If you’re looking for a great natural remedy for headaches, this DIY headache and tension relief balm works wonders. The all natural ingredients and essential oils soothe and relax.
Balms can be a very effective way to apply essential oils to your body, for multiple uses, whether it be for mood or for health issues. They work well because you not only get the benefits of the base ingredients in addition to the essential oils, but they stay put on your body longer than if you used just the essential oil straight on the skin.
This particular balm was designed to help relieve tension in the muscles and help with headache relief. I personally get tension built up very fast in my neck and shoulders, which causes headaches, so I use it when that is flaring up. If the tension is really bad, you can layer oils on top of the balm as well.
The essential oils used in this balm are a powerful combination, and each one adds its own health benefit and relief into the remedy.
If you don’t want to make your own, you can buy a pre-made headache balm on Amazon.
Frankincense
Frankincense essential oil is used because it is great for the skin. Frankincense can help with neurological issues, so if your headache is more of a migraine type, it will help alleviate that faster. It also helps reduce inflammation, so it helps that tension die down fast.
Spearmint
Spearmint essential oil is used for its cooling effect, which immediately helps relieve the pain. The cooling sensation it gives will feel like it is masking that pain, but it will take it away too. Plus, Spearmint just smells amazing!
Peppermint
Peppermint essential oil is used for a similar reason. In addition to being cooling, it does help tremendously to alleviate pain and discomfort. For any type of muscle strain or pain, peppermint can give immediate tension relief.
Basil
Basil essential oil is one oil that’s good for pain relief, and can be underrated sometimes as far as oils go. It is great for ear pain and for muscle pain, and if your headache is radiating near the ear or temple, it is perfect oil to use topically there.
Lavender
Lavender essential oil is used mainly for its calming effect. It will help calm your mood, your tension and the stress in the muscles. It will also help you sleep if you are dealing with the pain at night. In addition, it’s great for the skin too, so it helps in that aspect as well.
This recipe makes more than one container or balm, so depending on the size you get, you can make extras to give away, or to keep for backup. I use smaller containers so that I can keep them in my purse or give them to people easily.
If you don’t have all of the supplies on hand to make this natural remedy for headaches, you can also purchase a pre-made headache balm.
Headache & Tension Relief Balm
Supplies
- 3 tablespoons beeswax pastilles
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
- 2 tablespoons sweet almond oil jojoba oil works well too
- 8 drops frankincense essential oil
- 10 drops peppermint essential oil
- 6 drops spearmint essential oil
- 6 drops lavender essential oil
- 8 drops basil essential oil
Tools
- Small containers with lids – at least 6 unless they are over an ounce each
- Labels and marker if desired
Instructions
- Fill the bottom half of your double boiler with water and set it over medium-high heat. Add the top half of your double boiler and put your beeswax in the pan. It takes a few minutes to start to melt. Once you hear the water getting close to boiling, turn it down to low. The last thing you want is for the wax to burn, so just keep an eye on it once you notice it’s beginning to melt down, because it does go much faster at that point.
- While the wax is melting, go ahead and line up your containers so they are ready once it’s all melted. I used 9 containers in total and they were around half an ounce each.
- Once your wax is melted and clear in color, measure out your coconut oil and sweet almond oil and add it to the pan, stirring to combine.
- Remove the pan from the heat and allow it to cool slightly (but not harden). Then, add in your essential oils, one at a time. Be careful not to over pour them, as most of these oils are runny in texture. Stir well.
- Pour your headache balm into containers slowly, filling a bit below the top edge. Repeat until all of your containers are full.While you're doing this, keep the heat on the pan very low in case you need it to soften up the balm. It does set up quickly and sometimes while pouring you may need to put the pan back on the warm water for a few minutes to re-melt the mixture if you don't move quickly enough.
- Now, leave the containers at room temperature on your counter to cool fully. This will take about 30 to 45 minutes. Feel the bottom center to see if it has cooled all the way. If it has, they are good to go.
