6 Essential Oils for Pain Relief
Pain is our body's way of telling us that something isn't quite right, and while pain may be just doing it's job, no one wants it to linger.
Luckily, nature has gifted us with literally hundreds of natural pain killers in plants and their essential oils.
What makes essential oils even more amazing is that, besides easing the pain, they help remedy some of the conditions that caused the pain. For instance, when peppermint essential oil is used on aching muscles, it not only relieves pain but improves blood circulation to the area, reducing the inflammation that causes the pain.
Breathing in the aroma of peppermint has been proven to relieve stress and anxiety, further relaxing the muscles of the body.
The term analgesic means pain relieving. Before western medicine began to produce over-the-counter analgesics like acetaminophen and ibuprofen, people used natural analgesics found in plants.
Many medications use the natural pain relieving potency of Plant Medicine.
"Almost always, if we find pharmaceuticals doing the trick, we’ll find a plant doing the same trick—and doing it more safely,”
1. Peppermint Essential Oil
Peppermint is an analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anti-spasmodic. The main chemical component of peppermint is Menthol, which is often reduced to crystals and added to a wide variety of topical and edible products.
Amongst its many uses, Peppermint essential oil is known to ease headaches, neck and shoulder tension & muscular aches and spasms. It relaxes muscles in the lower back as well as intestinal spasms and pain due to fibromyalgia and arthritis.
TRY THIS: For headaches, you can blend 10 drops of peppermint oil with a tablespoon of carrier oil. Massage into back of neck and temples. This is a very effective remedy, but make sure you stay far away from the eyes!
TIP: Always add Peppermint and other Pain Relieving Essential Oils to a carrier oil before applying to the skin. It's the safe way to use Essential Oils and it will increase the effectiveness of the pain relief.
While Peppermint is a the most popular essential oil for pain relief, it works even better when you combine it.
Here are 5 more essential oils that have similar properties and address pain, muscle tension, arthritis and sciatica.
2. Eucalyptus Essential Oil
Eucalyptus is most well known for its ability to support the respiratory system, but it also has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. It seems to have an affinity to relieving muscle aches and strains.
TRY THIS: Eucalyptus is perfect to combine with a carrier oil and massage into areas that are painful after strenuous use, or added to epsom salts and put in the bath. It’s recommended for treating nerve pain, sprains, strains and muscular pains and aches.
3. Frankincense Essential Oil
Frankincense is a master healer and has so many amazing uses, like pain relief, reducing swelling, immune boosting, skin abrasions, muscular tension, arthritis and nerve pain.
Frankincense is known has potent anti-inflammatory, analgesic and nervine properties.
TRY THIS: Frankincense added to any carrier oil or bath salt will do wonders for tension, aches, nerve pain and arthritis. Blend Frankincense, Peppermint and Lavender to bring down swelling and reduce pain.
4. Juniper Berry Essential Oil
Juniper Berry helps with reducing muscle spasms, joint pain and muscle aches associated with fibromyalgia, arthritis and other similar ailments.
It has anti-rheumatic, anti-spasmodic and analgesic properties. Juniper also strengthens the nerves and when used regularly, can be also be helpful for neuropathic pain.
TRY THIS: For arthritis pain, add Juniper Berry, Frankincense and Lavender with Epsom Salts and add to a hot bath.
5. Lavender Essential Oil
Lavender is best known for it's ability to calm but it's also a powerful pain reliever, it's often used in a blend with other pain relieving oils to boost their potency. it has strong antimicrobial, analgesic, anti-inflammatory and is destressing.
When you inhale its aroma, it helps to reduce muscle tension and relieves stress and anxiety, increasing it's benefit to the whole body.
TRY THIS: Add Lavender to any of these other Essential Oils to boost their potency. For Pain Relief, it's best to combine Essential Oils with a carrier oil and rub into affected areas.
6. Rosemary Essential Oil
Rosemary is often used to treat headaches, tension, and muscle aches and joint pain. It has analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anti-spasmodic properties,with the added bonus of enhancing memory, concentration and mental alertness.
TRY THIS: For muscular strain or tension combine Rosemary, Eucalyptus and Lavender then mix with a carrier oil and apply to affected area. You can use this combination and add to Epsom Salts in a hot bath for great results.
Be Cautious with Essential Oil Use
Essential oils are highly concentrated. Dilute properly before use and perform a skin patch test before applying the oil to your skin. Keep away from eyes & mucous membranes.
Talk to your doctor or certified aromatherapist before use if you are:
- pregnant or nursing (it is recommended to avoid use of essential oils in first trimester of preganacy, then reduce topical use of safe essential oils to 1% dilution)
- have an existing medical condition
- wish to use essential oils on children or older adults
Potential side effects of using essential oils include:
- skin irritation
- skin inflammation
- sun sensitivity
- allergic reaction
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