tension in the neck and shoulders. Peppermint and lavender essential oils are both renowned for their ability to relax muscles. When massaged onto the affected areas, the salves helps release tension and reduce muscle spasms, providing relief from headaches caused by muscle strain.
3) Improved Blood Circulation:
Peppermint essential oil has vasodilating properties, meaning it widens the blood vessels and improves blood circulation. Lavender oil compliments this effect by promoting relaxation and reducing stress, which can contribute to better blood flow. Enhanced circulation can alleviate headaches caused by poor blood flow, ensuring that your brain receives an adequate oxygen supply.
4) Calming the Mind:
One of the key benefits of lavender essential oil is its ability to calm the mind and promote emotional well-being. The soothing aroma of lavender, combined with the refreshing scent of peppermint creates a calming atmosphere. Inhaling these fragrances while applying the salve can reduce anxiety, stress, and restlessness, providing relief from tension headaches triggered by emotional factors.
5) Convenience and Portability:
One of the best things about headache salves is their convenience. Put it in a small jar that can easily fit into your purse or pocket. When you feel a headache coming on, you can apply the salve right away, wherever you are.
Conclusion:
Incorporating a headache salve into your self-care routine can be a game changer. Not only does it provide natural and effective relief from headaches, but also the benefits of aromatherapy, promoting relaxation, and overall well-being. Cut back on the pill painkillers and embrace the power of nature with this wonderful headache salve.
Note: This headache salve is not a replacement for any medication prescribed by your doctor.
Now lets get to it, lets make our own simple headache salve. The first step is to set up your work area. You will want to place your jars that you're using and give them a wipe with some rubbing alcohol to sanitize them. I am using some small 15ml jars and this recipe will fill 5 of them. You can easily multiply this recipe to make more. You can find some really cute jars on Amazon that work perfectly for this recipe. Check out this link for 15ml glass jars, they are reasonably priced at just over a dollar a jar. You have to use glass, because the essential oils in this recipe will dissolve plastic.
I also love these pink 15ml glass jars, but they're a bit more expensive at almost $2.50 a jar, but they're so pretty!
Anyways, line up your jars because you want to pour this quickly before it hardens. For this recipe you will need:
1/4 cup coconut oil
14 drops peppermint essential oil
5 drops lavender essential oil
You have to use a solid coconut oil, don't use the liquid fractionated coconut oil because we want this to set into a hard salve. You can add more lavender essential oil if you wish but I find this combination perfect. You don't want to add more peppermint though, if you put too much peppermint essential oil directly onto your skin, it's not a pleasant feeling.
Directions:
Melt the coconut oil. You can do this in the microwave in short bursts, check on it every 10-15 seconds and give it a stir until it's liquid consistency. You could also use a double boiler if you're making a big batch, but the microwave is the easiest route here.
Once it's melted, I'll pour my coconut oil into a glass jar and place the glass jar into a bowl of hot tap water. This will keep it melted a bit longer while we mix in the essential oils. You want to use a glass vessel for this mixture because essential oils will disintegrate plastic.
Next, add your essential oils and give it a stir. Mix it really well and do it quickly because you want to pour these right away.
Pour your mixture into your waiting jars. I am using a pipette because I have lots on hand, but if you made this in a glass cup with a pour spout that would be relatively mess free too.
Place the lids on the jars so nothing can fall in, and leave them to set. You can pop them into the fridge to speed up this process, but I usually just leave them on my desk overnight.
And that's it! Attach a pretty label or sticker if you wish and you just made headache salve! If you're not the crafty type and just looking to purchase some I have some listed in my store. Have you tried this recipe? Comment below and let me know how you like it!
- Lindsay
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