When it comes to pain relief, most people are clear. Most people just take a pill to relieve their pain and move on with their lives. What if pain relief could be safer and more effective? Pain-relieving essential oils are the answer.
The ability of essential oils to relieve pain is a powerful tool for those suffering from chronic or acute pain. How? They quickly penetrate the skin and deliver beneficial nutrients, oxygen (through increased blood circulation), and anti-inflammatory drugs to our most sensitive areas.
Essential oils and pain relief medications can be used in different ways. One may be applied topically or swallowed. But that doesn’t make them better. Do essential oils get into our bodies if we apply them to our skin? Yes! Studies have shown that essential oils and the components of them are rapidly absorbed by skin. They are detectable in plasma following topical application ( 2).
The topical application of essential oils to the skin is a great way to deliver a natural anti-inflammatory agent directly to the area of inflammation.
For what kind of pain might essential oils be useful?
My top 10 essential oils can be used in two ways depending on how severe the pain is.
1. Sharp pain
Acute pain can include burns, sprains, broken bones, and sprained ankles. Apply the oil undiluted (100% strength), to the affected areas. Once the lesion has subsided a little, dilute any essential oils to 20% using a carrier oil (described further below). You can continue to use the diluted essential oils until the sharp pain subsides or the wound heals.
2. Chronic pain
Chronic pain, such as arthritis, fibromyalgia and autoimmune diseases, can be treated with essential oils. Because you will likely be using essential oils for a long period of time, you will always need to dilute them. You can start with a low dilution like 5%, 5 drops of Jojoba oil to 1 drop essential oil, then move up to 10%, 20%, etc.
Essential oils
Essential oils should not be used in excess. Remember that essential oils can be very concentrated. Essential oils that contain high levels can cause allergic reactions or skin sensitivity. You should always check the condition of your skin before you use them. Be aware that essential oils can cause reactions and sensitivity if you have heart disease or take blood pressure medication. Before you start any new treatment, make sure to consult your doctor.
Diluting essential oils with carrier oils such as grapeseed oil or almond kernel oil is one of the best ways to make them safe. You can use a small amount of carrier oil to coat your palm (about 1/2 teaspoon), then add about 3-5 drops of essential oil and mix it together before you apply it.
Make sure that the essential oils you purchase are 100% pure. High quality oils are produced by Eden’s Garden and Mountain Rose Herbs, which I recommend.
Top 10 Essential Oils for Pain Relief
These are the top 10 pain relieving essential oils that will help you with all your aches & pains.
1. Copaiba
Copaiba essential oil is rich in the cannabinoid betacariphylene (BCP). This oil targets CB2 receptors and helps to reduce inflammation and pain. Copaiba oil contains high levels of BCP. Studies have shown that BCP can relieve chronic pain and neuropathy (2). It also reduces muscle spasms, muscle pain, and can be used locally to reduce pain ( 3). My mother also uses copaiba to ease pain. It doesn’t have a strong smell, so it doesn’t irritate skin as much.
2. Rosemary
rosemary essential oils It is very high in antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory as well as anti-spasmodic qualities. Rosemary is rich in the anti-cancer agent carnosol. It has also been extensively studied for its anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. Studies have provided evidence that carnosol targets multiple dysregulated pathways associated with inflammation and cancer including nuclear factor kappa B, apoptosis-related proteins, phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/Akt, androgen and estrogen receptors, as well as molecular targets (4). This makes rosemary an essential oil that is highly effective in pain relief.
3. helichrysum
Helichrysum can be applied topically to relieve pain in the muscles, joints and ligaments. Helichrysum’s hypotensive effect improves blood vessel condition by decreasing inflammation, lowering pressure and increasing smooth muscle function ( 5). Helichrysum oil is also known to reduce muscle pain by reducing inflammation and swelling. It is an effective natural pain relief treatment for arthritis, fibromyalgia and other pain-related conditions.
4. ginger
Many people know about fresh ginger root, powdered ginger and ginger essential oils. Given the major anti-inflammatory effects of ginger root, you can only imagine the concentrated inflammation-fighting properties of ginger in essential oil form. Ginger acts on vanilloid receptors on sensory nerve endings to relieve pain ( 6). Even more studies have shown that ginger extract can be used as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug substitute ( 7). Ginger has low amounts of pain relieving properties which make it ideal for people who are in severe pain.
5. Turmeric
Like ginger, who would have known turmeric essential oils existed? It didn’t exist, at least until I started looking for it. Turmeric is one of the most effective anti-inflammatory herbs. Turmeric is rich in curcumin, an active compound that inhibits interleukin 6 (IL-6), which is an inflammatory cytokine implicated in rheumatoid. 8 Turmeric is also a pain reliever that has been proven to be as effective as, or better than, conventional pain relief drugs like ibuprofen ( 9). Do I need to say more?
6. Incense
Frankincense essential oils are known as “King of Oils” because they have a lot to do with inflammation. Frankincense oil helps relieve acute pain and is great for chronic pain sufferers. Researchers wanted to encourage traditional Omani use of frankincense for muscle and stomach pain. The best pain-inhibiting results were achieved with frankincense oil ( 10). The incense oil smells incredible, so you can both fight pain and still enjoy a pleasant scent.
7. Myrrh
myrrh contains two primary active compounds, terpenoids (eleven) and sesquiterpenes (HTML2_). These have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Myrrh is more effective when combined with frankincense, according to studies. Study that examined the benefits of myrrh and frankincense combined found that inflammation was significantly reduced ( 12).
8. Orange
The benefits of orange essential oil in pain relief have been extensively studied. An european journal for medical research study looked at the antioxidant properties of essential oils. It found that orange essential oil was the most effective ( 13 ). Aside from that, orange essential oil is a pleasant scent to inhale throughout the day. The perfect combination for the morning is citrus aromas that make you more awake and have more energy.
9. Fir
Fir essential oil It is very beneficial for people suffering from joint pain. Monoterpenes are the main ingredients in this oil, giving it its pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory therapeutic properties. It has been shown to decongest and deodorize the lungs. It’s great for people with bronchitis or asthma.
10. Holy Stick
A little palo Santo is all you need to reduce the pain of arthritis, injury, chronic back, and neck pain. It is rich in antioxidants and phytochemicals called Terpenes. This includes limonene (the naturally occurring kind) and alpha terpineol. Palo Santo is an oil that can be used to fight free radical damage (oxidative stresses), relieve stomach pain, reduce arthritis pain, and act as a natural treatment for cancer.
