The first place many of us turn for headache relief is to a bottle of acetaminophen-laced pills. We don’t blame you…it does work. But the problem is that it’s dangerous to take it all the time.

Constant use of acetaminophen can cause liver damage, kidney damage, and even stomach bleeding. That’s why it’s important to find an alternative that works just as good…without any side effects. Now, research shows that one natural oil can fill that role.

A German study from the highly-regarded University of Kiel shows that applying this oil to your head can significantly reduce headache intensity after 15 minutes. The study was led by Dr. Harmut Göbel, who is the director of Kiel Pain Clinic. “(The) oil proves to be a well-tolerated and cost-effective alternative to usual therapies,” he says.

Other top doctors in the US reviewed the findings out of Germany…and they agree this oil can put an end to headache pain. Dr. Benjamin Kligler is an associate professor of family medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, New York. He wrote about the oil in the journal American Family Physician.

“Topical application of (the) oil (is) effective in the treatment of headache,” he says. Dr. Kligler also added that it’s a very safe alternative.

The Oil vs. 1,000 mg of Acetaminophen

The oil that can reduce your headache pain is peppermint oil. Peppermint has been used throughout history for digestive orders, but the fact that it also soothes headache pain is welcome news. You probably have it every day in your gum or your toothpaste…but it’s likely that you’ve never used the oil itself.

Dr. Göbel’s study included 41 patients and a total of 164 headache attacks. The peppermint oil or a placebo was spread across the patients’ forehead and temples. The patients then kept a headache diary and noted that their headache pain.

The peppermint oil significantly reduced headache intensity within 15 minutes and continued to relieve pain up until the hour-long observation period ended. So the peppermint oil successfully and quickly ended headaches.

But what about acetaminophen?

Dr. Göbel said it also worked well, but we already knew that was the case.

“There was no significant difference between the efficacy of 1,000 mg of acetaminophen and peppermint oil,” he says.

As we mentioned, the problem with acetaminophen isn’t that it doesn’t work…it’s that it’s not safe. Peppermint oil is a much safer alternative. And if both are equally effective…why not give it a try?

Just One Drop?

Peppermint is available online or at health stores. Make sure you get the liquid oil and not the capsules so you can apply it to your head. Look for a product that contains 100 percent peppermint oil.

You only need to put a small drop in your hand and apply it to your forehead and temples. If your headache still remains, you can reapply another time after 15-30 minutes.

This is a great way to relieve headache pain without adding further damage to your internal organs.

To your best health,

Michael Jelinek,

Managing Editor, NHD “Health Watch”