Dr. Galina Chudinskaya, a neurologist, reported that strong herbal scents may exacerbate or trigger migraine attacks in susceptible individuals.
According to her, this reaction varies from person to person and does not necessarily indicate an allergy.
Plant scents are produced by essential oils and other volatile compounds they release. Under normal conditions, the concentration of these substances in the air is not dangerous; however, strong scents can irritate the nervous system of sensitive individuals.
She says: "Volatile oils and essential oils themselves are not toxic at the concentrations typically found in gardens. But strong scents can activate the olfactory receptors and the trigeminal nerve, which is responsible for the sensation of pain, in sensitive people. This is especially true for people who suffer from migraines or hypersensitivity to smells."
Intolerance or aversion to smells during migraine attacks is called osmophobia , and it may accompany an attack that has already begun, appear before the pain starts, or persist between attacks. Certain smells can also become individual migraine triggers. This does not always indicate an allergy, as a smell may act as a sensory irritant without causing an allergic reaction.
According to her, there is no universal list of plants that cause headaches, as the reaction depends on individual sensitivity, the intensity of the scent, the duration of exposure, and surrounding conditions. Among the plants known for their strong aromas are lavender, jasmine, lilac, lilies, hyacinth, some types of roses, wormwood, chamomile, and conifers, especially in hot weather. This is due to the essential oils and volatile organic compounds that evaporate rapidly with rising temperatures.
She says: "The stronger the scent and the higher the concentration of aromatic substances in the air, the more likely it is that it will cause discomfort to a sensitive person. Moreover, the same scent may not bother one person at all, while it causes a headache for another."
The doctor notes that migraine pain is often throbbing on one side of the head, ranging from moderate to severe, and may worsen with normal physical activity. The attack is often accompanied by symptoms such as nausea and increased sensitivity to light, sounds, and smells.
Tension headaches, on the other hand, usually occur on both sides of the head and are characterized by a feeling of pressure or tightness. They are not usually aggravated by daily physical activity, nor are they accompanied by severe nausea or vomiting.
Prolonged exposure to odors in a small space, where the concentration of aromatic substances is high, especially in hot and calm weather, can lead to headaches, dizziness, or vertigo, even in people who have never suffered from headaches before.
According to her, if a headache begins, a person should first move away from the area with the strong odor, go to a cool, well-ventilated place, drink water, and rest for a while. If they are suffering from a migraine, they should take the medication prescribed by their doctor without waiting for the symptoms to worsen.
