It was SO wonderful to get together in person with a group of natural health enthusiasts this past week to talk about natural ways to manage pain. Its a topic that so many of us need to know more about!
If you wanted to know more about pain relief but couldn't make it, I want to make sure that you are well informed! Knowing the basics means being able to make good decisions about which oils to use and how to use them. Plus, how to get the best value when you buy, and how to make the most out of every bottle. I know that's a LOT, but I feel a deep responsibility to teach people what I know.
We covered a LOT of ground in the class, but here are two lists of essential oils that I feel are the most helpful oils for pain. They are not the ONLY ones you could use, but a great toolkit!
Single Oils
Blue Tansy* (deep relaxation for smooth muscles)
Clove (analgesic/anaesthetic)
Copaiba** (anti-inflammatory, immune system support, nervine)
Frankincense (anti- inflammatory, oxygenating, analgesic)
Helichrysum* (anti- inflammatory, regenerative, prevents bruising & clotting, chelator)
Lemongrass (stops pain message in the cerebral cortex)
Marjoram (relaxes smooth muscle tissue)
Peppermint* (stimulates circulation, “drives” other oils deeper)
Rosemary (dopaminergic; good for nerve pain)
Thyme (anti-spasmodic, stimulation of circulation, anti- rheumatic)
Turmeric (anti-inflammatory)
Wintergreen* (anti- inflammatory, analgesic)
Blends
AromaTouch (relaxes tissue, enhances circulation, relieves inflammation, analgesic, removes toxins) Cypress, Peppermint, Marjoram, Basil, Grapefruit, Lavender
Balance (relaxes muscles, relieves inflammation, restores electrostatic balance to blood cells) Spruce, Ho Wood, Frankincense, Blue Tansy, Blue Chamomile, Osmanthus
Deep Blue (relaxes muscles, soothes pain, relieves inflammation) Wintergreen, Camphor, Peppermint, Ylang Ylang, Helichrysum, Blue Tansy, Blue Chamomile, Osmanthus
Passion (Stimulates circulation , Relieves inflammation. EXCELLENT for arthritic joints, gout etc) Cardamom, Cinnamon, Ginger, Clove, Sandalwood, Jasmine, Vanilla Bean Absolute, Damiana
PastTense (soothes nerve pain, relieves inflammation, relaxes muscles) Wintergreen, Lavender, Peppermint, Frankincense, Cilantro, Marjoram, Roman Chamomile, Basil, Rosemary
There are 3 ways to use essential oils for pain:
Aromatically
Our sense of smell can actually impact the perception of pain. So, diffusing essential oils like Lemongrass, Peppermint, Frankincense, Copaiba etc can help reduce pain perception.
Topically
Applying directly to the area is probably the most common way of using oils for pain relief. Add a drop or two to the area and massage into the skin. Using a carrier oil is always a good idea, to prevent any skin reaction -- especially since oils like Lemongrass, Thyme, Clove and others feel hot on the skin.
Internally
Thank goodness for essential oils that are safe to use orally and internally! Not all essential oils are deemed safe to ingest, but a good number from the list of single oils above are (only if they are dōTERRA oils, mind you! More on that next week!). Primarily, Frankincense and Copaiba are very helpful to use orally for pain management. Drop a few drops under the tongue, or put into a veggie cap and swallow it down.
The Layering Technique
One other extremely helpful method for using oils for pain, is layering. When layering oils, you apply a drop or two topically on the area of concern, rub it in, then add a drop of another and rub that in. You can layer as many as you want, but I suggest starting with two or three. A rule of thumb that I use is to start with a mild anti-inflammatory oil like Frankincense or Copaiba, then add a specific pain relief oil or blend like Deep Blue, Clove, Wintergreen or Passion, and then top it up with Peppermint or Rosemary. These last two oils are very good at "driving" the other oils deeper into the tissue so you get a greatly enhanced benefit.
Do you have specific questions about using essential oils for pain relief? Drop a comment or reach out to me directly!