I've recently had some great experiences using essential oils for headaches.

Here are a few tips on using essential oils for headaches yourself--safely and effectively.

• First add 1 drop of Peppermint essential oil (Mentha piperita) into a teaspoon of Trauma Oil, and rub it on the back of your neck. It should feel cool and tingly. I love using Trauma Oil as my carrier--it's quite healing in and of itself! It is made from olive oil (first pressing), Calendula flower (Calendula officinalis), Arnica flower (Arnica montana) and St. John's Wort flowering tops (Hypericum perforatum). You might feel immediate relief! You can repeat this application three to four times daily for a few days if needed.

• Next, use 1 drop of Frankincense essential oil (Boswellia carterii) in the same amount of Trauma Oil and rub it into your feet. Yes--your feet! I know it might seem odd that massaging your feet with Frankincense would help a headache, but the reflex points are powerful and it works great. Massage your whole foot and especially your toes with the oil. If you find some sore spots, spend more time there. Massage as deeply as you find enjoyable. Feeling sore as you rub your feet is okay, but pain is not the goal! You can repeat this application three to four times daily for a few days if needed.

• Lastly, make an inhaler with Lavender essential oil (Lavadula angustifolia). Add 15 drops to the blank inhaler and inhale deeply every hour, into both nostrils. If you don't have a blank inhaler, use a tissue. Place 1 drop of Lavender essential oil on the tissue every hour and inhale. If you don't have Lavender essential oil you can use Eucalyptus essential oil (Eucalyptus globulus) instead.

I've found that if you use all three approaches, the headache can fade away within half an hour! If you try this approach, let me know how it goes. And if you have other headache suggestions using essential oils, we would love to hear about them!