Anti-inflammatory Essential Oils to Relieve Pain
Pain can stop you from doing the things that you love. It can also make managing your responsibilities feel unbearable. Read on for natural remedies to relieve pain and get back on track!
Why am I in pain?
Starting any new movement practice, such as yoga, can lead to some minor aches and pains. These are simply signs that you’re strengthening and stretching muscles that were previously underdeveloped.
Chronic aches and pains may indicate a more serious underlying issue, such as improper technique during activities or an autoimmune disorder like arthritis. Consult a clinician for chronic pain; it is important to identify the cause and keep the condition from getting worse.
How do I treat pain with essential oils?
You don’t have to live with acute or chronic pain. Essential oils are powerful tools to relieve pain and help you enjoy your daily activities. The anti-inflammatory essential oils below can be applied to the skin to help you feel better. The following essential oils reduced the inflammatory COX-2 enzyme by about 25%!
- wintergreen
- black pepper
- rose
- ginger
- turmeric
- bergamot
- patchouli
- helichrysum
- clove
- thyme
Thyme is exceptional. It is one of my favorite essential oils for pain relief. While most essential oils reduce about 25% of COX-2 levels, thyme reduces the inflammatory enzyme by 75%. It’s also great for breaking up mucus, which makes it a handy natural remedy for cold and flu symptoms.
How do I safely use essential oils for pain relief?
Topical use (applying to the skin) is one of the easiest and most direct forms of applying essential oils for pain relief. Essential oils should be diluted with a carrier oil before topical use. Using a carrier oil has several benefits. Firstly, carrier oils make potent essential oils safer for skin. Secondly, the carrier oils prevent rapid evaporation. The result is that you prolong access to the nourishing benefit of the essential oil. Don’t skip this step!
Adults – Add 12 drops of your essential oil to 1 ounce of carrier oil. Common carrier oil options include fractionated coconut oil, jojoba oil, and sweet almond oil.
Seniors and Sensitive Populations – use 1.5% to 3% of the recommended dosage for adults. Also consider a patch test: apply diluted essential oil to the skin of the inner forearm. Wait 24 hours, and check for any adverse reactions such as a rash or swelling.
Children – the dilution ratios for children vary based on age. Use the helpful chart below, provided by The Tisserand Institute.
Please note that not all essential oils are recommended for children. Consult a certified aromatherapy health practitioner, herbalist, or knowledgeable clinician before proceeding.
Diffusing anti-inflammatory essential oils is another great way to receive their benefits. Diffusion disperses the essential oil into the air. There are several diffuser styles, each with distinct benefits. I recommend models that do not use heat. Heat degrades and destroys helpful constituents in the essential oils. As a general rule, 1 drop per 100ml is sufficient.
Please note that many pets are sensitive to essential oils. If you are a pet owner, ensure that your pet can leave the space if feel uncomfortable; you might avoid diffusing essential oils altogether and use topical application instead.
