Want a natural way to ease your pain?
Essential oils may offer
the relief you’re looking for.
Essential oils are
natural compounds found in the petals, stems, roots, and bark of plants.
They’re typically removed from the plant though steam distillation. Each
type of oil has its own unique scent and benefits, and oils can be used
individually or as blends.
The oils resulting from this centuries-old technique may improve
physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing.
Essential oils for pain relief
Researchers have found evidence to suggest that some oils may
help treat the symptoms of certain ailments, such as:
- inflammation
- headaches
- depression
- sleep disorders
- respiratory problems
More research is needed to fully understand how essentials oils
can work for pain management, although there’s generally no harm in adding
essential oils to your current pain management plan. Still, always talk to a
healthcare practitioner to make sure essential oils are right for you.
The following essential oils may help with pain
relief:
- lavender
- rose
- bergamot
- wintergreen
- peppermint
- rosemary
- eucalyptus
- chamomile
- clary sage
- ginger
- clove
- lemongrass
- frankincense
Lavender
According to a 2013 study, lavender essential oil may
help treat pain in children after a tonsillectomy. Children who inhaled the scent of lavender
were able to reduce their daily dose of acetaminophen, or Tylenol, post-surgery.
Researchers in a 2015
study found that lavender essential oil can be an effective
pain reliever and anti-inflammatory.
When diluted lavender essential oil was
applied topically during one test, it provided pain relief comparable to that
of the prescription medication tramadol. This suggests that lavender could be used to help treat pain
and any associated inflammation.
Another study
in 2012 tested lavender essential oil’s ability to reduce pain
in people who experience migraines. Results showed that inhaling the scent of
lavender was effective in lessening the severity of migraine
headache symptoms.
Rose oil
Many women experience abdominal cramping during menstruation.
Rose essential oil has been shown to relieve
pain associated with periods when paired with conventional treatment.
Research
from 2013 suggests that rose oil aromatherapy may also be effective in
alleviating pain caused by kidney
stones when coupled with conventional therapy.
Bergamot
The results of a 2015 study found bergamot essential oil
to be successful in reducing neuropathic pain, usually caused by chronic
nerve disease. This type of pain is often resistant to opioid
pain medications.
Wintergreen and peppermint
Wintergreen oil (methyl salicylate) and
peppermint oil (menthol) produce a cooling and tingling sensation when applied
topically, which may be why they are two of the main active ingredients
of Bengay and Icy Hot pain relieving ointments.
According to 2014 research, both may offer an alternative
to pain medications with fewer risks, though overall research on wintergreen
oil for pain relief is mixed.
Research on peppermint is more favorable. For
instance, a 2019 study found that peppermint oil
tablets improved symptoms including difficulty swallowing and non-cardiac chest
pain.
A 2015 study found that applying a gel with
menthol for migraine relief resulted in a significant improvement by at least
one severity level two hours after application.
Rosemary
A 2015
study in mice concluded that rosemary had therapeutic potential
for pain management in combination with analgesic drugs.
An older 2007
study of stroke survivors with shoulder pain showed a 30
percent reduction in pain in those who received a rosemary oil blend with
acupressure for 20 minutes twice daily.
Eucalyptus
Many popular over-the-counter (OTC) creams and
ointments use eucalyptus to soothe pain, including Icy Hot.
A 2021 study on animals found that
eucalyptus can be an effective pain reliever and anti-inflammatory at doses of
100, 200, and 400 milligrams per kilogram of body weight.
Chamomile
In a 2015
study, researchers that chamomile essential oil significantly
reduced the need for pain relief medication in individuals with osteoarthritis compared to a control group.
A 2017
study of individuals with carpal tunnel syndrome found that after
four weeks of applying topical chamomile oil, symptom severity scores in the
treatment group were significantly lower than the placebo group.
Clary sage
A small 2012 study looked at 48 women who
experienced painful menstruation and cramps and applied a cream containing
clary sage oil and other essential oils to their lower abdomens daily between
menstrual cycles. The women who used the cream had a significant reduction in
menstrual cramps compared to the control group.
Ginger
A 2019 review noted that ginger oil has
several therapeutic properties, including:
- pain relief
- pain receptor blocking
- reducing inflammation
- anticancer
- relieving cough
Clove
Clove oil has been found to be beneficial
for tooth ache as well as general pain.
An older 2006
study noted that clove oil may be effective as a topical
anesthetic.
Lemongrass
A 2017 study on people with rheumatoid arthritis found that topical
lemongrass oil decreased arthritis pain from 80 to 50 percent on average within
30 days.
According to a 2011 study, native Australian lemongrass may
relieve pain caused by headaches and migraine due to a compound called eugenol
that may be similar to aspirin.
A 2012
study on mice found that lemongrass essential oil helped
prevent gastric ulcers, a common cause of stomach
pain.
Frankincense
A 2011 review showed some support for the
historical use of frankincense oil for inflammation and pain.
A 2014 study on animals noted that
frankincense could be helpful for arthritis, though more human studies are
needed.
Essential oil blends
Researchers in a 2012 study found a blend of essential
oils to be effective in decreasing menstrual pain in terms of severity and
duration. Participants used a cream containing lavender, clary sage, and
marjoram to massage their lower bellies daily.
According to another study
in 2013, an essential oil blend was successful in reducing
discomfort and menstrual bleeding. Participants were massaged with a blend of
cinnamon, clove, rose, and lavender in sweet almond oil. They were massaged
once daily for seven days before their periods.
Another study showed
the potential of an essential oil blend to lessen pain and reduce depression in
people with terminal cancer. These participants had their hands massaged with
bergamot, lavender, and frankincense in sweet almond oil.
