At one time, pain was my constant companion. During the day, it prevented me from walking. At night, it kept me awake.
My pain started as a nagging backache. I assumed it would soon go away. But it turned out to be much more serious.
In my body, my inflammation kicked into high gear. It began attacking my nervous system.
Can Essential Oils Relieve Pain?
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My condition is considered “incurable.” At least that’s the opinion held by mainstream medicine. But I manage to keep things in check with herbal remedies and natural essential oil blends. Aromatherapy may not work for everyone, and I can’t promise that any natural remedy will help anyone else. Essential oils are one of the things I use to help control pain without drugs.
The onset of my problem was relatively quick. It then progressed at lightening-like speed. Soon, it prevented me from walking. I had balance and coordination problems. Things were clearly headed downhill. Unless I made some changes, fast, I’d probably be riding in a wheelchair.
How to Use Essential Oils for Pain Relief
Fast forward 10 years. My body has largely recovered, thanks to prayer and the generous array of natural remedies God has provided. I can walk again. I can even go for long hikes in the woods. My pain flares up occasionally. But it’s relatively mild and it doesn’t interfere with my life. Most of the time I’m living without pain.
But when it does rear it’s ugly head, I treat it with essential oils. Since I’m living a non-toxic lifestyle, in order to tame my excess inflammation, I’ve gotten rid of all my over-the-counter pain relievers. These didn’t work for me anyway. I took them immediately after becoming sick, but they didn’t even begin to touch my pain.
Essential Oils to Control Pain
Please understand that I’m not a medical professional. So I can’t offer advice or give opinions. All I can do is share my story of how I use aromatics for pain relief. I also can’t promise you’ll receive the same benefits I do.
Bear in mind that I’m fighting my pain from the inside out. I eat well and I take natural herbal anti-inflammatory capsules. My main goal is to keep my inflammation in check. Then I use essential oils to treat any flareups. Occasionally, I also get headaches. Later in this article, I’ll also share my aromatic headache recipe.
Essential Oils for Pain Control
If you don’t already own your own oils, you may be interested in an aromatic pain relief blend. This will save you from having to buy multiple bottles, and mixing them together. In general, you’ll find the best relief from a combination of oils. That’s because it’s believed the different ingredients work in synergy, each making the other more effective.
That’s why you’ll often see specific products referred to as synergy blends. One of my favorite, and most trusted essential oil sources in Plant Therapy. They are sold by an Idaho-based company that tests its oils twice for purity. One of these tests is run by an independent lab.
Essential Oil Pain Relief Blend
I’ve been working with Plant Therapy for years. This is an honest, ethical company. It has taken an active role in educating people about the proper use of essential oils. Here is the Plant Therapy Rapid Relief Synergy Blend, which used to be called Plant Therapy Pain Aid. It contains clove, peppermint, bay laurel, ginger, cinnamon, black pepper, thyme, chamomile and juniper.
Essential oils contain natural analgesic compounds. This is why my husband and I are very comfortable doing away with our OTC pain medications.
Essential Oils to Help Nerve Pain
Nowadays, my pain is just a fraction of what it used to be. Only occasionally I do have to make an aromatic recipe for my nerve pain. It’s been a while since I’ve had to do this. But I have my oils on hand, just in case.
Aromatic Pain Relief Recipe
Many people, especially when they’re new to essential oils, don’t realize you can’t put them directly on your skin. First, you need to mix them with a carrier oil, such as olive, grape seed or fractionated coconut oil.
Some pain relief oils tend to be “hot.” This means they have the potential to burn or irritate your skin if they’re not diluted. A carrier oil offers an additional benefit. It’s oily, so it helps “carry” the volatile aromatics into your cells.
Here is a very easy DIY essential oil recipe for pain. All you will need is a clean glass bottle, your oils and a carrier.
- 2 tablespoons of carrier oil
- 2 drops of peppermint essential oil (available here)
- 2 drops of clove bud essential oil (available here)
- 1 drop of eucalyptus oil (available here)
- 3 drops of myrrh oil premixed with grape seed oil (available here)
Mix these ingredients together. Remember that glass jar I just mentioned? You probably won’t use this entire batch right away. So it can be stored for later use. Make sure to cover the jar and put it in a place where it’s not exposed to light or heat.
Headache Relief Essential Oil Blend
When I have a headache, I like to keep things simple. So I usually make a three-ingredient recipe, adding it to a carrier oil. Nowadays, I usually just make enough for a single application. Here’s how I make it.
- 1 teaspoon of carrier oil
- 1 drop of peppermint essential oil
- 1 drop of clove essential oil
I mix these ingredients together on a glass plate and then apply to my aching head and temples. One application is usually all I need to bring a quick end to this problem. I don’t know if this would help a migraine. But it does work well for my regular run-of-the-mill tension headaches.
Update: Plant Therapy Rapid Relief Synergy Blend is an excellent option for natural pain control. But I’m continually trying new things. Since I published this post I’ve also discovered a couple of other pain blends you may want to consider.
My natural remedies work best when I rotate them. That way, I avoid using the same formula too many days in a row. That’s why there’s an advantage to owning different kinds of essential oils.
Using Essential Oils for Pain
For me, essential oils work faster and better than OTC pain relievers. But, even if they didn’t, I’m not sure I’d want to use these medications anyway. For mild pain especially, the benefit doesn’t seem to outweigh the risk.
What Causes Stevens-Johnson Syndrome?
I once met a woman who survived Stevens-Johnson syndrome. This is a life-threatening condition. It often develops as a reaction to ibuprofen. This woman initially took this drug for relief from arthritis. Now, she is much more disabled than before.
Stevens-Johnson syndrome causes the top layer of skin to blister and peel. This woman must now stay out of the sun, because she has no protection. Her skin looks unnaturally white, because it was “burned,” as a result of taking ibuprofen.
Needless to say, she doesn’t take ibuprofen anymore. And neither do I.
I am so thankful I can treat my pain naturally, more more safely, with essential oils.
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 unless directed to do so by a healthcare professional.
For Additional Reading
Essential Oils to Help Knee Pain
Natural Medicine for Autoimmune Disease
I need to tell you, though, that essential oils will only go so far. In and of themselves, they will probably offer only limited relief, unless you find a way to heal from the inside.
Without certain lifestyle changes, essential oils act as a bandage. Used correctly, they’re a very safe option, especially compared to drugs. But, unless something changes, your pain probably won’t recede.
I used essential oils only after I’d already healed significantly. It is possible to regain your health, given the right tools. It took me years to do this. I made a lot of mistakes along the way. But, eventually, I reached the point where I had my life back.
If you’d like to know exactly what I did, all of this information is available in a course. It’s called Natural Pain Management Strategies and it contains more than 20 videos that explain in detail what natural remedies I took and what lifestyle changes I made. Although I can’t claim anyone else will see similar results, I do think that you’ll learn a lot about how the body can heal. For more information, click on the image below.
Could you tell me why the Myrrh oil needs to be prediluted without grape seed oil?
Hi Janet, essential oils are very strong. A commonly recommended dilution ratio for normal healthy adults is 2 percent. This would be 3 drops of essential oil to one teaspoon of carrier. The Myrrh oil I am referring to is prediluted in grapeseed oil. But it’s still strong, about 20 percent. So I still put it in a carrier oil before applying it to my body. The rest of the oils in this recipe are not diluted, so a carrier is definitely needed. Thank you for reading and I hope this answers your question. Let me know if you need more information.