Best Essential Oils to Use for Pain - Doctor Approved!
We're going to discuss the top and doctor approved essential oils and aromatherapy for headaches, myofascial pain, muscle pain, muscle spasms, muscle tension, and fibromyalgia!
Aromatherapy refers to the therapeutic use of essential oils through topical application or inhalation (not ingestion!!). The current evidence for utilizing aromatherapy to manage pain is growing (Lakhan et al. 2016).
Approximately 25% of children and adolescents experience chronic pain and 22% of adult women experience chronic pain, defined as pain lasting more than 3 months (Perquin et al. 2000, King et al. 2011). Yikes, and that's just on average in certain populations.
Aromatherapy is also being used in several hospitals as an adjunctive treatment for individuals who are undergoing procedures or as a self-regulation strategy for chronic disorders, such as pain (Conlon et al. 2017).
Headaches and Migraines Causes and Treatment
Primary headache disorders more commonly present as tension-type and migraine headaches. Pathophysiology includes myofascial tension, trigeminal/occipital nerve irritation, inflammation, cortical spreading depression, and vascular changes.
Stress, anxiety, depression, and immune dysfunction has also been associated with headaches. Primary headache disorders are conventionally treated with preventive and abortive medications, supplements, or therapies. Preventives may include natural supplements including magnesium, riboflavin, and coenzyme q10 on a daily basis. Abortive medicines may include triptans, NSAID’s, and anti-nausea medications.
It is interesting to note that lavender essential oil has been studied for headaches. Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) essential oil has been most commonly used for its anxiolytic and mood stabilizing properties, and has been evaluated for migraines in a placebo-controlled clinical trial.
This research study found:
Inhaled lavender essential oil for 15 minutes reduced headache severity on the Visual Analogue Scale score from 3.6 + 2.8 to 1.6 + 1.6, and was statistically significant compared to the control group (Sasannejad et al. 2012).
Essential Oil Approachfor Headaches and Migraines
The blend of essential oils I would recommend is in a 1 oz carrier blend:
Sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) (2 drops top note)
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) (2 drops middle note)
Peppermint (Mentha piperita) (4 drops middle note)
Neroli (Citrus aurantium var. amara flos) (3 drops base note)
This blend may also be considered for inhalation use. Frequency can be up to three times daily for up to two weeks at a time.
The amount of drops recommended for lavender and sweet orange is due to the need for lower dilution (see precautions below for each essential oil). This blend shouldn’t be used for children under five years old due to the addition of peppermint.
For topical application to the subocciput and posterior neck and even temples, it is recommended to use a carrier oil of sesame oil 60%, arnica oil 20%, and St. John’s Wort 20% due to properties that are anti-inflammatory and analgesic.
Cautious use of St. John’s wort because it may cause photosensitivity. It is recommended to patch test first prior to full use.
Sweet orange (Citrus sinensis)is recommended due to its analgesic properties for headaches, as well as decreasing anxiety and muscle tension commonly associated with headaches. Precautions include skin irritation/sensitization and not for use in bath. In addition, this can be used throughout pregnancy and for children as long as in moderation and diluted to 1% or less.
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is one of the few essential oils studied for headaches as noted above, and is beneficial due to its analgesic, antidepressant, antispasmodic, sedative and immune stimulant properties.
Lavender may also help the symptoms that comes with headaches including nausea, vomiting, muscle spasms, and myofascial pain. Precautions include utilizing in low dilution 0.5-1% or less and in moderation, but is generally safe to use in children as well as during pregnancy.
Peppermint (Mentha piperita) may be used due to its analgesic, anti-inflammatory, vasoconstrictor, and antispasmodic properties. Peppermint may be beneficial in treating headaches/migraines as well as the symptoms associated with headaches, including vertigo, nausea, fatigue, lightheadedness, stress, and brainfog.
Precautions include not for use in bath and to avoid in children under five years old as well as during pregnancy. Peppermint may cause skin sensitivity due to the high menthol content and needs to be used in lower dilution or in moderation around sensitive areas of the skin. Peppermint should be avoided for those with G6PD deficiency and in individuals taking certain medications and homeopathic medicines.
Neroli (Citrus aurantium var. amara flos)may also be beneficial for headaches due to its reputation for relieving cramps and spasms, as well as its ability to calm nerves and soothe the spirit, which may be beneficial in managing headache disorders. Avoid neroli if an individual has a citrus allergy/sensitivity.
Myofascial Pain, Muscle Pain or Spasms, Muscle Tension, Fibromyalgia
Myofascial pain is aligned with the terminology of a “trigger point”, a hyperirritable spot in muscle and connective tissue that resembles a taut band or knot (Ballantyne, Fishman 2018). Common treatments of myofascial pain include muscle relaxants, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), physiotherapy, massage, and trigger point deactivation with dry needling techniques or with lidocaine/steroid injections.
Fibromyalgia is similar but is its own defined clinical entity. Fibromyalgia is defined as chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain with which no specific cause is identified (Ballantyne, Fishman 2018). Current treatment for fibromyalgia includes NSAID’s, pain medications (tricyclic antidepressants or antiepileptic medications: gabapentin, pregabalin), exercise, and cognitive behavioral therapy. Central sensitization of the pain pathways (decreased inhibition of pain signaling), aberrant neuromuscular plate function, inflammation, and increased local nociceptor release are all involved in myofascial pain and fibromyalgia (Ballantine, Fishman 2018).
Essential Oil Approach for Fibromyalgia, Muscle Pain, Muscle Tension and Spasms
In a 1 oz carrier oil blend:
Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) (5 drop top note if linalool type or 2-3 drop note if thymol type)
Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) (4 drops middle note)
Frankincense (Boswellia carteri) (3 drops base note)
Ginger (zingiber officinale) (3 drops base note) in a 1 oz carrer oil.
It is recommended to use a carrier oil of sesame oil 60%, 20% arnica oil and 20% St. John’s Wort to apply topically to the affected areas during myofascial pain, fibromyalgia flares up to 3 times per day no more than two weeks at a time. Always patch test prior to use.
Thyme is recommended in this blend due to its ability to relieve pain and fatigue, increase circulation, and antianxiety properties with specific use for calming the nervous system.
Precautions include avoiding use if old or oxidized as can cause skin sensitization. Avoid with epilepsy and Parkinson’s disease as may exacerbate seizures due to its 1,8 cineole content and can interact with many drugs, so caution is advised and discuss with your aromatherapist prior to use. Thyme can be highly irritating to the skin and mucous membranes.
Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) may be beneficial for myofascial pain and fibromyalgia due to its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. Chamomile is particularly helpful for relieving pain and numbing inflamed nerves, and may be useful for common comorbidities of depression, stress, and brainfog that goes with these two pain syndromes.
Roman chamomile is generally safe, but should be avoided during first trimester of pregnancy and those with ragweed allergy. Chamomile may cause skin sensitivity. German chamomile (Matricaria recutita) has potential for drug interactions.
Frankincense (Boswellia carteri) is particularly useful for pain for its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. In addition, it has calming and soothing properties beneficial for distress associated with pain. Precautions include skin sensitivity if it becomes old or oxidized. It must be stored in a cool, dark, place with the cap tightly closed.
Ginger is also beneficial because it has antispasmodic, analgesic (pain relieving), and anti-inflammatory properties, not to mention its benefits in aiding digestion and nausea/vomiting. It is generally very warming and decreases mental fatigue. It has been studied in knee pain and low back pain. Ginger has been found to inhibit substances that cause pain in the body.
Precautions! Avoid with antiplatelet or anticoagulant medications or with individuals with bleeding disorders. Ginger may be skin sensitizing when out in the sun but very low risk of this. In addition, be cautious with many medications because ginger may interfere with their metabolism.
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