Learn how to ease your suffering with these essential oils for pain relief.
Chronic pain is difficult to live with, and even temporary pain can lead to misery while you wait for your body to heal.
However, there are some steps you can take to promote your body’s natural healing and accelerate the process.
If you’re struggling with arthritis, nerve pain, or even tooth pain, then you may find targeted relief with these key essential oils for pain…
Rosemary essential oil for back pain treatment
Back pain can be a little more severe than typical muscle soreness because of the tightness and spasms.
Rosemary is one of the top essential oils for back pain because it has analgesic and antispasmodic properties.
It also helps to boost blood circulation through the area, and that can promote healing depending on the type of injury.
Rosemary oil is very easy to use because it doesn’t typically have to be diluted or mixed with other substances.
You can massage a few drops into the affected area to take advantage of the anti-inflammatory qualities.
A vapor bath can also be used to inhale the oil and treat general muscle aches throughout the body.
If you want to stretch the rosemary oil further, then mix two drops with a quarter-cup of coconut oil and have someone rub it all across the back.
You can also mix a few drops of peppermint oil in with the balm to further boost circulation and pain relief.
Black pepper essential oil for nerve pain
Black pepper isn’t just for cooking. The oil is known to improve circulation and relieve pain. It provides the nervous system with important support, and it will leave your skin with a healthy, attractive glow.
The oil is extracted from the peppercorns with steam, and it has the spicy, warm aroma that you would expect. Mix a few drops with some fractionated coconut oil to soothe the nerves and muscles. If stress is aggravating the nerve pain, then consider adding a few drops to a diffuser so that you can safely inhale the oil.
You can also consume the pepper oil directly by simply adding some to meats and soups as a flavoring. Massaged into the tender areas, it will warm the site, boost circulation and provide pain relief.
Lavender essential oil for muscle pain
Sore muscles can become a problem at any age, and lavender oil is a great therapeutic treatment to keep on hand. It can ease swelling and inflammation while improving blood circulation to promote healing. It also has a calming scent that can help you deal with chronic stress that can lead to muscle tension.
There are several ways to use your lavender essential oil for muscle pains, including in the bath, with a massage, and as a compress. If you’re feeling sore from your head to your toes, then add a few drops of lavender essential oil to your bath water. A better option is to add 6 to 8 drops of oil to a capful of milk to blend them. Mix this in with the bath water for better disbursement.
For a lavender massage, mix five drops of lavender oil with 10 milliliters of vegetable oil and massage it into the tender areas. Lavender is absorbed quickly through the skin, so it should always be diluted before use. You can also make a compress by mixing six drops of lavender in a small bowl of water. Soak a cloth with the mixture, squeeze out the excess, and then apply the cloth to the tender area.
Birch essential oil for joint pain
Birch oil is unique from other essential oils because it contains salicylic acid and methyl salicylate. These work like cortisone to quickly alleviate pain in the joints. As an added bonus, the birch oil is also an antiseptic and disinfectant. It can keep the area clean while easing inflammation and muscle spasms.
One of the most effective essential oil recipes for joint pain uses equal parts birch essential oil, geranium essential oil, and lemongrass essential oil. It can be used straight as a heavy-duty salve for serious pain, or you can mix it with some coconut oil as a topical treatment for milder aches. People with severe, chronic joint pain may also use the topical lotion followed by a direct application of the salve for maximum pain relief.
A quick word of caution about birch essential oil though: It can be an irritant for some people, and it’s not recommended for women who may be pregnant, people with epilepsy or anyone on blood thinners. Ideally, you should patch test the oil in a small, inconspicuous area of your skin to determine if you have any sensitivities that would preclude your use of this essential oil. In fact, it’s good essential oil safety practice to always patch test before using any oil.
Clove and peppermint essential oil for tooth pain relief
Clove essential oil has been used for centuries to combat tooth pain. It contains eugenol, a natural yet powerful anesthetic. It also has antiseptic properties to help combat infection. This allows it to address the pain while keeping secondary infections away.
It’s very easy to make a mixture of clove and warm water by mixing two to four drops of clove oil with a half-cup of water. If you see inflammation in the gums, then a few drops of peppermint oil will help soothe the tissue. This solution works for widespread pain, but you can also apply the clove oil directly to a tender area if the pain is more localized.
Finally, make a compress by mixing ½ teaspoon of olive oil with a few drops of clove essential oil. Soak a cotton ball in the mixture and then hold it against the sore area to alleviate the pain and discomfort.
Make a soothing toothpaste using a combination of essential oils and other household ingredients. Blend the following together and use it morning and night to clean your teeth without pain:
- 6 tsp baking soda
- Dash of salt
- ½ tsp natural sweetener like xylitol
- 10 drops peppermint essential oil
- 3 drops lemon essential oil
- 2 drop tea tree oil
- 3 drops birch oil
Ginger and orange essential oil for arthritis
Ginger has long been used for alleviating digestive problems like nausea and motion sickness, but the essential oil of this plant can also provide you with relief from chronic arthritis pain. It works by acting on the vanilloid receptors to soothe the nerve endings and relieve inflammation. In a study conducted by the University of Miami, researchers found that it could be used in place of anti-inflammatory drugs. Research participants showing marked improvement in pain and stiffness. You can either mix the ginger oil with a carrier oil to rub it into your skin, or you can put it in a diffuser next to your bed so that you can breathe in the oil while sleeping.
Orange juice is known for its anti-inflammatory properties, and orange essential oil is even more effective. Ideally, you should blend a few drops of orange oil with a teaspoon of almond or avocado oil. This combined lotion can then be rubbed directly onto the back of your hand or other places where you’re experiencing pain. The anti-inflammatory properties help relieve the inflammation by soothing the immune system.
Choosing the right essential oils
Essential oils are not all created equal. It’s important to find a quality brand that is pure and that you can trust. Oils require a great deal of plant matter to produce a very small quantity, so you should expect to pay a little more for quality products. Watch out for suppliers who charge the same price for all types of oils. Some are naturally more difficult to obtain than others, so you should expect some variance in the price. Ideally, you should work with a supplier who specializes in essential oils to ensure that they’re properly processed and truly pure.
If you’re tired of turning to the pharmacy for your aches and pains, or wary of the damage that synthetic drugs may be doing to your body, then give these essential oils for pain relief a try. They’re generally very safe, and a few drops of oil can go a long way towards alleviating all types of physical pains and other conditions. You can read more about essential oils for neuropathy and nerve pain here, and this article has more information about the best essential oils for arthritis.
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