Arthritis is a medical condition causing immense pain and stiffness that can worsen with time, and the cause of pain depends on the type of arthritis. Arthritis mainly covers joints and caused due to weaken or soften tissues around the bone. Our body has cartilage tissues near joints which acts as a shield or resistance and protects them from shock and pressure.
To allow smooth movement of bones these cartilage tissues play an important role. We cannot simply predict the cause of disease because there are more than a hundred types of arthritis doctor diagnoses. But the most common ones are Osteoarthritis Arthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis. Hence collectively this pain in joints is termed as ‘Arthritis’.
Arthritis is unpredictable, symptoms may appear in a few days or it develops over time. The way we massage essential oils on body parts in case of swelling or small injury, in the same way, essential oils are useful for arthritis treatment. Massaging essential oils on joints help to provide lubricant necessary for bone movement. Essential oil’s natural ingredients help to recover from arthritis faster. Let us see some essential oils for arthritis treatment.
Arthritis(1) does not have any fixed number of types. Depending on affected are or joints arthritis covers more than a hundred types. But two most common arthritis types are Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Some types of arthritis are as below:-
[Also Read: Natural Remedies For Inflammation and Pain]
Arthritis can occur due to the following reasons:-
Essential oils are natural remedies for arthritis and its symptoms. Any movement of our body is smoother due to cartilage tissues near our joints. The Syvonium are some soft tissues secreting nutritious fluid for cartilage joints and help in free movement of any joint. An injury to cartilage tissues result in distortion of syvonium. Due to which it causes severe pain in joints during movement.
There many other symptoms of different types of arthritis. It is mainly observed in old age people, mostly people above 65. Collectively, pain in one or many joints is arthritis. Treating arthritis is a must in the initial stage so as to reduce the pain and other symptoms.
Essential oils like Peppermint oil, Ginger oil, Eucalyptus oil, CBD oil, Lavender oil and Rosemary oil are some essential oils use as an essential oil for arthritis.
Every essential oil has its own natural properties. Each one helps to get rid of arthritis. But how to optimally use them and their way of usage is an important point. Essential oils are home remedies that help in dealing with how to get rid of arthritis.
Essential oils have properties like peppermint oil has menthol which acts as a coolant and calm the pain area, or ginger oil helps to boost immunity etc. Let us see some important essential oils in arthritis treatment.
We present to you ten of the best essential oils to help you manage and treat the pain and stiffness from arthritis.
This spearmint and water-mint hybrid has numerous medicinal uses and has a strong and pungent smell.
Peppermint oil has excellent anti-inflammatory properties and helps in significantly reducing swelled up joints and pain. It also has a slight anaesthetic effect that helps in relaxing and relieving the pain.
Take 5-10 drops of peppermint oil and dilute it in 2 tablespoons of warm coconut oil to make a salve and applied directly to the sore joint. It can also be used without mixing with a carrier oil and merely applying to the affected area after dilution.
Leaves of the Eucalyptus tree are aromatic and have a robust penetrating smell.
Eucalyptus oil has eucalyptol and many other compounds that give it strong anti-inflammatory characteristics(2). It is known to provide quick relief to swollen and aching joints and is mostly used to soothe flare-ups.
To gain quick relief, eucalyptus oil should be applied directly to the affected area. Since the oil is warm, precaution must be taken to properly dilute it with a carrier oil to prevent any issues.
[Read More: Eucalyptus Oil Benefits]
Ginger is a well-known spice and is renowned for its wide range of medicinal and therapeutic properties.
Ginger oil consists of zingiberene, geraniol, geranial, borneol and several other potent anti-inflammatory chemicals that help reduce pain and swelling in joints and relieve soreness. Ginger is used in all cases of inflammation to soothe the pain and arthritis is no exception.
One can massage the affected area with ginger oil and quickly relieve the pain. Make sure to carefully dilute the oil before applying. One can also mix it with any carrier oil for application. Make use of a warm compress to speed up the absorption.
CBD or Hemp Oil for Arthritis is a newly discovered concept. It is derived from hemp plants and is a type of cannabinoid but is not psychoactive as it is not derived from Marijuana plants which contain THC. THC is mainly responsible for the ‘high’ and CBD does not include the THC chemical.
Cannabis oil for arthritis directly works on the pain receptors of the body. It’s a potent oil that leads to the natural creation of cannabinoids by the body to help soothe the pain by occupying the pain receptors and significantly reducing the pain.
One can merely apply CBD oil on the affected area. A simple massage with the oil will help to relieve the pain.
Lavender oil is extracted from the lavender flower buds and is a well-known remedy for rheumatoid arthritis.
Lavender oil has well-known anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties and is known to provide relief to sore joints and swelling(3). It’s also known to reduce stress and provide relief from pain in joints.
One can use 3-5 drops of Lavender oil to directly apply to the affected area for instant relief. Alternatively, to avoid skin irritation in case it happens, mix it with a tablespoon of any carrier oil and apply.
Rosemary oil is extracted from the leaves of the rosemary plants and has a multitude of therapeutic applications and medicinal usage.
Rosemary oil has both anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties due to the presence of rosmarinic acid. It inhibits the progress of rheumatoid arthritis and helps in reducing the pain and inflammation of joints.
Inhaling the scent of the oil is useful in providing relief from pain. One can also apply the oil directly on the affected area after dilution.
[Read More: Health Benefits of Rosemary Tea]
The analgesic properties of Myrrh oil is a natural ingredient in the treatment of rheumatic arthritis. Small portion of Myrrh oil is effective in the blend with any other essential oil.
Myrrh oil is mixed with anti-inflammatory oil and applied on joint pain and stiffness. Mix 2 drops of Myrrh oil in 16 drops of peppermint oil and massage this mixture well. Remember large doses of Myrrh oil results in side effects like the change in heart rate.
Frankincense is a proven anti-inflammatory properties and being a cool substance helps in pain reduction.
Frankincense essential oil for Arthritis can be chewed. Also, it can be mixed with water and drink.
Essential oils derived from orange have anti-inflammatory properties. Citrus in orange acts as an antioxidant substance. Due to antioxidant properties, it interrupts an inflammatory response.
Consume orange essential oils directly without mixing with any other oils. Avoid citrus contact with skin.
Turmeric essential oil has many traditional uses in Indian culture. It contains curcumin and it helps to protect joint inflammation.
It can be consumed orally by creating turmeric teas or mix 2 spoons of turmeric essential oil in milk and drink the mixture.
Coconut Oil is widely used around the world for its excellent nutritional value and healing abilities. It is a highly essential oil for arthritis pain management as it significantly reduces inflammation with the help of antioxidants.
The anti-inflammatory effect of coconut oil is equivalent to that of NSAIDS and is an extremely potent oil to treat soreness and swelling of joints along with reducing pain.
It is applied directly to the affected area directly.
Castor oil is a multi-faceted oil that is usable as a remedy in many conditions. It helps in significantly alleviating the soreness and pain in the joints due to arthritis.
Castor oil contains ricinoleic acid which is a proven anti-inflammatory chemical. It can significantly reduce swelling around the joints and help relieve sore joints and is very potent when treating joint injuries.
Just soak a cloth in castor oil and place it on the affected joints and the swollen parts of the body. One can further put a hot water bottle or container over the soaked cloth to help with the absorption and effectiveness of the oil.
Fish oil has always been around and has been used extensively as an all-around remedy for body ailments.
Fish oil contains Omega-3 fatty acids which are highly efficient in arthritis. Fish oil is rich in DHA and EPA both of which is capable of reducing inflammation and reduce swelling and pain in joints and other body parts.
Fish oil comes in the form of capsules which must be taken orally. Ingesting these capsules is enough to help reduce soreness and swelling in joints and alleviating the pain.
Emu oil is a traditional Australian remedy that has been around in Australian natural remedies since time immemorial and is a great way to reduce the pain and swelling of joints.
Emu oil is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids which are known for their anti-inflammatory properties. It also contains Omega 9 which makes it a quick absorbent and speeds up the effect of the oil on sore and painful joints.
Gently massaging the affected area with emu oil can have quick effects. One can also take emu oil capsules to affect the inflammation from the inside.
Arthritis is a condition that affects millions of people every year and causes severe pain and inconvenience. One can easily give in to using essential oils to ease the pain all the time which can cause serious long-term effects.
Essential oils should be used in limited quantities and as advised by the healthcare expert. You must familiarise yourself with the concept regarding how to prevent the side-effects of over-dosage before starting to use essential oils. They must be mixed with suitable carrier oils and must not be overused.
Essential oils are a potent way to fight arthritis, but one must not forget other home remedies which have been present in cultures throughout the world to help in arthritis:-
Incorporate some essential outdoor activities into your daily routine to help you reduce weight as it would lessen the burden on your joints to help ease the pain.
It has numerous medicinal applications and is a part of almost all home remedies for various conditions. Curcumin is known for its anti-inflammatory properties and is of great help in reducing the pain from swollen joints. Add adequate quantities of turmeric to your food daily to observe significant improvement.
A long hot shower can help in alleviating the pains from your joints and get rid of stiffness from your bones in the morning and keep your joints loose.
Ice packs can help to relieve the joint pains and swelling by bringing the nerve activity in the affected area down.
[Read: Cure Arthritis with Physiotherapy]
You may be allergic to the components in the essential oil or might have used the oil directly. Ask a healthcare expert to recommend a suitable essential oil and use carriers to apply the oil on the affected area. Also, remember to dilute the oil adequately.
No there will not be any side effect of essential oils. But to accelerate its effect and reduce chances of risk one should follow instructions about usage of essential oils.
Arthritis is considered a mostly unavoidable condition during old age, but people forget that it can be avoided by merely incorporating a healthy lifestyle and some easy to follow home remedies. Regular exercise and a healthy diet can do wonders and save you from severe pain during the golden years of your life.