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Essential Oils for Pain Relief

Instead of looking for one generic essential oil recipe for pain relief, why not make your own that’s suited to your specific needs?   All it needs is an understanding of the potency of essential oils to determine the measurements you’ll need, knowing the intensity of your pain, a few other ingredients to combine the oils in and some time on your hands.

Pains are of different kinds and causes – some types of pain are caused by inflammation, others due to injuries and some might be due to nerve issues. Below are the common types of pain and what essential oils are the best for each.

Recipes For Pain:

BACK PAIN

TOP ESSENTIAL OILS FOR BACK PAIN
 

Here are the best essential oils for back pain relief, in no particular order. Even if you have just a few of the oils in this list, it’s fine! You can still use them for instant relief and relaxation.

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LAVENDER 

MARJORAM 

LEMONGRASS 

EUCALYPTUS 

PEPPERMINT 

VETIVER 

GINGER 

BASIL 

ROSEMARY 

FRANKINCENSE

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HOW THESE ESSENTIAL OILS ALLEVIATE BACK PAIN

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All these essential oils listed above have high amounts of certain compounds such as eugenol, menthol, linalool and others which are recognized as natural pain killers. These compounds present in essential oils help relieve back pain by:

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  • Promoting efficient blood circulation – Many times you will find that back pain is compounded by poor blood circulation due to bad posture or lack of movement. Essential oils such as ginger can really encourage blood flow to the spine which can help alleviate blockages and pain.

  • Stimulating blood flow to the spine – Adding on to the above point, essential oils like lemon grass and eucalyptus contain stimulant properties that help to bolster blood flow to the spine. Blood supplies the spine with nutrients and oxygen that is needed to heal and repair tissues and to reduce pain in the back.

  • Suppressing pain signals – Essential oils are rich in analgesic compounds, which work to suppress pain signals and reduce the sensation of pain. Many essential oils such as wintergreen have the same compounds such as methyl salicylate which are found in over-the-counter pain killers like aspirin. Essential oils can help alleviate your back pain naturally, without having to turn to synthetic drugs, which come with side effects.

  • Numbing the pain – Menthol is a prime compound in essential oils like eucalyptus and peppermint, which create a tingly feeling when applied on to the skin. This tingly feeling not only helps relieve pain but also helps naturally numb the pain, and distracts you from the acuteness of the pain, helping you to feel relief over time.

  • Reducing inflammation – Inflammation and swelling is a common denominator in back pain, although it may not be visible. Excess fluids may leak into the surrounding vertebra and this swelling can contribute severely to back pain. Essential oils like lemongrass contain anti-inflammatory compounds that help reduce inflammation and therefore alleviate back pain.

  • Inducing relaxation – Lavender and vetiver are among the essential oils that contain potent yet natural sedative properties that help induce muscle relaxation. They also help reduce mental stress that could have contributed to back pain.

  • Preventing muscle spasms – Essential oils are rich in molecules that have anti-spasmodic qualities. This means they can prevent and reduce the muscle spasms around the spine, and reduce the overall pain level.

  • Repairing damaged tissues – Antioxidant compounds in essential oils such as rosemary encourage the repair and regeneration of new cells and tissues, consequently allowing the faster healing of the back.

  • Preventing free radical damage – With back pain, many will find that the body is struggling with free radical damage. Compounds in essential oils can help the body fight free radicals, which wreak havoc on healthy cells. This can help reduce oxidative stress and encourage faster recovery in back pain.

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HOW TO USE ESSENTIAL OILS FOR BACK PAIN

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The best way to use essential oils for back pain relief is deep, therapeutic massage. Getting a professional deep tissue massage by a health care professional who understands the nature of your back pain is the best.

 

Now for the massage oil or cream, you can simply add a few drops of any of the above essential oils for back pain to your existing cream or you could make your own natural, preservative-free massage cream as follows.

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Ingredients

Directions

  1. In an 8 oz amber glass jar, measure out and carefully pour all the oils.

  2. Now screw on the lid securely and shake or swirl the bottle to get all the oils evenly mixed up.

  3. You can now use this massage oil as suggested above.

 EYE PAIN

Safe Essential Oils for Eye Pain Relief & How to Use


Eye pain is a condition characterized by a sharp ache behind the eyeballs, which sometimes causes tearing up of the eyes. 

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CAUSES OF EYE PAIN

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The most common causes of eye pain include:

  • Eye problems: For people with myopia or other eye problems like presbyopia, astigmatism, cataracts, eye pain is a common occurrence.

  • Staring too long at LED screens: People who stare too long at the computer, smart phone, TV or any gadget can suffer from dry eyes, itchy eyes, red eyes, eye strain and eye pain, because these gadgets have LED screens which emit bright white light that irritates and damages the eyes.

  • Reading a lot: People with sight – intensive desk jobs which require reading through a lot of documents, especially those with tiny font sizes, can suffer from eye strain, eye pain and blurry vision problems. Avid novel readers and book enthusiasts can also suffer from eye pain due to the eyes being strained and concentrating on a limited range of vision for too long.

  • Sinus congestion: Congested sinuses can cause puffy, swollen eyes as well as eye pain.

  • Eye diseases: Some diseases of the eye can also cause mild to severe eye pain.

  • Headaches or migraines: A headache can travel down to your eyes causing an aching pain at the top of your eyeballs, deep within the eye sockets.

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CAUTION WHEN USING ESSENTIAL OILS NEAR THE EYES

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► First off, do not use essential oil on or around your eyes. These essential oils should only be applied on the forehead and temples to get relief. When applied on and around the eyes, it’s very risky because there is a very high chance that the oil will seep into your eye and cause severe burning sensations.

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► Another reason not to put essential oils on or around your eyes is because they are highly volatile and their vapors can reach the eye and cause them to water and burn. Even when you put the oil on your forehead, you may experience mild versions of these symptoms because the vapors will reach your eyes.

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► Secondly, the skin constantly produces sebum which is designed to remove impurities from the skin in addition to moisturizing it. So if you applied the oil to your forehead, ensure to wipe it off after the tingling or stimulating sensation of the oil disappears. If you do not do this, the sebum mixed with the oil will gradually enter into your eyes, causing burning sensations.

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4 ESSENTIAL OILS FOR EYE PAIN

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All the essential oils below have analgesic properties that alleviate all sorts of pain. When applied on skin (diluted first), they provide cooling and tingling sensations that helps numb eye pain. The essential oils also have anti-inflammatory properties that reduce inflammation.

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PEPPERMINT ESSENTIAL OIL 

EUCALYPTUS ESSENTIAL OIL 

VETIVER ESSENTIAL OIL 

LAVENDER ESSENTIAL OIL

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HOW TO USE ESSENTIAL OILS FOR EYE PAIN

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Below are four essential oil remedies for eye pain. You can use one or more of these remedies for instant relief!

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RECIPE #1: ROLL – ON BLEND FOR INSTANT RELIEF

What you need

Method

  1. Add the essential oils, drop by drop to the roll – on bottle.

  2. Top up with grapeseed oil.

  3. Roll onto forehead, temples, back of neck and on shoulders for relief.

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RECIPE #2: PAIN RELIEF SALVE

What you need

Method

  1. Mix the essential oils in the coconut oil.

  2. Gently massage this blend on your forehead, temples, shoulders and back of neck.

  3. Lie down for at least 15 minutes to let the salve work its magic.

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RECIPE #3: COLD COMPRESS

What you need

Method

  1. Fill a bowl with ½ cup of ice cold water. You can even add ice cubes.

  2. Now add the essential oils and stir well with the washcloth.

  3. After the cloth is saturated, wring it out and fold it into a rectangle.

  4. Hold it to your head for some time.

  5. Keep repeating the steps until relief is felt.

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RECIPE #4: FACIAL STEAMING

This is good for sinus congestion – related eye pain in particular but works good for other types of eye pain too.

What you need

  • A pot of 3 – 4 cups of water

  • 3 drops peppermint oil

  • Heat source

Method

  1. Boil a pot containing 3 – 4 cups of water until it gets steamy.

  2. Then turn off the heat and carefully place the pot over a place mat on a table.

  3. Sit in front of the pot and create a tent over your head and the pot.

  4. Let the peppermint – infused steam work its magic for 15 minutes. You can keep your eyes closed.

  5. Once done steaming, you’ll feel so relieved, trust me! Wash your face in cold water and off you go!

JOINT PAIN

Potent Essential Oils for Joint Pain Relief

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CAUSES OF JOINT PAIN

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Joint pain, scientifically known as arthraglgia refers to pain experienced in one or more joints in the body. There are various reasons why joints pain, including:

  • Physical trauma (such as a fall or accident)

  • Drug-induced joint pain

  • Rheumatoid arthritis

  • Osteoarthritis

  • Gout

  • Lyme Disease

  • And others

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HOW DO ESSENTIAL OILS HELP ALLEVIATE JOINT PAIN?

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Essential oils can be used to address joint pain in 3 main ways:

Reducing inflammation: Essential oils are rich in unique oil terpenes which have powerful anti-inflammatory properties. These anti-inflammatory compounds help suppress and reverse excess inflammation and help to encourage proper immune system function. 

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Stimulating blood circulation: Stimulating compounds such as menthol, found in oils like peppermint and eucalyptus help to relieve joint pain by encouraging blood flow to the areas where they are applied. More efficient blood flow helps supply vital nutrients and oxygen to the joints which eases inflammation and pain. 

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Diminishing pain: Essential oils are also rich in anti-analgesic compounds like eugenol, found in oils like clove and cinnamon, which are naturally analgesic and antinociceptive. This means they have pain-reducing properties that can relieve joint pain when applied topically. 

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THE BEST 15 ESSENTIAL OILS FOR JOINT PAIN RELIEF

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LAVENDER 

ROSEMARY 

PEPPERMINT 

FRANKINCENSE 

EUCALYPTUS 

CLOVE 

GINGER 

BASIL 

CHAMOMILE 

CAMPHOR 

GERANIUM 

VETIVER 

JUNIPER BERRY 

CYPRESS 

WINTERGREEN 

THYME 

FENNEL 

NIAOULI 

YARROW 

MARJORAM 

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HOW TO USE ESSENTIAL OILS FOR JOINT PAIN RELIEF

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1. Total Body Massage Treatment Oil
If you already have a massage oil, try adding some of the above essential oils into it before getting a massage. Otherwise it’s really easy to make your own massage oil! Here’s how to do it:

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Measure out and pour all the ingredients into a suitable glass jar.

  2. Screw on the lid and shake or gently swirl the jar to get all the oils evenly mixed up.

  3. Use this oil to give your joints a massage whenever needed. 

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2. Hot Compress for Swollen Joints

A hot compress does wonders for relieving swelling, inflammation and pain in the joints. All you need is a cotton wash cloth, some hot water and a few powerful essential oils.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Place a large bowl containing hot water on a stool near your seat.

  2. Stir in the recommended essential oils using the washcloth.

  3. Now soak the washcloth into the hot water, wring it out and apply this hot cloth onto your aching joints (such as knees) with firm pressure.

  4. Repeat the procedure until the water gets warm (at which point you can replace with more water) or until the swelling starts to reduce.​

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3. Healing Bath for Tired Joints
This bath is highly detoxifying and it pulls out toxins and inflammation from your joints, lowers stress-related hormones and balances your pH levels.

Ingredients

  • 2 handfuls of Epsom salts 

  • 1/2 cup of baking soda 

  • 10 drops of lavender oil

  • 10 drops of niaouli oil

  • 5 drops of geranium

Directions

  1. Run a hot bath and while the water is still running, slowly pour the Epsom salt and the baking soda under the tap so that it gets dissolved faster.

  2. Add in your essential oils and stir.

  3. Now soak in your bath for at least 20 minutes every week.

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4. Joint Pain Relief Blend
You can make and store this customized joint pain relief blend so that you can pull it out and use it for any joint pain related issues. For example, you can use this blend in a bath, in a diffuser or for a hot compress. It must be diluted before use. 

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Get a tinted or amber glass bottle and using a pipette, measure out and pour in all the oils carefully into the bottle.

  2. Place on the lid firmly and then shake to get it all combined.

  3. This is a powerful blend that can be used as soon as you need something immediately for your joint pain, without having to mix up a blend from scratch.

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5. DIY Joint Pain Cream
Conventional joint pain creams often contain synthetic fragrance substitutes, preservatives and petroleum-based oils. You can totally by-pass these nasty ingredients by making your own natural homemade cream with essential oils.

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup of shea butter 

  • 1/4 cup of coconut oil 

  • 1 tablespoon of beeswax pastilles 

  • 10 drops of frankincense oil

  • 10 drops of peppermint oil

  • 5 drops of ginger oil

  • 5 drops of camphor oil

Directions

  1. In a double boiler, melt the shea butter, coconut oil and bees wax pastilles until they are all fully liquefied. Stir to get them all mixed up.

  2. Allow the oil mixture to cool a little (until it becomes warm, but is still in liquid form).

  3. Transfer to a suitable glass jar and then drop in the essential oils.

  4. Stir the oils thoroughly and allow to set in the refrigerator overnight.

  5. You can now use this joint pain cream by applying it all over the joints in question. Apply twice a day, in gentle circular motions.

FOOT PAIN

Essential Oils for Foot Pain & How to Use

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Foot pain is a condition characterized by sharp, throbbing or aching pains in one foot or both feet. Some of the causes of foot pain include prolonged wearing high heels and uncomfortable shows, running long distances, heavy weight lifting, pregnancy and others.

Painful and aching feet can also arise due to health conditions especially those that affect the feet in particular, such as plantar fasciitis, heel spur, mettarsalgia, tarsal tunnel syndrome, foot drop, Achilles tendonitis and arthritis, among others.

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HOW ESSENTIAL OILS HELP RELIEVE FOOT PAIN

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Essential oils help relieve foot pain because of their analgesic, stimulant, anti – inflammatory and antispasmodic properties. These properties reduce inflammation, which is the root cause of pain, numb down pain due to their high menthol content, in the cause of peppermint and promote flow of more oxygen and nutrients to the painful site, which promotes speedy healing. In the case of plantar faciistis, essential oils also help by boosting collagen production, which there’s a lack of or is damaged.

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ESSENTIAL OILS FOR FOOT PAIN RELIEF AND MANAGEMENT

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Before using essential oils, please ensure that you purchase only 100% pure high quality therapeutic grade essential oils from a reputed seller.

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PEPPERMINT 

WINTERGREEN 

LEMONGRASS 

BIRCH 

FRANKINCENSE 

HELICHRYSUM 

VETIVER 

BLACK PEPPER 

MARJORAM 

BASIL 

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3 ESSENTIAL OIL REMEDIES FOR FOOT PAIN RELIEF

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Below are 3 effective essential oil remedies for foot pain relief:

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1. PAIN RELIEVING FOOT SOAK

What you need

  • A handful or less of Epsom salts 

  • 1 tbsp baking soda 

  • 10 drops wintergreen

  • 10 drops peppermint

  • 5 drops marjoram

  • Foot soak tub 

  • Hot water

Method

  • Collect hot water to fill the foot soak tub halfway full.

  • Add the Epsom salts, baking soda and essential oils.

  • Sit on a stool in front of the basin, place your feet inside and stir the ingredients together using your feet.

  • Soak them for at least 15 minutes for relief.

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2. FOOT KNEADING THERAPY

What you need

Method

  • Combine all the oils in a glass dropper bottle. Shake gently to combine.

  • Place about 5 – 7 drops in one palm, rub both your palms together and deeply massage your foot, kneading and squeezing all areas. You can get someone to do this for you if possible but self-massage is very good too! Or you can use a foot massage roller.

  • Repeat with the other foot then cover both feet with a pair of comfortable socks and go to bed.

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3. POWERFUL OIL BLEND

*The blend below is at a 5% dilution rate. You can reduce it to a 4%, 3% or 2% dilution.

What you need

Method

  1. In an empty dropper bottle, add all the oils then top with fractionated coconut oil.

  2. Massage the affected area or whole foot as needed (preferably once or twice a day) on feet.

KNEE PAIN

Essential Oils for Knee Pain and Swelling & How to Use

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One of the most effective approaches to alleviating knee pain – without drugs – is the use of pure therapeutic grade essential oils. In this article, find the top 10 essential oils for knee pain and swelling as well as treatment recipes.

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KNEE PAIN SYMPTOMS & CAUSES

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A common complaint for many people, knee pain can arise due to a number of factors including

  • old age

  • arthritis

  • cold weather

  • running long distances

  • injury to the knee

  • sprains and strains

  • fractures

  • dislocations

  • knee pain due to lack of movement

  • cold weather – induced knee pain

  • referred knee pain (which means the pain doesn’t originate from the knee itself but another site connected to the knee, such as the pain from the ankle shooting up to the knee).

 

Symptoms of knee pain and swelling include inflammation of the knee joint, redness, warm feeling inside the knee, sharp pains, fluid retention, paralysis or temporary movement due to extreme pain.

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HOW ESSENTIAL OILS HELP KNEE PAIN

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Since most knee pains are related to pain arising due to inflammation or injury of the knee joint, they can easily be alleviated with topically application of healing massage oils with essential oils. What makes essential oils so good for pain, let alone knee pain is their analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties.

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An analgesic is a substance that alleviates or relieves pain. Many essential oils are analgesic and they work in numbing down pain. There are two kinds of analgesic essential oils: some that bring cooling relief and some that bring warming relief. When cooling analgesic essential oils such as wintergreen, peppermint and eucalyptus are applied to painful areas, they give a cooling tingling sensation that numbs down the pain.

 

On the other hand, when warming analgesic oils like ginger, thyme, clove, lemongrass, vetiver, are applied, they warm up the area which promotes blood circulation and reduces pain.

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► For knee joint pain, use cooling oils to numb down the pain.

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► For knee inflammation & muscle pain, there will be swelling of the knee which needs warming oils to reduce the inflammation and heal the area.

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Basically, what essential oil you choose to use depends on what kind of relief you feel will soothe your pain. If you feel like you need cooling relief in that area, go for cooling analgesic oils. Warming analgesic essential oils can be used for knee pain that’s cold-weather related.

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TOP 10 ESSENTIAL OILS FOR KNEE PAIN AND SWELLING

Below are the top ten essential oils for knee pain and swelling:

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PEPPERMINT ESSENTIAL OIL 

WINTERGREEN ESSENTIAL OIL 

EUCALYPTUS ESSENTIAL OIL 

GINGER ESSENTIAL OIL 

VETIVER ESSENTIAL OIL 

LEMONGRASS ESSENTIAL OIL 

CLOVE ESSENTIAL OIL 

THYME ESSENTIAL OIL 

BLACK PEPPER ESSENTIAL OIL 

MARJORAM ESSENTIAL OIL 

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HOW TO USE ESSENTIAL OILS FOR KNEE PAIN AND SWELLING

Take a look at 4 great essential oil remedies for knee pain and swelling below:

 

1. Warming Deep Massage Oil

What you need

Method

  1. Add all oils to the glass dropper bottle and shake it well to combine them.

  2. To use, place about 5 drops on your hand, rub your palms together and deeply massage the painful area.

  3. Let the oil penetrate deep for at least 15 minutes.

 

2. Hot or Cold Compresses

What you need

  • A bowl with 1 cup of hot or cold water (for hot compress use hot water and cold compress, use cold water)

  • 5 drops wintergreen 

  • Soft microfiber washcloth 

Method

  1. Place the drops of essential oils into the bowl containing hot or cold water.

  2. Stir the oils into the water using the microfiber washcloth.

  3. Wring out the washcloth and press it on the painful area for a minute or two.

  4. Repeat until relief is felt.

 

3. Warming Pain Relief Cream

What you need

Method

  1. Mix up the essential oils in the pure aloe vera gel using a popsicle stick.

  2. Transfer it to an amber glass jar (amber to protect the aloe from light which easily degrades it).

  3. Apply liberally on the painful area for nice warming sensation and relief.

 

4. Roller Bottle Recipe for Pain & Swelling Reduction

What you need

Method

  1. Remove the roller ball from the bottle and add the essential oils drop by drop.

  2. Fill the rest of the bottle with fractionated coconut oil.

  3. Put back the roller ball, close the cap and vigorously shake the bottle to combine the oils.

  4. To use, roll on the knee.

SCIATICA PAIN

Powerful Essential Oils for Sciatica Pain

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Sciatica is a type of back pain that stems from trauma of the sciatica nerve, which begins at the lower back, passes via the pelvic-buttock area and runs down the leg. It is the largest and longest single nerve in the entire human body, which is why even a small damage to it creates debilitating pain.

Some of the causes of sciatica include:

  • Chronic poor posture

  • Poor sleep posture/ improper mattress

  • Damage to the discs

  • Spondylolisthesis

  • Pregnancy

  • Being overweight and wearing high heels often contribute to sciatic nerve irritation

 

The medical treatment for sciatica involves oral medication such as NSAIDS and other painkillers and surgery to correct spinal problems to remove part of the disc and to relieve the vertebral compression that is causing sciatic trouble.

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TOP ESSENTIAL OILS FOR SCIATICA

These are the essential oils routinely used for back pain and sciatica health. You do not have to have all of them on your road to recovery. Even if you have a few of these, you can still make a big difference to your spinal well-being. Of course, there are many other lifestyle changes you have to add into your daily routine.

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FRANKINCENSE 

CAMPHOR 

GINGER 

LEMONGRASS 

WINTERGREEN 

LAVENDER 

GERANIUM 

VETIVER 

ROSEMARY 

ROMAN CHAMOMILE 

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TREATING SCIATICA WITH ESSENTIAL OILS

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1. Velvety Vetiver Massage Oil
Here’s what you’ll need:

In a large glass jar, measure out and pour all the above ingredients. Stir or shake to get them all well-combined. You can now use this velvety vetiver oil to massage onto the sciatica-affected region.

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2. Steaming Sciatica Sitz Bath
Granted, if you have severe sciatic pain, you may not even be able to get up, walk and sit in a sitz bath, but when you do – you’ll feel so invigorated! Why a sitz bath and not a normal bath? Well, with a sitz bath, you’ll be able to put your plastic tub on top of a stool and then sit in it. The added height will help you sit comfortably in the bath without having to squat and get in, as you would in a normal bathtub. What’s better is getting a custom sitz bathtub that you can fit on the toilet and sit comfortably.

Secondly, with a sitz bath you’ll be using much less water and essential oils, since it’s smaller in size than your normal bathtub. And lastly, you may need to do a sitz up to 3 times a day, which is much easier to do in a smaller sitz tub than filling up the entire bathtub.

You’ll need:

  • Sitz bathtub 

  • Hot water to fill the tub

  • Baking soda – 1/4 cup 

  • Bentonite clay – 1/4 cup 

  • Grated fresh ginger – 2 tablespoons

  • Essential oils – geranium, lemongrass, lavender – 3 drops each

Begin by putting your sitz bath on the toilet and fill it with warm-hot water from the tap. Mix in all the other ingredients with your hand. Now gently sit into the tub and soak for 15 minutes, 3 times a day.

The ginger will greatly help reduce inflammation. The baking soda will help detoxification and the clay is a powerful way to draw out excess fluid and toxins from the spine. The essential oils will help promote blood circulation, encourage healing of damaged tissues and alleviate the pain. Note, you can use ginger oil, instead of scraped ginger, too.

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3. Pain Relieving Poultice
You’ll need someone to help you for this one, as it involves wrapping your lower back with a DIY bandage containing a potent poultice. Poultices are normally made with herbs rather than the essential oils but this poultice contains the oils and is potent and effective, plus it’s much less messy. This essential oil poultice can greatly help alleviate pain, reduce inflammation and stimulate healing.

To make a pain-relieving poultice for your back, you’ll need:

  • A long, wide strip of cotton cloth or cotton gauze (enough to go around your abdomen 3 – 4 times)

  • Dry ginger, powdered ginger – 1 tablespoon 

  • Turmeric powder – 1 teaspoon 

  • Activated charcoal – 2 teaspoons 

  • Bentonite clay – 1/4 cup 

  • Coconut oil – 2 tablespoons 

  • Essential oils – peppermint (2 drops), roman chamomile (2 drops), vetiver (2 drops)

In a glass bowl, mix in all the ingredients until you form a really thick paste. If you find your paste is too oily, then add in some more clay to make it thick. From here, ask your helper to apply the paste on your lumbar region or whichever point you feel the most pain. Now wrap the long cheesecloth or cotton strip that you have tightly and firmly all around you back. Use a plastic cling wrap to wrap and secure around the cotton strip. Leave the poultice on overnight.

NERVE PAIN

Top Essential Oils for Nerve Pain Relief

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Nerve pain, neuropathy and neuralgia are forms of chronic pain that occur as a result of damage to the nerves. Many essential oils for nerve pain have been proven to be much more effective that conventional pain medication.

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Nerve pain can be categorized into 2 main types, these are:

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  • Neuralgia – In cases of neuralgia, there may not be any nerve damage or inflammation present, but pain along the nerve pathway is experienced recurrently.

  • Neuropathy – Trauma to the peripheral nerves, caused by diseases or injury creates nerve pain that starts out as a tingly feeling in the extremities and has a tendency to spread to other areas.

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WHAT MAKES ESSENTIAL OILS GOOD FOR NERVE PAIN

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  • Analgesic – The analgesic properties of essential oils give them the ability to achieve analgesia, which means relief from pain. Examples include clove oil and helichrysum essential oils.

  • Anti-inflammatory – Anti-inflammatory compounds in essential oils help to reduce inflammation or swelling, including in cases of arthritis and tendinitis. Examples include blue tansy, yarrow and sandalwood essential oils.

  • Anti-spasmodic – Compounds present in some essential oils have anti-spasmodic tendencies, which stop the spasming of muscles. They halt the transmission of parasympathetic nerve impulses and lessen muscle spasming. Examples of such essential oils include marjoram, basil and juniperberry.

  • Sedative – Some essential oils such as lavender and clary sage have natural sedative properties, which help to induce calmness and promote sleep.

  • Stimulatory – Stimulatory effects in essential oils such as geranium, help raise the levels of physiological or nervous system function in the body.

  • Nervine – Natural nervine compounds found in essential oils have the ability to calm the nerves. Some essential oils like helichyrusm, ylang ylang and rosemary have potent nervine properties.

  • Adaptogenic – Adaptogenic essential oils like geranium, when applied topically result in the stabilization and balancing of physiological processes. They also reduce stress within cells.

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ESSENTIAL OILS FOR NERVE PAIN

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BASIL

ROMAN CHAMOMILE

HELICHRYSUM

JUNIPER BERRY

GINGER

LAVENDER

GERANIUM

BERGAMOT

PATCHOULI

YLANG YLANG

LEMONGRASS

CLARY SAGE

CYPRESS

PEPPERMINT

SANDALWOOD

MARJORAM

EUCALYPTUS

TEA TREEE OIL

BLACK PEPPER

BALSAM FIR

TANGERINE

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NERVE PAIN RELIEF MASSAGE OIL

Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Drop essential oils into a medium glass bowl.

  2. Add in carrier oil and mix.

  3. Massage over feet, legs or over problem areas.

  4. Store in glass jar or in a lotion dispenser.

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Roman Chamomile Essential Oil Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 1/4 cup of beeswax

  • 1/2 cup of coconut oil

  • 15 drops of Roman chamomile of essential oil

  • 15 drops of lavender essential oil

Directions:

  1. You need to Add add coconut oil and beeswax into a glass bowl.

  2. Pour water in a pot and put it on the stove.

  3. When it begins to simmer, place the glass bowl over it to melt the coconut oil and beeswax.

  4. Remove it from heat when completely melted and add Roman chamomile essential oil and lavender essential oil into it.

  5. Combine well and pour it into a glass jar and set it aside to cool.

  6. Apply the essential oil over the affected areas, such as the site of pain. You can also apply it on rashes, sore muscles, and burns. You need to apply it at least once every day or as needed.

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Eucalyptus Essential Oil Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 8 drops of eucalyptus essential oil

  • 8 drops of lavender essential oil

  • 8 drops of peppermint essential oil

  • 14 ml of grapeseed carrier oil

  • 44 ml sweet almond carrier oil

Directions:

  1. In an amber glass bottle, you need to add eucalyptus essential oil, lavender essential oil, peppermint essential oil, sweet almond carrier oil, and grapeseed carrier oil.

  2. You need Put to put the cap of the bottle back on and shake it well to combine all the ingredients.

  3. You need to Aapply 1 tablespoon of the essential oil blend to the affected area. You can take it out in your hand and then massage it on the site of pain.

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Clove Essential Oil Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 8 drops of clove essential oil

  • 15 drops of peppermint essential oil

  • 15 drops of eucalyptus essential oil

  • 2 tablespoons of cayenne powder

  • 2 teaspoons of ginger powder

  • 1 teaspoon of arrowroot powder

  • 1/2 cup of coconut oil

  • 1 2/4 cups of cocoa butter, packed and finely grated

Directions:

  1. In a double broiler, add coconut oil, ginger powder, and cayenne powder. 

  2. Warm the oil a little, turn off the heat, and let it sit on there for half an hour.

  3. Repeat this step twicewo more times.

  4. Remove the pot from the heat and put an empty bowl in the freezer.

  5. Use a cheesecloth to strain the mixture and separate the spices from itthe mixture.

  6. Add more coconut oil to the mixture.

  7. Add arrowroot powder and stir to combine.

  8. Pour the coconut oil into the cold bowl and return it to the freezer.

  9. Once the mixture begins to turn white and a little solid, remove and stir in the three essential oils into it.

  10. Use a hand mixer ture to fluff up the mixture for 2 to 3 minutes or until peaks start to form.

  11. Store it in an airtight container and keep out of sunlight. 

  12. Massage the cream on sore and aching muscles once one time each day or as needed.

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Balsam Fir Essential Oil Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 30 drops of balsam fir essential oil

  • 1/2 cup of coconut oil

  • 1/4 cup of beeswax pastilles

Directions:

  1. Melt the coconut oil and beeswax pastilles in a double boiler, stirring continuously.

  2. Let the mixture cool a little and then add the balsam fir essential oil into it.

  3. Store the essential oil blend in an airtight container for 6 months.

  4. Massage the blend on to sore muscles and the site of pain at least once every day or as needed.

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Wintergreen Essential Oil Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 10 drops of wintergreen essential oil

  • 5 drops of clove essential oil

  • 6 drops of ginger essential oil

  • 10 drops of peppermint essential oil

  • 4 teaspoons of almond carrier oil 

Directions:

  1. Add wintergreen, peppermint, ginger, and clove essential oil in a dark  colored small glass bottle and stir to combine after every the entire essential oil is added.

  2. Add almond carrier oil in parts and stir to combine after every amount is added.

  3. Store the jar in a cool and dark place.

  4. Use a spoon to take out a few drops of the mixture into the palms of your hands, rub together, and massage it on the site of pain.

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Frankincense Essential Oil Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 5 drops of frankincense essential oil

  • 2 drops of peppermint essential oil

  • 2 drops of lavender essential oil

  • 1/4 cup of cold pressed Jjojoba oil 

Directions:

  1. Put all the ingredients in a dark bottle.

  2. Place the cap on it and gently shake it to combine the ingredients.

  3. Massage one teaspoon of the mixture onto the site of pain.

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Ginger Essential Oil Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 1 drop of ginger essential oil

  • 1 drop of cedar wood essential oil

  • 1 drop of chamomile essential oil

  • 8 drops of lavender essential oil

  • 4 drops of marjoram essential oil

  • 15 ml of borage oil 

  • 45 ml of almond carrier oil

Directions:

  1. Combine all the ingredients in a jar.

  2. Stir to combine.

  3. Massage the blend on the site of pain as needed. 

STOMACH PAIN

Best Essential Oils for Stomach Ache Relief & How to Use

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PEPPERMINT ESSENTIAL OIL

Peppermint is one of the best essential oils to have around the house. It’s safe to use for children, pets and pregnant mamas beyond the first trimester. Peppermint reduces nausea when inhaled and has medicinal value when consumed in tiny amounts. It can also be massaged on the stomach diluted in a stable oil like coconut oil for a cooling & numbing effect on stomach ache.

Peppermint Capsules: Purchase these very effective peppermint capsules that are ready-made for consumption to instantly suppress stomach aches or make your own capsules by placing 2 drops of peppermint oil in a 00-vegetable capsule and filling it with enough drops of olive oil. Take one immediately for relief. Do not take more than 2 capsules a day.

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EUCALYPTUS ESSENTIAL OIL

Harvested by steam distillation from the succulent leaves of the eucalyptus or Blue Gum trees native to Australia, eucalyptus oil is a cooling essential oil that is extremely versatile in the world of aroma therapy. It is similar to peppermint with its high menthol content, cooling effect, nausea pain alleviating qualities that help alleviate stomach aches. Some people even say eucalyptus works better and faster than peppermint in getting rid of stomach aches!

Breathe in Eucalyptus: Place 2-3 drops of eucalyptus oil in a hanky and breathe deeply.

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GINGER ESSENTIAL OIL

Ginger essential oil is warming in nature and has analgesic properties that makes it effective in reducing stomach aches. It is also interesting to note that ginger oil suppresses appetite which can help avoid future stomach aches due to over consumption of food or rushed eating. Remember to consult your doctor before ingesting essential oils.

Ginger – Honey Medicinal Treat: The combination of ginger and honey has been used for centuries to alleviate nausea and get rid of digestive problems. To make your medicinal treat, mix in 2 drops of organic food grade ginger oil in 1 tsp of raw honey. Using a clean index finger, slowly lick up the ginger – honey mix for relief in a few minutes.

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FENNEL ESSENTIAL OIL

Fennel oil is extracted from the aromatic fennel seeds that have long been chewed on for their breath freshening and appetite suppressing powers. This essential oil also helps improve digestion when inhaled or rubbed on the tummy so if you’re stomach ache is due to poor digestion, you can inhale a couple of drops of fennel oil from a hanky or mix it in a vegetable oil like olive oil and rub it deeply on your tummy.

Fight Pain with Fennel: On the palm of your hand, add 2 tsp of shea butter, 3 drops fennel oil and 3 drops peppermint oil. Carefully mix it up with your other hand to create a creamy mashed paste on your hands. Now deeply massage this mixture all over your belly. Lie down and let the mixture sink deep for about 15 minutes.

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CINNAMON ESSENTIAL OIL

This spicy essential oil is great for stomachaches because of its pain easing properties. When applied over the aching area, a warm sensation is experienced and the severity of the ache is dulled down. It can also be taken internally to help with aches caused by digestive problems or bloating. Below is a remedy using cinnamon and yogurt, which is also a natural stomach soother and can help relieve the ache. Consult your doctor before ingesting essential oils.

Cinnamon Yogurt Shake: Simply blitz ½ cup of yogurt in a mini blender or Ninja food processor together with just a drop of food grade cinnamon oil. Sip this up slowly to feel the relieving effects.

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LEMON ESSENTIAL OIL

A sweet and fruity smelling oil, lemon is good for fighting nausea and diarrhea that accompanies stomach ache. It can be rubbed on the belly with other oils and a carrier like grapeseed oil to control stomachaches or inhaled to benefit from its aroma therapeutic properties of quelling nausea.

Diffuse Lemon: Place about 5 drops of lemon oil in your non-plastic cold-air diffuser and rest while breathing in its mood uplifting aroma.

MENSTRUAL PAIN

Essential Oils for Menstrual Cramps plus Tried & True Recipes

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ESSENTIAL OILS FOR MENSTRUAL CRAMPS

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PEPPERMINT ESSENTIAL OIL 

VETIVER ESSENTIAL OIL 

CLARY SAGE ESSENTIAL OIL 

EUCALYPTUS ESSENTIAL OIL 

MARJORAM ESSENTIAL OIL 

CYPRESS ESSENTIAL OIL 

LAVENDER ESSENTIAL OIL 

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EFFECTIVE ESSENTIAL OIL RECIPES FOR MENSTRUAL CRAMPS

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Pain Prevention Blend

What you need

  • 7 drops vetiver oil 

  • 7 drops cedarwood oil 

  • 5 drops patchouli oil 

  • 2 oz shea butter 

  • 4 oz amber glass jar 

Method

  1. Place the shea butter in the amber glass jar followed by the essential oils.

  2. Now mix them thoroughly using a disposable spoon until you get a well combined mixture.

  3. Apply the creamy blend over your uterus during the week before you expect your period and on the first days of your period to prevent painful cramps.

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Soothing Bath Salts

What you need

  • A handful of Epsom salts 

  • ½ cup of whole milk

  • 15 drops lavender oil 

  • 10 drops eucalyptus oil 

  • 10 drops marjoram oil 

Method

  1. When your hot or warm bath is running, throw in a handful of Epsom salts and let them disperse and dissolve.

  2. After drawing the bath, mix up the essential oils in the whole milk and pour it into the bath.

  3. Stir the bath water with your hand to mix everything up.

  4. Have a long soothing soak, taking time to breathe deeply and relax your body.

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Cramp Relieving Blend

Massage this cramp relieving blend over your uterus to help reduce the severity of menstrual cramps and sleep better at night, when cramps may tend to be worse.

What you need

  • 5 drops peppermint oil 

  • 5 drops vetiver oil 

  • 5 drops lavender oil 

  • 1 oz carrier oil of choice (choose from the ones most available to you like olive or grapeseed)

  • 4 oz amber glass dropper bottle 

Method

  1. Combine all the oils in the glass dropper bottle and shake well to mix.

  2. To use it, simply place 5 drops on your palm, rub your palms together and massage the cramped up area.

TRIED AND TRUE ESSENTIAL OIL BLENDS FOR PAIN RELIEF

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1. Cooling Pain Relief Gel

What you need

  • ½ cup pure aloe vera gel 

  • 20 drops eucalyptus oil 

  • 10 drops peppermint oil 

  • 4 oz amber glass jar 

Method

  1. Mix up the essential oils in the pure aloe vera gel using a popsicle stick.

  2. Transfer it to an amber glass jar (amber to protect the aloe from light which easily degrades it).

  3. Apply liberally on the painful area for cooling relief.

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2. Hot and Cold Compresses

What you need

  • A bowl with 1 cup of hot or cold water (for hot compress use hot water and cold compress, use cold water)

  • 5 drops wintergreen oil 

  • 5 drops frankincense oil 

  • Soft microfiber washcloth 

Method

  1. Place the drops of essential oils into the bowl containing hot or cold water.

  2. Stir the oils into the water using the microfiber washcloth.

  3. Wring out the washcloth and press it on the painful area for a minute or two.

  4. Repeat until relief is felt.

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3. Synergistic Pain Relief Blend

What you need

  • 8 teaspoons of peppermint oil 

  • 8 teaspoons of rose geranium 

  • 8 teaspoons of black pepper oil 

  • 8 teaspoons of rosemary 

Method

  1. Use a pipette to carefully measure the essential oils needed and transfer them using the pipette again, into an amber-colored glass dropper bottle.

  2. Once you have transferred all the oils, close the amber bottle and shake to mix all the oils evenly together.

  3. This is your synergy blend that you can use in any pain relief treatment by diluting a little of it in a base ingredient. You can use it in massage blends, facial steaming, bath blends and more. Just be sure to dilute it before use – 2 to 5 drops of the blend in 1 tsp of carrier oil or base ingredient.

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