If you're interested in relieving your pains naturally, essential oils may be what you've been looking for.
Essential oils have been used for centuries to promote healing and restore vitality in body, mind, and spirit through inhalations, topical application, baths, full-body massage, and compresses.
Since ancient Egypt, they have been used for embalming purposes and purifying the air. In the 8th century, Arabs were known to add them to their elixirs and ointments, which many of us still practice today.
Essential oils are natural compounds distilled from plant materials such as flowers, stems, roots, and bark. Due to their unique aroma and chemical constituents, they have powerful medicinal properties that provide diverse healing actions in the body. Let's explore their pain-relieving properties below.
The following essential oils may help relieve pain.
Lavender (Lavandula Angustifolia)
One of the most widely used essential oils is Lavender. Most people limit its use to sleep because of its sedative properties. However, it is very effective for pain relief. Its analgesic properties help relieve bruises, menstrual pain, headaches, migraines, sprains, teething pain, and more. It is one of my favorites and go-to essential oils for multiple purposes.
Besides its many benefits, lavender effectively reduces pain, as seen in a study of patients who have undergone a spine procedure (Grabnar et al., 2021). It was also effective in reducing pain through inhalation in a group of women who had undergone C-sections (Abbasijahromi et al., 2020). It effectively relieves perineal discomfort after an episiotomy (Sheikhan et al., 2012).
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
Many people limit rosemary's use to seasoning meals and hair growth, but its essential oil is very effective for pain relief! Rosemary has analgesic properties and can be used as a local anesthetic when applied topically. It can be used for sores, sprains, stiffness, neuralgia, menstrual pain, muscle pain, arthritis, gout, headaches, and many more.
Rosemary essential oil reduces osteoarthritis pain and improves the quality of life (Pehlivan & Karadakovan, 2019).
Peppermint (Mentha piperita)
We know it is widely used in toothpaste, but we must become aware of its pain-relieving effects! Peppermint essential oil is one of my favorites because of its adaptogenic properties. It can provide the body with what it needs.
It is an excellent analgesic and a local anesthetic. It can be used for headaches, neuralgia, sciatica, cramps, muscular pains, and you name it! Its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties also help to reduce pain.
Rosemary essential oil effectively reduces osteoarthritic pain and improves knee joints (Mohammadifar et al., 2021). When combined with lavender, black pepper, and marjoram, it reduces neck pain (Ou et al., 2014).
Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus)
Although it is well known for its respiratory effects, eucalyptus is a very effective analgesic with an immediate pain-relieving effect. It can be used for neuralgia, rheumatism, sprains, bruises, headaches, muscle stiffness, and muscle pains. It also has anti-inflammatory properties that add to its analgesic effect for effective results.
It is known to reduce rheumatoid arthritic pain and improve quality of life (Varkaneh et al., 2022).
Rose (Rosa damascena)
If you are brokenhearted, grieving, or depressed, rose essential oil is one to use as it nurtures a broken heart and is an antidepressant. However, it is also an excellent topical analgesic and great for pain relief. It can be used for headaches, migraines, labor pains, sprains, dysmenorrhea, and much more.
Rose essential oil, combined with lavender, reduces the severity of pain after a C-section via inhalation (Abbasijahromi et al., 2020). Combined with chamomile essential oil, it also reduces orthopedic pain and anxiety via inhalation (Bahrami et al., 2024). So do not forget to "Stop and smell the roses!"
Chamomile (Chamaemelum mobile)
Many people know chamomile for its sedative effects because it is marketed as a sleep aid. Nonetheless, its analgesic action can transform pain, making it invaluable for pain relief. It can be used for headaches, arthritis, migraines, sprains, toothaches, teething, and many more!
A clinical study showed that inhaling it reduced C-section pain and the need for other analgesics (Zardosht et al., 2021).
Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
Known for its digestive properties, ginger is widely used worldwide. Nonetheless, it is also an effective analgesic for pain relief. It can be used for arthritis, headaches, sprains, toothaches, migraines, bruises, and more.
It reduces lower back pain via massage (Sritoomma et al., 2014) and knee pain via aromatherapy massage (Yin & Tam., 2008).
Clove (Syzygium aromaticum)
Clove essential oil is a go-to for toothaches in the holistic health community because of its antiseptic properties, potency, and effectiveness. This is not one oil to mess around with. Consult a professional aromatherapist before use. One drop in one tablespoon of sweet almond oil can ease a child's toothache.
It effectively reduces pain and improves cognition, as seen in animal models (Halder et al., 2012).
How to use essential oils for pain relief.
Safety First!
Conduct a skin patch test.
Wash and dry your forearm, then add 2 to 5 drops of your desired essential oil to a tablespoon of carrier oil of your choice. Apply enough to moisten but not saturate your forearm. Cover with a sterile gauze, and leave for 24 hours unless irritation occurs.
Make sure to dilute your oil.
If you are new to essential oils, diluting them before use is important, as some may cause skin irritation due to their potency. Some carrier oils you may use are avocado, jojoba, grapeseed, coconut, sweet almond, and apricot kernel oils.
For Massages
For an at-home aromatherapy massage, add 6 drops of essential oil to 2 teaspoons of carrier oil, apply to the desired area, and massage. For desired results, use at least 2 to 4 topical applications within 24 hours.
Inhalation
Add about 5 drops to a diffuser containing water and inhale for 30 minutes in a well-ventilated area. You can also use a bowl of water by adding the drops to hot water and inhaling the steam for about 5 minutes with a towel over your head.
You can soak yourself in a tub and add a few drops before entering the water.
Precautions
Take precautions by consulting with a professional aromatherapist when in doubt. Speak to a qualified holistic healthcare provider before use if you are pregnant, nursing, on medications, or have certain health challenges.
What To Remember
Essential oils effectively reduce pain without the side effects of certain pain relievers. If you are new to essential oils, do some research or consult a professional aromatherapist when in doubt. Always dilute essential oils before use to avoid skin irritations. Make sure to use the Latin name when purchasing essential oils to be sure you are getting the right one with the therapeutic effects you desire. Remember to store all essential oils in a dark space, away from light and heat, to preserve the quality of your oils. Lastly, purchase organic or high-quality essential oils from reputable brands to avoid adulterated oils.
If you have used and benefitted from essential oils, we would love to hear from you! Leave us a comment about your experience.
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Reference
Abbasijahromi, A., Hojati, H., Nikooei, S., Jahromi, H. K., Dowlatkhah, H. R., Zarean, V., Farzaneh, M., & Kalavani, A. (2020). Compare the effect of aromatherapy using lavender and Damask rose essential oils on the level of anxiety and severity of pain following C-section: A double-blinded randomized clinical trial. Journal of complementary & integrative medicine, 17(3), 10.1515/jcim-2019-0141. https://doi.org/10.1515/jcim-2019-0141
Bahrami, F., Hanifi, N., & Mardani, A. (2024). Comparison of the Effects of Aromatherapy With Damask Rose and Chamomile Essential Oil on Preoperative Pain and Anxiety in Emergency Orthopedic Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of perianesthesia nursing : official journal of the American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses, S1089-9472(23)01031-6. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jopan.2023.10.021
Grabnar, M., Roach, M. J., Abd-Elsayed, A., & Kim, C. (2021). Impact of Lavender on Pain and Anxiety Levels Associated With Spine Procedures. Ochsner journal, 21(4), 358–363. https://doi.org/10.31486/toj.21.0013
Mohammadifar, M., Aarabi, M. H., Aghighi, F., Kazemi, M., Vakili, Z., Memarzadeh, M. R., & Talaei, S. A. (2021). Anti-osteoarthritis potential of peppermint and rosemary essential oils in a nanoemulsion form: behavioral, biochemical, and histopathological evidence. BMC complementary medicine and therapies, 21(1), 57. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-021-03236-y
Pehlivan, S., & Karadakovan, A. (2019). Effects of aromatherapy massage on pain, functional state, and quality of life in an elderly individual with knee osteoarthritis. Japan journal of nursing science : JJNS, 16(4), 450–458. https://doi.org/10.1111/jjns.12254
Sheikhan, F., Jahdi, F., Khoei, E. M., Shamsalizadeh, N., Sheikhan, M., & Haghani, H. (2012). Episiotomy pain relief: Use of Lavender oil essence in primiparous Iranian women. Complementary therapies in clinical practice, 18(1), 66–70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2011.02.003
Sritoomma, N., Moyle, W., Cooke, M., & O'Dwyer, S. (2014). The effectiveness of Swedish massage with aromatic ginger oil in treating chronic low back pain in older adults: a randomized controlled trial. Complementary therapies in medicine, 22(1), 26–33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2013.11.002
Varkaneh, Z. K., Karampourian, A., Oshvandi, K., Basiri, Z., & Mohammadi, Y. (2022). The effect of eucalyptus inhalation on pain and the quality of life in rheumatoid arthritis. Contemporary clinical trials communications, 29, 100976. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conctc.2022.100976
Yip, Y. B., & Tam, A. C. (2008). An experimental study on the effectiveness of massage with aromatic ginger and orange essential oil for moderate-to-severe knee pain among the elderly in Hong Kong. Complementary therapies in medicine, 16(3), 131–138. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2007.12.003
Zardosht, R., Basiri, A., Sahebkar, A., & Emami, S. A. (2021). Effect of Chamomile Oil on Cesarean Section Pain in Primiparous Women: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Current reviews in clinical and experimental pharmacology, 16(4), 369–374. https://doi.org/10.2174/1574884715666200331133157
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