Essential Oils for Pain Relief

Essential Oils for Pain Relief : People have used essential oils for medicinal purposes for centuries. And while essential oils have never really gone away, their popularity sort of re-emerged in the last couple of decades, leading to new studies and surprising uses we didn’t know about before.

While many people are aware that certain oils could be good for anxiety and depression, they may not know how effective they are for things like pain relief. While further studies are needed in order to better understand how this works, essential oils are a safe and natural alternative or addition to prescription drugs.

The bottom line is that most people who use them regularly notice tremendous results for all types of conditions, including chronic pain.

What are essential oils?

Essential oils are simply the essence of plants obtained by extraction. The extraction method varies among producers and plant types, but they can use cold pressing or distillation.

The interesting thing about essential oils is that they really aren’t “oils” as we know them. Unlike fatty oils which retain their consistency, essential oils evaporate completely without leaving any residue.

How do essential oils work?

Essential oils can be used topically, orally, or by inhalation, and each method works a little differently. When you apply essential oils to the skin, it’s absorbed into your body, much like nicotine from patches. Since our skin is the largest organ in our bodies, this is an effective way to deliver substances into our blood streams.

Inhaling essential oils, on the other hand, sends its molecules to the limbic system of the brain. This is the system responsible for our emotions, heart rate, memory, hormone balance, and breathing. At the same time, inhaling these oils carries their effective properties to the lungs, interacting with the respiratory system.

Ingesting essential oils works much the same way, sending the molecules to the bloodstream through the digestive tract. But the results are not quite as fast for some conditions, and it’s not a highly-recommended process. While some practitioners swear by this process as a healing method for colds, flu, and bacterial infections, there are not many studies on this practice.

Understanding the type of condition you have is important in deciding which application method will work best for you. For example, some myocarditis awareness lets you know that applying essential oils topically or inhaling them should be your methods of choice.

What essential oils are used for pain?

There are several oils used effectively for pain management. The one you choose will probably depend upon the type of pain you have. Since each oil has its own properties, each one treats very different conditions.

Lavender, for example, is an excellent anti-inflammatory agent. So, if your pain is caused by inflammation and swelling, this oil is an excellent choice. In addition, thyme, bergamot, rose, and eucalyptus help with the same issue.

For menstrual cramps and other pains associated with PMS, pure rose oil is often the treatment of choice. Because of its anti-inflammatory and hormone-balancing properties, it helps to relax the uterus and ease the pain.

Migraines can also be treated with most of these same essential oils but peppermint, rosemary, and lavender are the most recommended. Rosemary and peppermint are both known for their ability to increase circulation. This opens up the blood vessels and decreases pressure. And lavender helps with anxiety and tension.

For other types of pain, like achy joints and muscles, all the same oils are proven to be effective. But additionally, peppermint oil is often added for its analgesic properties. Peppermint is extremely effective in relieving spasms and inflammation, which all typically go hand in hand with this type of pain.