Headaches are often a sign of a deeper problem (like magnesium deficiency, in my case), but sometimes they have a practical cause like five-kids-playing-marching-band-in-the-house-syndrome.
I almost never get headaches anymore since changing my diet and boosting my magnesium levels, but for times of stress or noise when I do get one, I keep this headache relief stick in my purse.
It rolls on easily without getting anything on my hands that I can then accidentally rub in my eyes, and it knocks out headaches quickly. This blend is made with a combination of cooling essential oils and is also great to put on the wrists to help with motion sickness or nausea (sailboat induced in my case- not morning sickness :-).
Most of the ingredients are things I keep in my first aid kit, but mixing them in a roll on tube makes them easier to apply and keep in my purse. I use this blue one but also have a bunch of clear roll on bottles for making mixtures like this and they are much cheaper.
I use Magnesium oil as a carrier for this oil to dilute it and make it less strong on the skin. There is some evidence that this can also speed absorption and since many people find relief from chronic headaches with magnesium, it is a helpful ingredient long term too. I make magnesium oil with this recipe since it is less expensive, but you can also get pre-made magnesium oil from Ancient Minerals. I also get organic essential oils in bulk to save money and mix my own recipes like this one.
This could also be easily made in a spray or a lotion, but with the oils I used, I wanted a solution that I didn’t have to rub in with my hands since I’ve accidentally gotten essential oils in my eyes before and I don’t recommend it.
Ingredients
- 10 drops peppermint essential oil
- 5 drops Frankincense essential oil
- 10 drops lavender essential oil
- 10 drops Chamomile essential oil
- 1 ounce (or less) of magnesium oil
- 1 roll-on bottle
Instructions
- Remove the top of the roll on bottle and the roller stop.
- Pour the essential oils into the roller bottle first.
- Add just enough magnesium oil to reach the top.
- Put the roller stop back in and tightly cap.
- To use: roll carefully on skin. For headache, I use it on the back of my neck and shoulders.
If you have chronic headaches or even migraines, I highly recommend trying herbal remedies like feverfew.
This article was medically reviewed by Madiha Saeed, MD, a board certified family physician. As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk with your doctor.
Do you ever get headaches? What helps you? Share below!
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Awesome idea! I have a headache blend I have used, but didn’t use magnesium oil. That will be how I make it in the future. I add Birch oil to mine too. I’ve read though that you have to be careful with birch if you are allergic to aspirin and if you have epilepsy.
Where do you get Birch oil? I have used this for my arthritis in the past, but haven’t been able to find good quality in years!!
Do you apply the magnesium oil to your forehead (for a headache). Or are there are points, perhaps the back of the neck, where it would be effective to apply? My son has headaches and he is away at college, so I’m looking for a good solution for him.
Great idea, I really want to try it.
How do you get the roller ball out of the top of the bottle? I’ve tried, and can’t figure out a way to do it. Thanks.
That used to confound me, too! Then one day I finally figured it out – you don’t pull out just the ball; what you want to do is pull off the entire plug/ball assembly. Just get a good grip on it with pliers, right where it goes around the neck of the bottle, and pull straight out. After you fill your bottle, push it firmly back down on. Hope it works out well for you!
You can also use your thumb, finger nail or something with a flat end to pry the roller assembly up from the lip of the bottle (look for the spot where they meet at the place the thread for the screw top ends on the glass). If you just pry it up a little in several places it will lift to the point that you can grab it with your fingers and pull it off or just keep prying a little at at time all around until it comes off. I have also found recently that they make a tool for this now, I think I saw it on Amazon, though I haven’t tried it myself yet since it seemed pricey to me. I’m sure that price will come down though and I might try it then.
To help get the roller top off: Set the cap on top of the roller ball and push with your thumb the cap til you hear a “pop” and that will bring it up about 1/8-1/4″ and then you can either grab it with your fingers or get a butter knife to lift it off the rest of the way with out damaging the roller ball. Now to put it back on all you do is set your roller ball cap in the bottle, take the bottle cap and set it on top, then screw the cap on as if you were going to close the bottle til you hear a “pop”. Easy-peasy!
Hi Katie,
Can you use the clear bottles or does it has to be the blue container? I have recently joined and I love everything I’ve read!
You can use either one 🙂
I’ve used salon pas patches all my life for headaches (or any aches). They always work for me. I know they have camphor and menthol in them. I wonder if it would be alright to add camphor to this recipe, or are there any reasons I shouldn’t do that? Thanks for the advice in advance, I try not to mess with essential oils. 🙂
The thing that us in the health community generally fail to mention is the fact that fluorescent lights from our office buildings along with WiFi and other forms of electronic and magnetic pollution are huge contributors to these underlying issues.
While I do keep peppermint and eucalyptus essential oils on my desk for this same reason, we need to fix the problem and not keep using band aids!
I’ve covered EMF extensively on my podcast.
Keep up the good work Katie!
Does this work well for tension headaches? I get tension headaches that are so bad that they turn into migraines. I am looking for something that will help prevent and help relieve tension headaches. Thank you so much for your time and have a blessed day!
That’s what most of mine are from too 🙂
Hi Katie, I had been a fan of yours for a while now but I am not able to log-in. Anytime I try, it will tell me I am not registered but anytime I try to sign up, it tells me I am already registered. Am I doing something wrong. I am so happy to have found you. What a great favor you are doing some of us. Good job. Thanks in advance.
Please email me at [email protected] and include the email address you used to register. That will help me find your account =)
I really like the idea of using a roll-on bottle for applying the essential oils/mag oil directly on the spot. I started putting plantain infused oil in roll-on bottles for easy application to burns, scratches, etc., plus it’s easy to carry in a purse. Thanks for all you do!
Great recipe! I will definitely be trying this out! 🙂
I usually just use peppermint essential oil on my temples and back of neck, but this combination sounds great!
Do you know if NOW foods brand essential oils are any good?
Thanks, Katie!!!
-Elle 🙂