Essential oils are basically compounds that are extracted from plants and are known to capture the scent and flavor of the plant.
To use them safely, they need to be diluted with carrier oils like olive oil, coconut oil, and argan oil or combined with unscented lotion or liquid soap.
If you suffer from body aches and medications don’t seem to work for you, you can try natural remedies for pain relief.
Research shows that some essential oils may help treat the symptoms of certain ailments, like headaches, inflammation, respiratory problems, depression, and sleep disorders.
So, ‘what is the best essential oil for pain?’
In this blog post, we’ve prepared a list of five essential oils that are known to provide relief from pain.
But before that, let’s take a look at some ways you can use essential oils.
How To Use Essential Oils
Essential oils are highly concentrated and potent. If you don’t use them properly, they can cause irritations on your skin and worsen your swelling.
They’re combined with carrier oils to reduce the risk for irritation and absorb some of their potency.
Carrier oils don’t take away the therapeutic properties of essential oils, so it’s advisable to use about 15 drops of essential oil for every 6 teaspoons of carrier oil.
Do A Self-Massage
You can use these oils for topical application, but if that doesn’t make much of a difference, you can consider doing a self-massage.
This will allow the oils to seep below your skin and provide relief to you from pain, muscle tension, or swelling.
You can also get an aromatic massage scheduled from a certified aromatherapist for better results.
Use It In A Relaxing Bath
You can add essential oils in a relaxing bath if you have stiff muscles and you wish to loosen them up.
All you need to do is add about 10-12 drops of essential oil to about an ounce of carrier oil before pouring it into your bathtub full of water.
Wait for the oils to disperse in the water before stepping in.
Add It In A Cold Or Warm Compress
If you’re familiar with compresses, you must know that they can help relieve pain, swelling, and inflammation.
You can make them more effective by adding your choice of essential oil to the fabric.
Here’s how you can make an essential oil compress:
- Fill a bowl with water. You can use cold water if you wish to soothe inflammation or add hot water for pain relief.
- Pour your diluted essential in the water.
- Immerse your towel in the water until it’s soaking wet.
- Wring it out to get rid of the excess mixture and apply it on the affected area.
- Leave it there for around 15 minutes.
- Repeat this method as many times as you need to do throughout the day.
5 Best Essential Oils For Pain Relief
1. Lavender Essential Oil
Lavender essential oil, as the name suggests, is sourced from the flowers of the lavender plant.
It’s quite popular all over the world for being versatile and offering a host of benefits.
It has anti-inflammatory properties that can provide relief from inflammation around your joints.
It’s also known to have calming properties that can help reduce stress, improve the quality of your sleep, and have a soothing effect on your mind.
It can be applied topically or used in an oil diffuser.
To soothe inflammation and relieve joint discomfort, you can use about one or two drops of lavender oil on the affected area or dilute about 3-5 drops in a teaspoon of carrier oil to make sure it doesn’t irritate your skin.
2. Marjoram Essential Oil
Marjoram essential oil is extracted from the leaves of the Marjoram plant and has been used as a natural remedy to treat swelling and stiff muscles for hundreds of years.
It has antibacterial, antispasmodic, and analgesic properties that help soothe inflammation and provide relief from pain in overworked muscles.
It also acts as a sedative and helps reduce your stress.
For quick relief, it’s recommended to dilute it with a carrier oil before applying it directly to all the affected areas.
3. Chamomile Essential Oil
Chamomile essential oil has been around for centuries now and can be traced all the way back to ancient Egyptians who used it for cosmetic purposes and to treat symptoms of fever.
It has two main types: German and Roman, and both are known to effective. They’re used in massaged to relieve body ache and break down uric acid deposits around the joints.
Chamomile oil is a sedative and is known to calm the nervous system. It can help reduce stress and improve the quality of your sleep.
To use it, dilute a few drops with carrier oil like coconut oil or sweet almond oil, and massage it into the affected area.
You can also add it undiluted into a diffuser to relieve headaches.
4. Peppermint Essential Oil
Peppermint essential oil is derived from peppermint plant that’s native to Europe.
It contains methone, menthol, and methyl esters that make it a great option to relieve discomfort that’s associated with pain and inflammation.
Menthol is a cooling agent that helps soothe the pain in stiff and overexerted muscles and joints.
You can make a salve with peppermint oil by adding about 5 to 10 drops in about 2 tablespoons of coconut oil (warmed) and gently massaging it into the affected area.
It can also be used along with a few other essential oils, such as rosemary, marjoram, and lemon. Do a patch test before applying this oil to prevent skin irritation.
5. Rosemary Essential Oil
Rosemary oil contains antioxidants that are known to get rid of toxins from the body and boost the function of your immune system.
It also has anti-inflammatory properties and is used to provide relief from pain. It’s best used when it’s directly applied to the affected area or added into a relaxing bath.
Bottom Line
You need to consult with your physician first before using these essential oils to treat the symptoms of your illnesses.
Try not to use these potent oils directly on your skin as they can cause irritation and add to the inflammation.
Found this blog post useful? Check out our website for more informational guides.
This account is run by a team of writers, researches, and more who simply love contributing to the site.