When in doubt, oil it out
Ongoing, persistent joint pain can cause daily discomfort. Everyday tasks can become frustrating and painful, severely reducing your ability to live life at its fullest. Arthritis, the all-encompassing term for joint pain and joint disease, affects more than 50 million adults and 300,000 children and is the leading cause of disability among adults in America. Inflamed joints, swelling, pain, stiffness, and a decrease in range of motion are often associated with arthritis.
Thankfully, essential oils are concentrated compounds with the ability to help maintain comfort when joint pain is interfering with your life. These suggestions are merely that — suggestions. How an individual reacts to an essential oil is very unique and may require some trial and error to find out what truly works best for your personal situation.
With that in mind, here are some of our favorite essential oils for arthritis:
Frankincense
Frankincense Essential Oil can inhibit certain inflammatory molecules that may be present for people suffering from arthritis, making it a great option to help reduce discomfort associated with joints and tendons. Studies have shown that the decreased progress of these inflammatory molecules helps prevent the breakdown of cartilage tissue, which reduces inflammation. Plus, it smells fantastic and can rejuvenate skin — making it a wonderful essential oil to apply topically!
It’s as simple as adding 2 drops of Frankincense into a teaspoon of your favorite carrier oil (that makes a 2% dilution), and massaging it onto the areas that are needing some relief!
Eucalyptus
With its characteristic penetrating and refreshing aroma, Eucalyptus Essential Oil is pretty popular around the world. It’s widely known for supporting respiratory issues, but it has demonstrated its ability to reduce the perception of pain while calming swelling and inflammation.
Dilute 2-4 drops of Eucalyptus into a teaspoon of your favorite carrier oil (that makes a 2-4% dilution), and rub onto aching or swollen joints for some relief.
Lavender
We can use Lavender Essential Oil to feel more comfortable and calm. Lavender’s pain-relieving properties have been widely studied, and results from these studies tell us that topically applying Lavender is an amazing way to soothe discomfort.
When diluted to 2-5%, this sweetly scented oil can be massaged onto the aches and pains causing discomfort. The additional benefit of using Lavender is that this oil is known to have soothing effects on the mind. This dual effect makes Lavender a great option to keep on hand.
Peppermint
Peppermint Essential Oil has both analgesic and anaesthetic properties which helps to soothe the inflammation and pain in the joints. Joint pain may be caused due to conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Peppermint oil effectively treats all kinds of pains such as knee pain, back pain, and neck pain.
Dilute the oil to 2-5% with a carrier oil such as moringa oil (known to have anti-inflammatory properties) and massage on your joints to experience the benefits. It also imparts a cooling effect that further aids at relieving pain and discomfort.
Sources
Blain, E., Ali, A.,, Duance, V.. (2010). Boswellia frereana (frankincense) suppresses cytokine-induced matrix metalloproteinase expression and production of pro-inflammatory molecules in articular cartilage. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19943332
Hamidpour, R., Hamidpour, S., Hamidpour, M., & Shahlari, M. (2013). Frankincense (乳香 Rǔ Xiāng; Boswellia Species): From the Selection of Traditional Applications to the Novel Phytotherapy for the Prevention and Treatment of Serious Diseases. Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine, 3(4), 221–226. http://doi.org/10.4103/2225-4110.119723
Jun, Y., Kang, P., Min, S., Lee, J., Kim, H., & Seol, G. (2013). Effect of Eucalyptus Oil Inhalation on Pain and Inflammatory Responses after Total Knee Replacement: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/249322327_Effect_of_Eucalyptus_Oil_Inhalation_on_Pain_and_Inflammatory_Responses_after_Total_Knee_Replacement_A_Randomized_Clinical_Trial
Mohammadifar M, Aarabi MH, Aghighi F, Kazemi M, Vakili Z, Memarzadeh MR, Talaei SA. (2021). Anti-osteoarthritis potential of peppermint and rosemary essential oils in a nanoemulsion form: behavioral, biochemical, and histopathological evidence. BMC Complement Med Ther. 21(1):57. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7871606/
Silva, GL., Luft, C., Lunardelli, A., Amaral, RH., Melo, DA., Donadio, MV., Nunes FB., De Azambuja, MS., Santana, JC., Moraes, CM., Mello, RO., Cassel, E., Pereira, MA., De Oliveira, JR. (2015). Antioxidant, analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of lavender essential oil. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências, 87(2, Suppl. ), 1397-1408. Epub August 04, 2015. https://dx.doi.org/10.1590/0001-3765201520150056