How To Use Essential Oils For Pain And Inflammation?

Pain and inflammation can make our daily chores impossible. Although the reasons for this can be many using essential oils for pain and inflammation is one sure-shot natural way to bear with them.

What Causes Pain And Inflammation?

Causes of pain and inflammation are many and include both internal causes and external causes. The onset of pain and inflammation is the signal of the body’s response to harmful agents such as pathogens, irritants, and damaged cells.

The general causes of pain and inflammation include;

• Arthritis
• Bursitis
• Gout
• Lupus
• A few types of infectious diseases like mumps, hepatitis, sinusitis, and influenza
• Chondromalacia of the patella, or a break of the cartilage in the kneecap
• Injuries
• Tendinitis
• Synovitis
• An infection of the joint or bone
• Overusing of a joint or joint friction
• Ligament damage
• Cancer
• Bone erosion
• Osteoporosis
• Sarcoidosis
• Fibromyalgia
• Rickets
• Muscle weakness
• Centralized pain
• Swollen joint capsule
• Exposure to a substance like dust or bee stings
• Sore throat
• Autoimmune disorders
• Obesity
• Smoking
• Cancer
• Stress
• Low sex hormones
• Lack of sleep
• Asthma
• Meningitis

Can We Use Essential Oils For Pain And Inflammation?

When regular medicine doesn’t give you relief from pain and inflammation it is natural for us to search for alternative medicines such as essential oils. Now, the question is: are they useful? Yes, the majority of the studies have leaned pro to using essential oils to get remedy from pain and associated inflammation. These oils are natural and so are best to use for a longer time especially the essential oils for pain arthritis.

Besides easing pain these oils are highly useful in enhancing physical, emotional, and mental well-being. This sort of positives can be clearly noticed when one uses essential oils for pain in the back.

There is science-backed support for some essential oils and their positive results. Essential oils have been found useful in treating inflammation, headaches, and other long and short-term pains.

Although still, studies have yet to find out what mechanism runs in these oils that help cure pain and inflammation, it is surely a meaningful way to add them to your routine pain management methods.

Best Essential Oils For Pain And Inflammation

• Lavender
• Rose oil
• Bergamot
• Eucalyptus oil
• Yarrow oil
• Roman and German chamomile oils
• Ginger oil
• Black pepper oil
• Clove oil
• Arnica oil
• Lemongrass oil

How To Use Essential Oils For Pain And Inflammation?

Although all the above said essential oils are highly useful and powerful in treating pain, inflammation, and swelling one should know how to use them to get maximum benefit. Here are the most effective ways to use essential oils to lower pain and inflammation.

Dilute The Essential Oil

At no point in time, one should use essential oils directly on the skin i.e., they should always be diluted with a carrier oil. Direct application of essential oils leads to skin irritation and bruises.

The common carrier oils one can use with essential oils consist of;

• Coconut
• Sweet almond
• Avocado
• Jojoba
• Grapeseed
• Apricot kernel
• Sesame

Usually, one should add a few drops of essential oils to the carrier oils. The dose can change however, in general, add drops of any essential oil to a tablespoon of carrier oil.

[Also Read: Benefits of using sesame oil in belly button]

Carry A Skin Patch Test

It is always advised to do a skin patch test to know its effects on the skin. Apply diluted oil on the inner part of the forearm and leave for 15 minutes. If there’s no discomfort, irritation, or inflammation within a day or 2 days then it means the essential oil is safe for you.

Massage

Massaging attenuated essential oil onto the body part where there are pain and inflammation is the best way to reduce them. A massage with diluted essential oil will ease the muscles and lessen pain. You may also take the help of a professional masseuse/ masseur for this. This massage method is highly useful when essential oils for pain in the feet are used.

Hot Bath

Taking a hot bath with essential oils also eases pains. Add 5 to 10 drops of essential oils in a bathtub filled with hot water. Remember to add these drops along with carrier oil. Sit in the tub for half an hour or as long as time permits you to get relief from pains and inflammation.

Cold And Hot Compresses

Adding diluted essential oils to hot and cold compresses is also another good way to use these oils for treating pain.

Risks And Side Effects Of Essential Oils

Although highly useful in treating inflammation and pain they also come with a few side effects and risks when not used properly or without doing a tolerance test.

They are not good for breastfeeding and pregnant women. Headaches, irritation, and asthma attacks are very common if they aren’t suitable.

To sum up they are good. Since now you know the uses, side effects, and how to use essential oils for pain and inflammation keep using them along with your regular medicine.