A healthy human body is essential to accomplish daily tasks efficiently, and as such without an active body, it is impossible to go about one’s daily work. A person needs a calm mind and a well-functioning body to be able to accomplish everyday tasks. These days, people lead an unhealthy lifestyle and take lousy health decisions all of which lead to numerous issues and pain in the body.
Essential oils for pain help in the management and treatment of pain in the joints, back muscles, shoulder muscles, waist muscles, muscle cramps, and legs. Pain has become far too familiar and is continually affecting the lifestyle and daily activities of people.
Types, Symptoms, And Causes Of Pain
Pain is one of the most common complaints among middle-aged and elderly. Pain can be of different types based on how the person feels. How the person describes the pain helps the healthcare expert to understand the extent of the pain and what may the underlying cause be.
Types
Pain can be of different forms depending on how the pain has come to be. Here are some types of pain:-
- Acute Pain: This kind of pain starts suddenly and last for a short time
- Chronic Pain: This kind of pain continues for an extended period
- Soft Tissue Pain or Muscle pain: This kind of pain occurs due to damage or inflammation to the organs, muscles or tissues
- Nerve Pain: This kind of pain happens due to damage to the nerves
- Referred Pain: This kind of pain occurs when pain from one part of the body is felt in another
- Joint Pain: This kind of pain occurs when joints hurt
Symptoms
Common symptoms associated with pain are:-
- Mild to severe ache
- Sharp sensation of pain
- Throbbing sensation
- Soreness and stiffness relief
- Squeezing sensation
Causes
Some of the causes of pain are:-
- Pain like back pain can be due to bad posture and extended stress on the back
- Old age
- Extended muscles
- Damaged nerves
- Inflammation
What essential oils are good for pain?
Pain can make the toughest and healthiest of humans fall on their knees. Pain is a natural sign that something is wrong with the body and it bodes well to give proper attention to such pain when it occurs. Pain is something that should not be ignored and treated as soon as possible as it affects the standard functioning capability can cause severe damage.
The best way to limit the damage and get rid of the pain is through essential oils for pain. Essential oils provide relief to long-term and short-term pain(1) alike and are the best suited of natural remedies to ease the pain. Essential oils also offer long-term comfort to the pain by uprooting the underlying cause.
Essential Oils For Pain
Here is a list of some of the best essential oils for pain and how they help you in reducing pain.
1. CBD Oil
CBD oil is known for its ability to help ease the pain(3) in the body and at the same time makes the body adapt to the pain and counter it.
Why to use?
CBD oil comes from Industrial hemp and does not have any intoxicating tendencies which make it hugely popular. CBD oil has the lowest possibility of a side effect arising in the person and is capable of inhibiting all kinds of pain from chronic pain to joint pains.
How To Use?
CBD is taken orally either in the form of concentrated paste or drops or tablets. Place the oil under your tongue and hold it there for the mouth to absorb it before swallowing to allow the body to intake the CBD as the digestive system more often than not breaks down some of the CBD oil.
[Read: Benefits of CBD Oil for Pain ]
2. Lavender Oil
Lavender is the most widely available essential oil that can be used for almost everything and anything due to its broad application.
Why to use?
Lavender oil is known for its potency when it comes to stress relief and reducing pain(2). Lavender oil can be easily used without the need of diluting. It has anti-inflammatory properties can also relieve muscle tension and helps ease the pain with its mildly sedative nature which also calms down the person.
How To Use?
Lavender oil is incredibly easy to use. Rub 2-3 drops of lavender oil in your hands and take in the smell through your nose. Rub the oil in the affected area for fast results.
[Read: Excellent Benefits of Lavender Oil ]
3. Marjoram Oil
All the way from Europe, Marjoram has been used as a pain reliever since ancient times in Greece.
Why to use?
Marjoram belongs to the same genus as that of mint and has a sweet tint to it. It greatly helps in relieving muscle spasms and headaches and also works as a mild sedative.
How To Use?
Marjoram oil can be applied to the affected area after dilution. One can also diffuse the oil before sleeping or dip a cotton ball with the oil and place it near the pillow.
4. Sandalwood Oil
Sandalwood oil is one of the expensive oils on the market and rightfully so because of its extensive application and use.
Why to use?
Sandalwood oil comes from the sandalwood trees which themselves are some of the most expensive and trees commercially because of their extensive commercial use. Sandalwood oil can help in easing muscle spasms, inflammation, and muscle pain.
How To Use?
Directly apply sandalwood oil to the affected area or diffuse it around the room. Alternatively, one can rub the oil on the palms and inhale.
5. Peppermint Oil
A hybrid of spearmint and watermint, peppermint has the best of both worlds and is famous for its numerous uses and pain relief abilities.
Why to use?
Peppermint oil is a versatile essential oil and can help in many situations. It helps in stomach ache, spasms, headaches and its sedative and anti-spasmodic properties make it an excellent muscle relaxant.
How To Use ?
Peppermint oil can be applied directly to the affected area and rubbed to help skin absorb it. A cup of mint tea is also highly beneficial, and merely inhaling peppermint oil can also assist in pain relief.
[Read: Benefits of Peppermint Oil ]
6. Eucalyptus Oil
Eucalyptus oil is extracted from the bark of the Eucalyptus tree and has a soothing property.
Why to use?
Eucalyptus oil is warm and has excellent anti-inflammatory properties. The oil can ease pain due to muscle injuries and help in treating pain from insect bites and stings.
How To Use?
Eucalyptus oil is warm and can damage the skin if not properly diluted. The diluted oil must be applied to the affected area.
[Read: Benefits of Eucalyptus Oil ]
7. Rosemary Oil
Rosemary held a special place in the Roman civilization and had excellent pain-relieving properties.
Why to use?
Rosemary oil is prepared from the rosemary bush and can be used for joint pains and muscle soreness. It has anti-inflammatory properties and helps in rheumatism and can also help soothe headaches.
How To Use?
Rosemary oil can be applied directly to the affected area by diluting it in a carrier oil and massaging the area for quick and easy absorption.
8. Clove Oil
Why to use?
Clove acts as hot oil and relaxes muscle spasms. Thus it reduces pain and inflammation in muscles of our body. It is famous for its ability to ease the pain.
How To Use?
Clove oil is heated up to a bearable temperature and massage on the body to reduce pain.
9. Juniper Oil
Why to use?
Juniper essential oil is extracted from the berry. They have strong polyphenol and flavonoid antioxidants. It has many medicinal properties. It is mainly used to reduce muscle fatigue and aches.
How To Use?
Mix Juniper essential oil with any carrier oil for pain relief. Add 2 drops of Juniper oil in a carrier oil in 8drops of carrier oil, massage this mixture on pain area.
10. Bergamot Oil
Bergamot oil is genuinely versatile oil and can significantly reduce pain providing relief. It is extracted from the Bergamot fruit and has a powerful aroma.
Why to use?
Bergamot oil stimulates the body into secreting hormones that lessen the nerve sensitivity to reduce the sensation of pain in the body directly. Bergamot oil helps in muscle pain, sprains, and even headaches.
How To Use?
You can add a few drops of Bergamot oil in a bowl of water and inhale the steam by covering your head with a towel. A 10-minute steam session can help significantly reduce the pain.
Risks And Precautions
Essential oils are natural remedies that can help out during many situations and are of significant use in pain. Their use must be regulated as over usage can lead to side effects and dependency on them. These oils must use used as directed by the healthcare expert and must be used with proper carrier oils and mediums wherever necessary. Make sure to dilute the oils before use to avoid possible ill-effects adequately.
Other Home Remedies For Pain
Other than the advised remedy of using essential oils for pain, one can also go through some home remedies to learn how to treat and reduce pain in case of unavailability of essential oils:-
- Turmeric
The quintessential spice in every home has many health benefits and medicinal properties and has excellent anti-inflammatory properties. Merely drinking it with milk or applying it on wounds that hurt can help in significantly ease the pain and help with the recovery process.
- Apple Cider Vinegar and Honey
Apple cider vinegar is a very potent mixture and is usable in many conditions. It has anti-inflammatory properties which help the soothing pain. One can add a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to a glass of warm water and add honey to help consume it.
- Cold compress
Applying ice using an ice pack can help in reducing pain as it reduces the nerve activity in the affected area and has an anesthetizing effect which provides relief from body and muscle pain in the affected area. Just applying the ice pack on the affected area for 10 minutes 2-3 times can significantly help reduce the pain.
Bottom Line
Pain is the body’s way of telling us that something is wrong and needs our attention. But continuous pain can be a deterrent to a healthy life and daily activities and can significantly affect productivity. Pain relief is sought after by every person, and essential oils are proven agents to help counter the pain and lead a normal healthy life.
FAQ’s
1. Can People of All Ages Use Essential Oils for Pain?
Children below six years of age should not be treated with essential oils as they can reduce the breathing rate. Essential oils for pain can be used by people of all other ages and are safe to use by the young, middle-aged and elderly alike.
2. Can Pregnant Women Use Essential Oils?
Yes, pregnant women can take essential oils. Precautions must be taken to ensure that the oil is diluted and is taken in the right way. Ask the healthcare expert to prescribe essential oils and direct on how to use during pregnancy correctly.
