Ever heard of essential oils for arthritis? There are essential oils that work efficiently for arthritis and its related illness. Recently, back pain, arthritis, and muscle pain are becoming common among many people. This is often a result of long sitting hours, bringing quite a lot of severe lower back pain.
Source: paincare.org
If you have arthritis, know that you’re not alone. About 54.4 million American adults over the age of 18 have this condition.1 This chronic disease also becomes more prevalent with age.
Research has it that older people and women especially have a higher probability of developing arthritis.
This applies to those carrying certain gene variations that predispose them to lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis. There are a few things that increase the risk and severity of arthritis. Some of them are age, gender, and genetic factors apart, infections and injuries to joints, obesity, and occupations involving repetitive movements but, right before we move on to how essential oils are good for rheumatoid arthritis, it is important to know the meaning of Arthritis.
What is Arthritis
Arthritis is very similar to inflamed joints – a general term used for conditions such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, lupus, and fibromyalgia that precipitate swelling and pain in the joints.
The most common forms of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. These conditions are characterized by joint inflammation, which can cause a lot of pain and swelling. A complete loss of joint movement often accompanies arthritis.
Arthritis symptoms often worsen during the morning and can affect normal day-to-day activities. Pain from arthritis can also cause you to lose sleep. Being female and having a family history of arthritis puts you at greater risk of being affected by this condition.
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Why Natural Remedies?
There are limitations to the treatment of arthritis. Arthritis medication aims to relieve pain and inflammation, improve joint function and prevent bone loss. If you’ve got arthritis, the best way to deal with it is to manage it as best as you can
According to research most conventional treatments for back pain have severe side effects, especially when used long-term and can cause internal bleeding and liver damage.
Anti-inflammatory analgesics are often prescribed to reduce the pain and swelling, which helps increase the range of motion to some extent. Hence, this calls for the need for natural remedies.
Note: Please consult your healthcare practitioner before using essential oils. Some essential oils can interact with certain drugs and not all essential oils are safe to use by all.
Top 10 Essential Oils For Arthritis
As with every medical treatment, the quality of essential oils for arthritis matters. Because essential oils are unregulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, it pays to take the time to find a quality oil. When shopping for essential oils, keep these tips in mind.
Here are some essential oils found to be effective in treating arthritis. Altogether, these 10 essential oils for arthritis can offer powerful relief from pain, anxiety, and fatigue that often accompany this condition.
1. Marjoram oil
Unfortunately, few people use marjoram oil. Yet, it is one of the best natural remedies for arthritis and back pain. And this is because it allows you to ease the muscles and joints, not to mention It’s also emotionally calming, stress easing and generally soothing. It also lowers inflammation too!
2. Peppermint oil
One of the best essential oils for rheumatoid arthritis is peppermint. The oil has some excellent anti-inflammatory properties with an anesthetic effect. Furthermore, it helps in relieving the pain and swelling associated with arthritic conditions, rheumatoid arthritis in particular.
Here are a few ways to go about peppermint:
- Mix 5-10 drops of peppermint oil with 2 Tbsp warmed coconut oil to make a ready-to-use salve.
- Mix with other oils in this selection to get a more potent anti-arthritic formulation.
- Use as often as needed for relief of pain.
3. Ginger oil
Ginger is better known as a culinary spice. It has wide-ranging therapeutic uses. Besides, the anti-inflammatory effect of ginger oil is also useful in treating a variety of inflammatory conditions, including arthritis.
Ginger oil gets processed from the unpeeled rhizome of Zingiber officinale. Apart from its signature chemical component zingiberene, the oil contains several potent phytochemicals such as geraniol, geranial, neral, borneol, camphene, etc. The antioxidants in ginger can neutralize free radicals in the body and prevent further harm to the joints.
You can apply the
- Massage diluted ginger oil into the affected area, and
- Use a warm compress to enhance absorption.
- Try mixing it with essential oils of lavender or lemongrass.
4. Lavender oil
Lavender oil is well known for its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. It comes from the flower buds of Lavandula angustifolia. People with rheumatoid arthritis often report a drastic improvement in their symptoms when lavender oil is applied topically.
- You can use 3-5 drops of the oil without dilution for instant pain relief. However, to avoid skin irritation, you can dilute in a teaspoon of carrier oil.
- Rub it in with a circular motion and repeat as and when necessary. It improves blood circulation in the area and reduces inflammation.
In addition, Lavender has a soothing effect on the mind, which can help relieve the frustration associated with severe arthritis.
5. Birch oil
The essential oil of birch is extracted from the bark of the birch tree Betula lenta. It has a sweet, camphor-like smell and strong anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect, which comes from its methyl salicylate and salicylic acid content.
It is reportedly as effective as corticosteroids in relieving pain and joint swelling from gout, tendonitis, and osteoarthritis. The high astringent property of the oil quickly reduces the fluid collection around the joints. It also improves their range of motion.
Birch oil is a common component of many anti-arthritic formulations and pain salves. But you have to use the pure oil with caution. It is usually combined with lemongrass oil and diluted with carrier oils before applying on inflamed joints. As a result, old people or patients with thinning blood medication should not use birch oil
6. Rosemary oil
Rosemary oil is both analgesic and anti-inflammatory. The leaves of the shrub Rosmarinus officinalis produces the oil. Although other bioactive substances may have a supporting role, rosmarinic acid also takes responsibility for this effect. Its analgesic and tonic qualities make it a top-rated oil for backaches, pains, arthritis.
In several lab studies, rosmarinic acid was found to inhibit the progression of rheumatoid arthritis in rats. It probably has a similar effect in people afflicted with this autoimmune condition but more research has to be done on this.
7. Cayenne pepper oil
The pungent Cayenne pepper oil comes from the fiery chilies carrying the same name. It has excellent analgesic properties, but you will need to repeatedly use it for several days before the effect becomes apparent.
Capsaicin helps with pain relief by depleting substance P, a neurotransmitter peptide that gets released as a response to inflammation. As a result, this molecule is responsible for carrying pain sensations to the brain, while capsaicin counteracts this process.
Consequently, for effectiveness, you can apply a few drops of cayenne pepper oil mixed with coconut oil, 2-3 times a day for several weeks. And if skin irritation occurs, consult a health care practitioner immediately. The resulting pain relief doesn’t last for less than three months. Therefore, cayenne pepper oil carves a niche for itself as one of the best remedies for arthritis.
8. Lemongrass oil
Lemongrass oil has a different set of active agents such as Citronellal, Myrcene, Limonene, Citral, Geraniol, and Nerol. It is a bonus for people who are allergic to aspirin and those taking blood-thinning drugs.
Lemongrass oil comes from the leaves and stems of Cymbopogon citratus grass. In the Ayurvedic therapy for arthritis, you direct the steam from lemongrass boiling in the water towards the affected joints. Likewise, the warmth from the steam aids the absorption of the oil deep into the tissues, providing long-lasting pain relief.
Lemongrass oil is astringent and diuretic, drawing out excess fluid from the tissues and driving it out of the body. This helps in combating the widespread inflammation characteristic of rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.
9. Frankincense Oil
Frankincense oil is one essential oil that’s also good for rheumatoid arthritis. You can get the oil from the dried resin of some trees in the Boswellia genus, native to Africa and the Middle East. In religious ceremonies, the belief is that frankincense enhances spiritual experiences.
Laboratory experiments have shown that frankincense may arrest the progress of rheumatoid arthritis by inhibiting the production of certain inflammatory substances. Thus, it will prevent the damage they cause to the cartilage. The monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes in the oil are responsible for this healing effect.
10. Myrrh oil
The anti-inflammatory effect of Myrrh has been extensively studied. It is the same with the NSAIDs for treating arthritis. You can obtain this oil from the resinous deposits of Commiphora molmol, a thorny bush native to Egypt and Jordan.
You can also apply Myrrh oil mixed with olive oil to the affected joints. So, it reduces swelling in the limbs by reducing the levels of an inflammatory substance known as leukotoxin.
Flaxseed Oil
Flaxseed oil helps to ease the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, lubricates the joints and reduces the stiffness and joint pain. It contains potassium, proteins, magnesium, B vitamins, zinc, etc. which cures the pain and inflammation in the joints.
- Consume 2 to 3 tablespoons of flaxseed oil daily.
- Repeat the process for a month.
Note: Remember to shake the bottle well before applying the mixture to the joints.
Note: This process may not show results instantly but with regular follow up, it will reduce the joint pain. If you are undergoing medication or have cancer, then avoid this process.
EO massage Blend For Arthritis Pain Relief
Below are your bread and butter blends that you could make up for regular back pain treatment.
Most of the oils in these blends are common and there’s a good chance that you will already have them in your EO collection.
Formula 1
- Add 10 drops peppermint
- Another 10 drops rosemary
- 10 drops basil
Formula 2
Formula 3
- Take 10 drops rosemary
- Mix with 10 drops sage
- 10 drops marjoram
For each formula combine your essential oils with 2 tablespoons of carrier oil ().
The best way to apply essential oils for arthritis and pains is via massage. It’s best if you can get a massage from a friend or done professionally, but if not you could still do a good job of self-massaging the pain points as well.
Conclusion
These are some of the best essential oils for arthritis that you can purchase right now. If you have to deal with back pain or any other similar issues, you may want to consider investing in these essential oils for back pain.
Anyone with chronic pain from arthritis knows often that pain and stiffness are worse in the morning, to provide even more pain relief, combine 2 or even more essential oils for arthritis. For example, you can mix ten drops each of the essential oils of Birch, Lemongrass, and Geranium to get an excellent pain rub for aching joints and apply in the morning. It usually takes nearly 1 -2 hours for the morning aches to work their way to a manageable level.
Warning
Note that Essential oils are highly concentrated, so they should be diluted appropriately with carrier oils like coconut oil, olive oil, jojoba oil, sweet almond oil etc. Mix in melted beeswax to get an ointment-like consistency that makes it easier to carry around.
Using essential oils for inflammation is just one part of arthritis management. You’ll want to focus on a well-rounded, anti-inflammatory diet. Regular exercise and stretching will also keep pain at bay.
Where To Buy Essential Oils
Before using essential oils for arthritis, it is imperative to use high quality, 100% pure essential oils and avoid products with additives or adulterants.
On Skinnyfitmom, we recommend Plant Therapy Essential Oils. All of their products are 100% pure, their prices are highly competitive, they offer a 90-day money back guarantee and they stock virtually every essential oil in the world.
You can browse their entire selection of essential oils on this page on their official website.
