Regular readers of this blog know that I have chronic nerve inflammation. But, for the most part, I can live pretty much pain free by eating healthy organic food.
However, every once in a while my pain flares up. I also have an old knee injury. Apparently, the healing wasn’t perfect. So it can also become painful.
Years ago, I threw away all of my OTC pain relievers. This was one of the best decisions I ever made. These drugs didn’t really help my nerve pain. Also, I’m well aware they can cause serious side effects. Although these are relatively rare, this means little when it happens to you.
Uses for Ginger Essential Oil
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Nowadays, I use natural essential oils for pain relief. A number of aromatics appear to work as natural analgesics. Ginger essential oil is considered good for pain control. This is why it’s either used on its own, or mixed with other oils in a recipe. It’s believed that combining aromatics creates a powerful synergy. (This is how I use it.)
There’s a lot of misinformation about correct use of essential oils. So I need to stress that I only use ginger essential oil externally. This is the safe way to use it.
I do not advocate ingesting essential oils at all, unless you are working with a trained medical professional. This would be an MD with special training in aromatherapy.
Essential Oils for Pain Control
If you use your essential oils for pain control, ginger is one you may want to consider. This aromatic oil is typically found in pain relief blends. However, you can also use ginger oil separately.
One way to do this is to massage ginger essential oil into the area that hurts. Always put it in a carrier oil though.
Here is some information on how to use carrier oils.
Essential oils should never be put directly on your skin. That’s because they are highly concentrated. So you run the risk of burning yourself or potentially developing a sensitivity. This is one reason I’m so careful with my oils. I’d hate to become allergic to any of them, which likely means I’d never be able to use them again. Aromatic oils have helped me, on so many levels, that this is a horrible thought to even entertain.
But I don’t think sensitivity will be a problem for me, because I use my oils the right way. The more familiar I become with aromatics, the more I respect I gain for their potency.
Ginger has been used medicinally for thousands of years, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. On its website, the UMMC noted that there’s now scientific evidence this herb is useful for pain. Arthritis patients given a ginger extract were less likely to need pain medication.
Ginger Oil for Pain
Ginger oil is probably not the first type of aromatic most people acquire. Beginners often start with peppermint, lavender, orange or tea tree oils. However, you may want to add ginger essential oil to your collection if you use aromatics for pain relief. It goes very well with peppermint and clove, two of the best-known natural remedies for pain.
It’s good to have variety. I like to rotate my oils because, for me anyway, they seem to work better this way. Also, some aromatherapists believe that not using the same oil too many days in a row reduces the chances of sensitivity. Even though I’m not too worried about developing a sensitivity, I still don’t want to take any chances.
Ginger can be used either on its own, or mixed with other oils, such as peppermint essential oil, to make a blend. Below you can see ginger essential oil sold by a company I know, trust and order from myself. Edens Garden is one of the brands I often recommend on this site. I do not order from one company exclusively. Instead, I purchase my oils from a handful of companies I know have rigorous safety and purity standards.
Ginger Essential Oil Recipes
Because certain oils blend together well, and because of the synergy factor, ginger oil is often used in various essential oil recipes. Here is a typical formula that could be used for muscle or joint aches.
Ginger Essential Oil Recipe
- 2 teaspoons of carrier oil. Olive, grapeseed and fractionated coconut oil are often used as carriers.
- 2 drops of ginger oil.
- 1 drop of peppermint oil.
- 1 drop of clove essential oil.
This is a 2 percent dilution ratio, which I took from information found on a Plant Therapy dilution chart. It’s recommended that you use half strength if you plan to use aromatics over a large area of the body.
Essential Oil Blends for Pain
It’s also possible to use ginger oil in an already-mixed blend of other essential oils. If you’re just starting with essential oils, this might be an even better choice, compared to buying single bottles and mixing yourself, because it will reduce the number of aromatics you have to purchase.
One blend that I’ve personally used for pain control (if I don’t feel like mixing my own) is Plant Therapy Rapid Relief. It contains ginger, plus peppermint, clove, laurel, black pepper, chamomile, juniper and thyme oils. It has a pleasant, uplifting smell. I am a big fan of Synergy Blends, because of how the various ingredients are designed to work together.
Plant Therapy Rapid Relief Blend
Disclaimer
These statements have not been approved by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Women who are pregnant or nursing should not use essential oils or herbal remedies unless directed to do so by a healthcare professional.
For Additional Reading
Essential Oils To Help Knee Pain
Plant Therapy Essential Oil Blends
Essential Oil Arthritis Blends
How to Use Essential Oils for Pain Relief
Get My Natural Pain Management Course
I’m not a doctor and I can’t give medical advice. Nor can I promise that anything that I did to relieve my pain will help anyone else.
However, many people do ask how I regained my health. I did so many things that it would take too long to list them all. So I decided to compile everything I did in one document, and turn it into an easy online course with more than 20 videos, as well as text. For more information on my experience with natural pain management, click on the image below.
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Ginger Oil Massage Benefits
Ginger oil makes an excellent massage oil, especially if you’re looking for natural pain relief. It blends well with other popular essential oils, including lavender and peppermint oils. Most major essential oil companies sell their own pain relief blends. Ginger oil is generally found in this blends.
Some people like to take ginger internally to relieve pain. Do not do this with essential oils. That’s because essential oils are extremely potent. They’re not meant to be ingested. Although there may be rare instances where ingestion is indicated, this should only be done under strict medical supervision, working a a doctor well-versed in this practice.
So plan to use ginger essential oil only topically. If you’d like to take ginger as an herbal medicine, use the whole plant, instead of the essential oil. Here’s a really easy ginger medicinal syrup recipe. This syrup can be added to hot or warm water.
Great info have used Ginger myself for pain relief with great success and fresh juiced ginger for sickness.
Peppermint and Clove essential oils can be fairly irritant to some people so I would always recommend a patch test for these and to be very strict with the dilution.
Yes, a patch test is not a bad idea. They also need to be very diligent about using a carrier oil.