There are very few people out there who haven't experienced the occasional aches and pains of osteo arthritis, muscle sprains and strains - and it gets more likely every year as we ago. All the injuries we've sustained over the years come back to haunt us as we get older.There are many things we can use to relieve pain of course, including over the counter medications such as aspirin, ibuprophen and other NSAIDS (non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs). Using the NSAIDs however, has the risk of side effects over time that can be almost as bad as the original pain!So what to do. The pain can make life pretty miserable, and the cure does too. Enter essential oils. Not the essential oils from the MLM (multi level marketing) schemes. Not the essential oils from the high priced retail displays in places like Whole Foods...these are more affordable options you will make yourself. And yes, you CAN make them yourself. Follow a few general safety guidelines that I have outlined below and you can get soothing relief from (relatively) minor pain. My husband has a titanium rod in one of his legs from an accident. The pain in the ankle from that injury gets worse every year. He has gotten a huge level of relief using the essential oil roll-ons I will teach you to make below. These really can work! What are essential oils Essential oils are the volatile oils found in plants. These are highly concentrated versions of the chemical compounds found in the plant, by nature. If you buy true essential oils, and (in my opinion) organic essential oils are best for health applications, you are getting only the true components of the plant. Essential oils are extracted from plants and roots using various methods. I prefer to stick to steam expressed oils. That just means the method they used to get the essential oil out was steam, from water. Some oils are made with chemical solvents. Those aren't suitable for use on the skin - again, in my opinion. If you stick to organic, you are sticking to steam expressed, safe, clean and pure. Where do you Get Essential Oils I get essential oils from a few different places. For personal use, I typically get them from Mountain Rose Herbs, Amazon (usually this is where I get Plant Therapy brand, which is nice, although often not organic), or from a company called New Directions Aromatics. Not all their oils are organic, you have to read through. These oils come in TINY little bottles. And some of them are extremely expensive - especially if they are organic! But the companies above are reasonably priced and carry a good selection of organic oils. You don't need much! In fact, until you have worked a little with a given oil, I would not buy much. You could have a sensitivity, and then you'd have a big (expensive) bottle of useless! Start small - you can always get more.And don't assume one place that was cheaper last month is still cheaper. They have sales, sometimes they get a new supplier, prices change! Always check through a couple of places to see where the best deal is. On the Internet it's much easier than driving all over town! How you use Essential Oils for Pain The best way I've found to use essential oils for pain is topically. You apply the oil to the skin, over the area that hurts. There are a couple of rules though:
NEVER use undiluted essential oils on your skin. These are VERY potent compounds that should be diluted to prevent potential skin irritation.
Only use your essential oil treatments 2-3 times in a day. If you use a treatment over and over, you may be using too much of the essential oil and it could cause skin irritation or even more serious issues over time. Your skin absorbs the essential oil and takes it into the blood stream. Our skin is porous. That's OK if used as directed, but can be bad if anything on the skin is used to excess.
Essential oils are medicine. You wouldn't take 4 Motrin every hour, right? It would make you sick! Well, essential oils could too. They are very effective medicine, but they need to be used with respect. Mixing a Treatment for Aching Muscles One of the best methods for using essential oils is to mix up one of those cool little roll-on bottles people use for perfume. You can then carry it in your purse or pocket, and it's right there when you have a pain.To make a muscle treatment roll-on you will need a few things:
A 10 ml roll-on bottle with a cap
Fractionated coconut oil (I use organic that I get from Amazon - this is the link)
Essential Oils
You will only want to include a maximum of 30 DROPS of essential oil in a 10 ml roll-on. I know it sounds like it won't be strong enough, but trust me, it will! Good essential oils to consider for muscle strains, spasms, and general pain:
Basil (antispasmodic)
Black Pepper (warming, anti spasmodic, analgesic)
Clove (analgesic)
Frankincense (soothing, anti inflammatory)
Ginger (warming, relaxing)
Helichrysum (anti inflammatory, analgesic, antispasmodic)
Peppermint (cooling, calming)
You can experiment with taking a few drops from one, and a couple from another, and combining them in a base of fractionated coconut oil. Here's a sample formula to try:
9 drops Clove
5 drops Ginger
9 drops Helichrysum (expensive, but oh so worth it! Link above is to Amazon and is relatively affordable))
7 drops Peppermint
The above goes into 10 ml of the fractionated coconut oil. Then you snap the roll-on into the bottle. Label it so you don't forget what it is. Sometimes I do cute decorative labels. Write down the formula with exact ratios you used.If you don't like the way this one works, try changing some of the oils. Change one at a time to see what works for you. And write down what you change! The worst thing ever is to find a perfect remedy and be unable to replicate it because you didn't write it down! Mixing a Treatment for Arthritis and Joint Pain The oils to use for joint pain include some of the same ones, and some that are different. The goal with joint pain is to calm the inflammation in the joint, to warm and sooth, where muscle pain often needs a mix of warmth and cooling. Try a blend of these oils. Again, only 30 drops of essential oil in a 10 ml roll-on bottle:
Black Pepper
Cedar wood
Cypress
Eucalyptus (globulus)
Frankincense
Ginger
Lavender (angustafolia)
Peppermint
Rosemary
Thyme
Turmeric
Buying all of the suggested oils above could be pretty pricey, even in tiny bottles. Try just a a few to start, then add on if needed. I would start with 5 ml bottles until you see what works and what you like. Here's a good starter formula to try:
5 drops Black Pepper
5 drops Cedar wood
7 drops Ginger
7 drops Lavender
3 drops Peppermint
3 drops Turmeric
Combine them in the roll-on bottle, shake gently until well combined. Label the bottle so you remember what's in it and write down your formula! Summing Up Essential oils are a powerful tool in your home medical kit. They are a fragrant and empowering option for anyone suffering from chronic pain. They soothe muscles and joints, relieve the pain and help you sleep. There are essential oils for almost anything you think of, the above are just a few of my favorites.For a wonderful reference manual, my very favorite book on essential oils EVER is linked below: The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy, Revised and Expanded: Over 800 Natural, Nontoxic, and Fragrant Recipes to Create Health, Beauty, and Safe Home and Work Environments I've literally gone through 2 copies of this book by Valerie Warwood as I use it routinely for skin care, health issues and read it for curiosity!Please let me know if this type of information is useful. I am happy to write more if you like it! Blessed be! Alison