Pain Help Information

Essential Oils for Pain Management

It's easy to be a skeptic about the effectiveness of the use of essential oils when it comes to physical or mental health issues, especially when many people peddle them out as a cure-all. However, there is a growing body of scientific research to support the use of essential oils for pain relief and for anti-inflammation. And, since chronic inflammation (aka, your body's immune response to physical irritation and stress) can be a central cause of chronic pain and many health conditions, it can be super helpful to incorporate foods, herbs, and yes, even essential oils with anti-inflammatory properties into your daily routine.

Essential oils are used in many different ways: Some people prefer to inhale them through aromatherapy, others like aromatherapy massage, and some people straight up ingest certain essential oils — like peppermint — via capsule. Of course, you can't just go lathering these potent oils on your skin, or ingesting them, because they can cause mild irritation and toxicity in large amounts. But, after consulting with your Aromatherapist, if essential oils are used or administered correctly, they can promote physical and mental relaxation, as well as pain relief. 

Why People Are Turning to Essential Oils for Pain Management 

Whether you suffer from acute pain or chronic pain, joint pain, sore muscles, sprains, back pain, chronic inflammation, or rheumatoid arthritis - essential oils might be the next thing you want to add to your pain management arsenal. 

Essential oils (EOs) are highly concentrated plant extracts that come from tree bark or resin, roots, stems, leaves, flowers, nuts, seeds, and fruit.  The therapeutic application of EOs is referred to as aromatherapy.  The active compounds in EOs are known to have many powerful medicinal properties and have been shown to help: 

• Reduce pain 

• Lower inflammation 

• Boost immunity 

• Soothe the nervous system  

• Reduce anxiety 

• Improve emotional well-being 

• Improve sleep 

• Alleviate headaches 

• Treat allergy symptoms

When used as part of a holistic and natural pain management regimen EOs may offer relief from muscle aches and soreness without the harmful side effects often associated with over the counter pain medications. 

How to Choose the Right High-quality EOs For Pain Relief 

Because many EOs are contaminated or diluted it’s important to know how to choose the highest-quality products, especially if you’re using them for medicinal and therapeutic purposes. 

Here are 7 fool-proof tips to help you:  

Look for certified organic therapeutic grade essential oils.  

Check that proper testing has been done. 

Research the company. Is it reputable? 

Check the label. Is all the relevant information there? 

Check the price. Too cheap is a red flag. 

Check the Latin name. This is the plant’s actual botanical name.

Check in with yourself. Your body will give you feedback so trust your intuition!

You can purchase essential oils on my website.

These compounds interact with the various systems of the body in many ways.  Here are some properties you want in an EO for pain relief and wound care:  

• Analgesic - pain killer, used to relieve pain.

• Anti-inflammatory - used to reduce inflammation.

• Antispasmodic - used to relieve painful muscles spasms.

• Anesthetic - numbing effect, makes the body unable to feel pain.

• Antibacterial - prevents the growth or spread of bacteria.

Best Essential Oils for Pain and Discomfort: 

• Lavender Essential Oil (Lavandula angustifolia)

• Roman Chamomile Essential Oil (Anthemis nobilis)

• Peppermint Essential Oil (Mentha x peperita)

• Eucalyptus Essential Oil (Eucalyptus globulus)

• Rosemary Essential Oil (Rosmarinus officinalis)

• Frankincense Essential Oil (Boswellia serrata)

• Clove Bud Essential Oil (Syzygium aromaticum)

• Ginger Essential Oil (Zingiber officiante)

• Helichrysum Essential Oil (Helichrysum italicum)

You can purchase essential oils on my website.

Lavender Essential Oil 

(Lavandula angustifolia)

• Analgesic 

• Anti-inflammatory 

• Antispasmodic  

• Antibacterial 

Known for its ability to calm and relax and help with sleep disorders, lavender’s analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties has been a proven pain-killer especially when it comes to headaches, muscular, and joint pain relief. 

Personal experience: works to relieve pain that comes with sun burn, bug bites, wasp and bee stings, skin scrapes, cuts, and rashes. Used in my Mommy’s Kisses Roller Blend for first aide kit. Mix Lavender and Patchouli essential oils to diffuse at night for relaxation.

Roman Chamomile Essential Oil 

(Anthemis nobilis)

• Analgesic 

• Anti-inflammatory 

• Antispasmodic

• Antibacterial   

Don’t care for the smell of lavender? Roman Chamomile is a good alternative, and works just as good as lavender essential oil to relieve pain and inflammation. 

Peppermint Essential Oil 

(Mentha x peperita)

• Analgesic 

• Anti-inflammatory 

• Antispasmodic

• Anesthetic 

• Antibacterial

Menthol, an active compound in peppermint essential oil, is a well-known pain reliever and anesthetic agent.  It has a cooling effect when applied to the skin. Peppermint oil is used to treat headaches, menstrual cramps, and even digestive pain and discomfort.  

Personal experience: used in my Rosemary Mint Cream in conjunction with other essential oils to relieve pain and inflammation. Used in conjunction with other oils in my Breathe Easy Blend.

Eucalyptus Essential Oil 

(Eucalyptus globulus)

• Analgesic 

• Anti-inflammatory 

• Antispasmodic

• Antibacterial

Eucalyptus essential oil is rich in 1.8 cineole, an active compound known to help relieve pain and fight joint inflammation. The anti-inflammatory properties of eucalyptus can ease symptoms of herpes. Applying eucalyptus oil to a cold sore may reduce pain and speed up the healing process. Eucalyptus oil eases joint pain from conditions such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Has a cooling effect when applied to the skin. Eucalyptus can quite a cough, when added to a carrier oil and applied to the chest and throat.

Personal experience: used in my Nasya Oil (nose oil) to help dry bleeding sinuses, allergies, and dry sore throat. Used in conjunction with other oils in my Breathe Easy Blend.

Rosemary Essential Oil 

(Rosmarinus officinalis)

• Analgesic 

• Anti-inflammatory 

• Antispasmodic

• Antibacterial

You probably think of rosemary mostly in terms of cooking, but the essential oil of this popular herb has been found to be one of the most widely-used oils in aromatherapy that's aimed at reducing pain. Rosemary oil does in fact have analgesic properties, and it's an effective adjunct treatment to pain medication. Rosemary has a warming effect when applied to the skin.

Personal experience: used in my Rosemary Mint Cream in conjunction with other essential oils to relieve pain and inflammation. Used in conjunction with other oils in my Breathe Easy Blend.

Frankincense Essential Oil 

(Boswellia serrata)

• Analgesic 

• Anti-inflammatory 

• Antispasmodic

• Antibacterial

Thanks to Frankincense’s potent anti-inflammatory properties, the Arthritis Foundation suggests supplementing with Frankincense (Boswellia) to treat inflammation pain symptoms associated with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), rheumatism, bursitis, and tendonitis.

Personal experience: used in my Rosemary Mint Cream in conjunction with other essential oils to relieve pain and inflammation. Works better than any prescription cream or gel. Encluded in most of my bath salts and calming roller blends. 

Clove Bud Essential Oil 

(Syzygium aromaticum) 

• Analgesic 

• Anti-inflammatory 

• Antispasmodic 

• Anesthetic

• Antibacterial  

Clove oil is known for its strong pain-relieving effects and when applied topically it can also serve as a local anesthetic. This is really useful if you’re experiencing a particularly painful sore, rash, cut, or scrape. Works great on mouth and cold sores, numbs and speeds healing. 

Personal experience: we use on cold sores in place of *Abreva, in my opinion works faster and is much more affordable.

Ginger Essential Oil 

(Zingiber officiante)

• Analgesic 

• Anti-inflammatory 

• Antispasmodic

• Antibacterial  

Ginger oil is well-known for its ability to calm digestion and help alleviate a queasy stomach. But is also great at fighting inflammation-induced pain. Has been found when used in aromatherapy massage ginger oil significantly reduced pain intensity in chronic low back pain patients. Has a warming effect when applied to the skin.

Personal experience: used in my Ginger Turmeric Cold Process Soap.

Helichrysum Essential Oil 

(Helichrysum italicum)

• Analgesic 

• Anti-inflammatory

• Anesthetic  

• Anti-bacterial 

Helichrysum is a highly aromatic herb praised in aromatherapy most notably for bruises and wound healing. Helichrysum can assist with circulatory ailments such as varicose veins, bruises, and broken capillaries. Promotes healthy skin, improves healing in bruises and wounds, reduces pain in joints, promotes respiratory health.

Personal experience: used in my Rosemary Mint Cream in conjunction with other essential oils to relieve pain and inflammation. Also used in my Mommy’s Kisses Roller Blend for first aide kit. A must have oil. It is great for healing, I use it for cuts, bruises, scratches and all sorts of healing properties.

How to Use Essential Oils for Pain Management 

Always dilute EOs with a carrier oil when applying topically as the oils are highly concentrated and potent and some may cause skin irritation if applied directly to the skin.  Common carrier oil options are coconut oil, olive oil, jojoba oil, avocado oil, and sweet almond oil.

Such oils as Lavender and Helichrysum can be applied directly to the skin, but always do a patch test first to make sure you don’t have a reaction.

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