Researchers with Mashhad University of Medical Science Department of Neurology divided 47 participants into two groups. One group received lavender essential oil which they were instructed to inhale for about 15 minutes. The control group received paraffin to inhale for the same amount of time. Then, participants recorded their headache symptoms and severity in 30 minute intervals for a two hour period.
   
      In the lavender group, there was a 74% improvement in the severity of symptoms. Also, there were fewer migraines over the course of the study when compared with the control group.

      These results are particularly remarkable when you compare the lavender oil effectiveness rate with the rates of effectiveness for other conventional migraine treatments. The study concluded:

     “The present study suggests that inhalation of lavender essential oil may be an effective and safe treatment modality in acute management of migraine headaches.”

      As reported by Paul Fassa for Natural News, high doses of Tylenol (acetaminophen) only helps migraine sufferers about 50% of the time. Ibuprofen is slightly more effective, with improvement in 57% of cases, while the number one prescribed migraine medication, Imitrex, is effective 59% of the time. Lavender oil seems to rival the effectiveness rate of all of these options and without the side effects.