Essential oils have been used for thousands of years by ancient healers to promote health and treat a wide variety of conditions and illnesses. In fact, over 2,500 years ago, the ancient Chinese wrote an entire medical textbook called the “Inner Canon of the Yellow Emperor,” which highlighted the critical role of essential oils in treating illness.
A growing number of medical studies suggest the therapeutic potential of essential oils for the treatment of chronic pain, seizure disorders, chronic inflammation, cancer, anxiety, depression, and stomach ulcers.
What are Essential Oils?
Essential oils are the “oily” juice naturally found in plants, responsible for their aroma and flavor. Through an intricate extraction process, these oils are distilled and purified from the plant for therapeutic use. Interestingly, essential oils are often composed of many different active ingredients that work synergistically to provide health benefits. Most essential oils have similar characteristics:
- They possess strong odors.
- They are easily vaporized.
- They are soluble in other oils or fats.
In nature, essential oils play vital roles in supporting plant survival:
- Attracting insects to promote the dispersion of pollens and seeds.
- Acting as antibacterials, antivirals, antifungals, insecticides, and herbicides.
- Deterring herbivores by reducing their appetite for plants and attracting their main predators.
How Do Essential Oils Work for Pain?
In humans, essential oils seem to have four main mechanisms that help combat pain:
- Powerful Antioxidants
- Essential oils protect your body against free radicals and toxins that destroy healthy cells, proteins, and fats.
- Potent Anti-Inflammatories
- Essential oils counteract unhealthy inflammation that unnecessarily attacks healthy tissue and cells.
- Inhibit Activation of Pain Receptors
- Essential oils have been shown to cause an electrical malfunction of nerve endings, disrupting pain signals while stimulating the opioid system and releasing natural morphine-like substances.
- Numb Pain Processing
- Essential oils induce positive feelings that help reduce physical pain.
Safety Guidelines for Using Essential Oils
When using essential oils, it’s important to follow these guidelines:
- Essential oils should never be used undiluted. They should always be mixed with a neutral carrier oil before being applied to the skin.
- Essential oils should never be taken internally unless under the direct supervision of a qualified healthcare provider.
- Mix the oils together and apply a small amount to a patch of skin to check for tolerance. If no reaction occurs, massage the rub on the affected area twice daily, preferably after a warm bath or shower.
3 Powerful Tips to Maximize the Effectiveness of Essential Oils
- Therapeutic Massage
- Apply body oils after a warm bath when the pores are open for rapid absorption. Mix a few drops of essential oil with a carrier oil, like almond or grapeseed oil. Generally, a 2.5% dilution is suitable for adults (e.g., 6-7 drops of essential oil per tablespoon of carrier oil). Always test a small amount on the skin before use.
- Warm Compress
- Place a clean face cloth or cotton ball in a small bowl of warm water (about 16 oz), add 6 drops of essential oil, and squeeze out any excess water. Apply to the affected area and leave the compress on for 10 minutes.
- Hot Bath
- Add 8-10 drops of a recommended essential oil to bathwater and soak for 10 minutes.
Try these 2 essential oil rubs to help alleviate muscle and tendon pain. Each contain 4 oils and a carrier oil. Feel free to experiment and find combinations that work best for you. Remember to check for tolerance.
- Muscle Rub – carrier oil (grapeseed or almond oil) of 2 fl oz (50 ml)
- 6 drops Turmeric oil
- 6 drops Black Pepper oil
- 6 drops Peppermint oil
- 6 drops Lavender oil
- Tendon Rub – carrier oil (grapeseed or almond oil) of 2 fl oz (50 ml)
- 6 drops Rosemary oil
- 6 drops Oregano oil
- 6 drops Clove oil
- 6 drops Ginger oil
Also check out Essential Oils – Must-Have Herbs & Spices, 5 Strategies to Eliminate Chronic Pain, 4 Must-Have Herbs & Spices for Chronic Pain
