Instead of medication headache with peppermint oil to treat course

Treat headache with guideline - with peppermint oil
In the treatment of acute headache, the local application of peppermint oil proves to be equivalent to taking acetylsalicylic acid or acetaminophen, researchers at the pain clinic Kiel report. The herbal drug has also been included in guidelines of professional societies as standard medication.

Scientists currently distinguish at least 367 forms of headache, Prof. Dr. med. med. Dipl.-Psych. Hartmut Göbel and his colleagues in a CME contribution to the certified training in the journal "The Pain" (Pain 2016; 30: 295-310, DOI 10.1007 / s00482-016-0109-6). More than 92 percent of all headache disorders are caused by two main headache types: tension-type headache and migraine headaches.

Peppermint oil relieves headaches. Image: goldbany - fotolia

According to global epidemiological studies, 42 percent of people in adult life suffer from tension-type headaches. The disease can severely affect their lives.

Although synthetic analgesics provide a quick, but short-term relief of the symptoms. However, if they are taken frequently or continuously, in addition to habituation effects and unwanted side effects are likely to increase the frequency of headache episodes and their intensity is stronger, warn the Kiel researchers.

The external application of a ten percent peppermint oil solution provides a tolerable and safe alternative. The peppermint oil is fast acting, does not cause headache caused by medication, is inexpensive and suitable for self-medication.

Applied to the forehead and the skin of the foreskin peppermint oil stimulates the cold and pressure receptors, at the same time the smooth musculature relaxes and the blood circulation is increased.

The therapeutic efficacy of the herbal medicinal product has been tested in numerous controlled clinical trials, demonstrating paracetamol and acetylsalicylic acid to be equally effective in terms of efficacy and rapidity of onset, as well as in reducing pain intensity. Meanwhile, the guideline of the German Society of Neurology points to the effectiveness of peppermint oil. The German Migraine and Headache Society recommends giving preference to peppermint oil during pregnancy and using it in children. The practice guideline "Primary Headache" of the German Society for Pain Medicine lists peppermint oil as the first choice drug for acute treatment of tension-type headaches. (Pm)