For many years, essential oils have been used to help in relieving pain and inflammation. Studies have shown that many essential oils offer joint and muscle pain-relieving properties while some are even more effective than many pharmaceutical analgesics.
There are many benefits associated with using essential oils in relieving pain and inflammation. Some of the benefits include fewer side effects than many of the drugs and ability to soothe your mind leaving you feeling more relaxed than ever. Therefore, essential oils are essential in pain management and in treating several inflammatory conditions.
Some of the conditions treatable by essential oils include arthritis joint pain, migraines, lower back pain, sciatica or nerve pain and fibromyalgia. Therefore, essential oils are ideal home remedies for signs and symptoms of joint pain, which are associated with these conditions. For instance, lavender essential oil provides a calming effect on the mind and helps in relieving pain in inflamed joints. Besides, this oil is used in reducing headaches, back pain and treating symptoms of fibromyalgia.
On the other hand, chamomile essential oil is used in reducing inflammation and in treating painful joints as a result of arthritis and in relieving stomach cramps. Here we will look at the 7 oils that can be used in treating joint and muscle pain. These include:
- Lavender Essential Oil
Lavender is one of the commonly used essential oil as it is beneficial in relieving joint and muscle pain and overcoming stress. Besides, it also enhances sleep when used at bedtime and can even ease arthritis and joint pain as well as stress. Studies have shown that lack of a better sleep can aggravate your pain levels. Therefore, improving the amount of quality sleep can significantly help in managing those pain levels.
A combination of lavender and chamomile in a bath soak is highly effective in reducing pain, stress and making you feel relaxed. Therefore, it is advisable to acquire a bottle of pure lavender essential oil and add it to your bath water.
Other uses for lavender essential include being used as a mosquito repellent, perfume, bath oil, and laundry freshener. Moreover, it is used in reducing swelling and sore muscles.
In most cases, lavender is combined with chamomile, as chamomile is a very useful anti-inflammatory agent. This can be used in relieving muscular and lower back pain, neuralgia, headaches and PMS and stress, which can cause digestive issues. Besides, it offers a calming and therapeutic effect on the skin, body, and mind. It also soothes the body systems and promotes a healthy response from the body to inflammation. However, it is important to understand that chamomile works well when combined with other essential oils.
- Juniper
Juniper essential oil offers very many benefits. However, the most important one is relieving pain as it provides anti-spasmodic and anti-rheumatic properties. When Juniper is used in a cream or lotion, it helps in managing muscle spasms and muscle and joint pains and aches. These include joint and muscle pains and aches associated with arthritis, fibromyalgia and other similar conditions.
Moreover, studies have shown that juniper essential oil also helps in strengthening nerves and thus if regularly used it is useful in relieving neuropathic pain. It is, however, necessary to understand that juniper has stimulant properties and therefore you should not use it before bedtime as it can interfere with your sleep.
- Clary Sage
Clary sage is mainly added to massage oils as it plays a crucial role in relieving cramping, muscle spasms, and muscle aches, though it should be used in small amounts. Furthermore, it is also advisable to avoid using clary sage with alcohol as it can be harmful and can lead to increased side effects of taking alcoholic drinks.
Clary sage essential oil is even more effective when combined with chamomile in relieving menstrual and PMS complications. Studies have also shown that inhaling this essential oil helps in soothing nervous tension, creating a sense of euphoria, improving the mood though it should not be taken internally.
- Rosemary
This is the ideal essential oil for treating headaches and relieving muscle and joint aches and pains. Besides, Rosemary is used for improving memory, mental alertness, and concentration and provides an antidepressant effect. It blends well with other essential oils such as chamomile, lavender, peppermint and clary sage.
- Peppermint
Peppermint essential oil is mainly used for headaches and migraines. This is because it provides antispasmodic properties that make it an amazing natural remedy for treating intestinal and arthritis issues. Moreover, peppermint helps in easing tension muscular spasms and aches as well as making you relax. It also helps in relaxing your lower back muscles, reduces pain due to fibromyalgia and tension headaches.
- Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus offers properties that are similar to those of juniper essential oil. It offers analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties when used regularly. Eucalyptus essential oil can be used in cream or lotion and massaged into painful areas or used as a bath oil in the bath. It is mainly recommended for managing sprains, nerve pain, muscular aches, and pains as well as strains.
Finally, Eucalyptus essential oil works well when used with other oils such as lavender. However, it should be used in small amounts, as it can be toxic when used in large amounts.
- Yarrow Essential Oil
Yarrow essential oil is potent pain reliever oil that is derived from yarrow plant. The oil provides anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties as well as analgesic effect as it contains salicylic acid. Besides, yarrow essential oil helps in increasing movement on inflamed joints and relieving symptoms of rheumatic and arthritis pain.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there many other essential oils that are used in treating joint and muscle pain, but these are the most effective. Besides, these oils offer several other benefits apart from natural joint pain reliever. These essential oils are free of harmful side effects that are associated with the pharmaceutical drugs. Therefore, they are safe and offer a natural remedy to joint and muscle pains and aches due to conditions such as arthritis, fibromyalgia and much more. It is, however, essential to avoid using these oils with other drugs or taking alcohol while taking them as some might cause some complications.
