7 Essential Oils for Pain Relief: Benefits & Uses
Pain can be nasty, nagging and it can affect any part of our body be it joint pain, muscle, neck, shoulder, ankles, legs, hands or back. Pain can be described as an uncomfortable, unpleasant sensation caused by tissue damage, pain due to a previous injury, neuropathic pain, visceral pain, cancer pains. Pain can also be caused due to lack of movement, modern lifestyle, unhealthy diet, lack of exercise, long working hours sitting, sedentary lifestyle etc. Pain is an indication of something happening in the body. Pain if not treated at the right time can end up in acute or chronic pain.
Causes of Pain:
Coming again to the causes of pain, below mentioned are a few of them. Pain can be of different types due to various reasons.
- Degenerative pain: Wear and tear of the joints, cartilage, bones. Degenerative pains can cause pain in the lower back, hips, neck, spine and legs.
- Inflammation in the various parts of the body: Acute inflammation can cause pains that may vary in type and severity. It can be constant, throbbing, stabbing or pinching which can further cause swelling or build up fluids.
- Injury: Damage or hurt due to an injury like a cut, bruise, burn, broken bone or pulled muscle can cause pain.
- Neuropathic pain: Damage or injury to the nerves that transfer information between the brain and spinal cord from the skin, muscles and other parts of the body can cause pain. Such a type of pain may be like a burning sensation or a feeling of numbness or a loss of sensation is common, too.
How can Ayurveda give relief against pain?
Our body automatically signals us but many a time, we tend to ignore our body’s messages until pain overwhelms us, my dear we are inviting bigger problems later. As Ayurveda, always believes in the healing process as a natural process with nature’s wonderful resources like herbs, spices, minerals and oils. It tries to heal the root cause of the pain. Ayurveda’s systematic relaxation techniques, massages and pain-relieving treatments and therapies help in effective pain management. Some of the simple ways can be:
- Lifestyle changes: Living a sedentary life is unhealthy, so making the necessary lifestyle changes like having a balanced diet, exercising, yoga and meditation, rest can help balance your mind and body.
- Body massage: Body massage is considered a powerful healing technique in Ayurveda. A good oil massage releases the accumulated stress and toxins from the body, leaving you feeling energized and rejuvenated.
- Panchakarma: The process of detoxification by removing accumulated waste from the body and mind.
Benefits and Uses of Essential Oils for Pain Relief:
Let’s look at some of the essential oils in Ayurveda and their role in pain relief:
Peppermint oil:
Peppermint oil is extracted through the steam distillation process of the fresh leaves or partially dried leaves of Peppermint, the presence of Menthol and Menthone, the main chemical components present in the Peppermint oil is beneficial for their cooling, energizing and pain-relieving properties. As peppermint oil is known to have analgesic, anti-inflammatory properties, it works effectively as a pain reliever. It can soothe muscle cramps, joint pain, inflammation, and provides relief to sore muscles. The next time you face discomfort or cramps after any heavy workout, this oil could come in handy. Also, it’s known to give relief to migraine-related headaches and calms the mind.
Eucalyptus oil:
The citronellol present in Eucalyptus essential oil is known to have antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory properties that work against any muscle cramps or sore muscles by slackening and relaxing them. When the Eucalyptus essential oil is inhaled, its unique properties help in reducing pain. The cineole and limonene present in the extracts of this oil are known pain-relievers.
Basil Oil:
Basil the natural healer has been used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine for ages. It is widely used in aromatherapy to treat respiratory issues as well as tension, mental fatigue and migraines. Sweet Basil Essential Oil is reputed to ease minor skin irritations, cramps, joint pain, muscular aches, spasms, gout, flatulence, and exhaustion. To soothe sore or aching muscles, inflammation, swelling, and tightness,
Wintergreen:
Wintergreen is a herb. Wintergreen oil is made by steam processing of warmed, water-soaked wintergreen leaves. The leaves and oil are used to make medicine. Wintergreen leaf is used for painful conditions including headache, nerve pain (particularly sciatica), arthritis, ovarian pain, and menstrual cramps. Wintergreen leaf contains an aspirin-like chemical that might reduce pain, swelling, and fever.
Lavender oil:
Lavender oil has always been used in ancient times for solving many issues naturally then. Even today we find Lavender oil used in aromatherapy for pain relief especially in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. It is also beneficial if your headache onset is around nighttime, as it can aid in your sleep as well. Lavender actually carries anti-inflammatory and sedative properties which can solve migraine and headache issues. It is commonly used to relieve pain in the joints and muscles. If you are experiencing joint pain, rub a couple of drops of lavender oils topically to the area to relieve yourself of that pain.
Rosemary oil:
Rosemary Essential Oil is best known for its stimulating, soothing, and pain-relieving properties. It is beneficial because of its antiseptic, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties which makes it an ideal essential oil for relieving muscle aches and pains. For a massage oil that reduces pain, blend Rosemary Oil with Peppermint Oil and dilute the blend in Coconut Oil then rub on tender muscles and aching joints.
Mahanarayan oil:
Mahanarayan Taila is a very famous herbal oil used in the treatment of joint pain, strengthens the muscles. It is infused with a blend of almost 28 botanical herbs and oils, including Sesame Oil, Ashwagandha, Ginger, Turmeric, Tulsi and Valerian. The essential oil extract when applied eases the affected areas of pain and discomfort and in the process increases circulation. It reduces joint inflammation and is a very effective remedy for all types of arthritic disorders.
Aryan Herbals 100% Pure Essential Oils:
To help you Aryan herbals is here with a wide range of essential oils that are believed to have a positive impact on your health and overall wellbeing. All our essential oils are made from class one plants and their parts to maintain the highest quality standards. All our essential oils are 100% pure, natural undiluted. We also offer a wide range of Herbal Powder and Herbal Juices that are believed to be effective herbal solutions for healthy living. Here are some of the Aryan Essential Oils that can help you with natural pain relief:
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Word of Caution:
We know the trend of using essential oil is on the increase and people are indulging in the use of these essential oils in their beauty, wellness, cleaning and pain relief routines. It is also recommended to consult your health practitioner before inculcating any essential oil in your routine.
A word of caution here is that Essential oils are potent concentrated plant extracts. If they aren’t used properly, they can irritate your skin, cause rashes and actually add to more trouble. Essential oils must be diluted with a carrier oil like coconut, almond before application. Although carrier oils absorb some of the essential oil’s potency, they don’t interfere with its therapeutic properties. They simply reduce your risk for irritation. You should also do a skin patch test before your first application to test for any potential allergic reactions. Finally, before you buy any Essential Oil, always check the purity and the sources from where it’s derived to ensure that you get the best results.
Endnote:
Living is about capturing the essence of things why not by trying the Essential oils. So surround yourself with these rejuvenating essential oils for all your aches and pains and see the difference, after all, it is believed.
“Where there are oils there is goodness and where there is goodness there is magic.” So let the magic begin and work for you. Help your body heal itself.
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