Oil for headaches/tension?

[AlfonzoShido]

Hi Aromatherapy Gods,

I'm soon to be receiving an air purifier - that uses normal tap water and sucks the air through, dispersing after. My nose kindly reminded me I could add some oils to that boring water for a nice effect...

I suffer from tension in the head/neck/shoulders/life, and wondered if you could suggest a nice oil that may help with this?

Also, any suggestions for one that may help to wake my lazy self up in the morning?

Many many thanks in advance!
Matt x

 

[chasvanblom]

Mentha Arvensis (Cornmint) is an excellent oil for clearing muzzy heads and freshening up a room. You could try 2 drops of basil and 2 drops of cornmint in your diffuser to give the room a lovely fresh, invigorating aroma....

Mentha Arvensis is the one you will find in a lot of over the counter gels, creams and lotions for muscle tension and strains as it has a very cooling, anaesthetic and analgesic. It's the one used in extra strong mints too!

It's not a very common one though - I get mine from Penny Price aromatherapy.

Helen

 

[what?]

mmmmmmm cornmint! Sounds wonderful, I feel a trip to Penny Price website coming on! Love Melanie x

 

[Semra]

To wake yourself up in the morning up I'd suggest Clary Sage - it has an antidepressant action about it too. Hmmm, maybe better to use in crisis/low points, than for regular morning brightness. I went through a period when I rubbed a teaspoon of oil with 3 drops of Rosemary over my body each morning. Rosemary is a mood enhancer, and it was a nice way to start the day.

[If you have trouble waking then it can indicate that you are low in vitamin B1 (thiamine). If you have a diet which is high in simple carbs (sugar, white flour) and alcohol these require thiamine to process them, but they don't contain thiamine so it has to come from somewhere else - and as a result other body systems don't get their requirements. 50mg at bedtime; and in the morning take another 50mg taken along with a B complex should do the trick. Normally I like to link to a reference, but this advice is based on personal experience.

Note, this next bit is so off-topic that I am bound to be told off by mods (sorry!), but did you know that diabetics excrete 15 times as much thiamine in their urine as folk who don't have diabetes. B complex supplementation for diabetics on the NHS? Hmmm... probably not.]

Ava x

 

[[ Pending ]]

Hi is it one of those plug in ones? i have seen them advertised globe shape about £15 and wondered about getting one. do let me know your thoughts on it. thanks

 

[bookworm530]

Thank you for the advice lovely people! I'll definitely look in to getting some cornmint over the weekend. I'm a big fan of "fresh, clean, thin" fragrances, if that makes any sense. None of the thick, stuffy ones - they give me headaches!

ava:
Very helpful suggestions, thank you! I'm not discounting the idea, but I tend to have semi-good diet, especially avoiding refined and processed ingredients. Much prefer whole-wheat, organic, non-processed, no-additives, preservatives or sweeteners. I do always feel groggy in the morning, though!

atlanticpearl:
It may be the same one! This is called "Sensu Air" - a globe-shaped bowl which lights up in several pretty colours (I believe there's a disco mode for party animal clean-air-addicts ). Cost me around £30 inc delivery

Thank you all again, keep suggestions coming if you can!
x

 

[The Nerd Next Door]

"Very helpful suggestions, thank you! I'm not discounting the idea, but I tend to have semi-good diet, especially avoiding refined and processed ingredients. Much prefer whole-wheat, organic, non-processed, no-additives, preservatives or sweeteners. I do always feel groggy in the morning, though!"

Absolutely! How annoying... I originally had a wee bit of text in my post which said something along the lines of 'Of course, ignore this if you have a good diet'. But, I seem to have wiped it. I can sound condescending... most people in HP do have good diets, so much of what I say is not applicable. But sometimes I just like the sound of my own voice! Ha!

Ava x

p.s. But if you don't mind the smell Rosemary oil is a nice morning perker-upper. Some people can find it a bit medicinal smelling though.

 

[Tessa]

Grapefruit is very zingy and fresh and particularly uplifting- ideal for perking you up in the morning Matt

 

[TinyAzn?]

Peppermint is meant to be good for headaches.

 

[pdooma]

I have an ultrasonic nebuliser it came with Lavender which is very good for headaches, prob best to be used at night tho, cos as you know it's very calming