Essential oils have been in use since a long time to cure all types of health issues. But what has made these oils popular is their ability to relieve pain. These essential oils can be similarly effective or even more than modern day medicines, and have negligibly few side effects. Backaches and back pain are very common among people these days.
We deal with such issues due to our lifestyle. It is important to first address the reason of the back pain. Modern age medicines have extreme side effects like intestinal bleeding and liver damage. Essential oils are very useful in managing chronic body pains, especially back pains. What makes these essential oils special is that not only so they help you get rid of back pain naturally, they also help you remedy some of the conditions that have helped cause the pain.
Best essentials oils for back pain relief:
1. Lavender essential oil
This essential oil with its sweet fragrance doesn’t need any introduction. It is the most famous remedy for backaches and back pains. This essential oil is relaxing and soothing and also has a very gentle sedative effect which can help you get relief from anxiety and stress due to the pain. In most cases, just inhaling the vapours will bring you immediate relief.
Since it is a mild essential oil, all that you need is one to two drops on your lower back for quick results. Lavender essential oil has anti-inflammatory properties. Also, because of its analgesic action, it can help you get relief from back pain resulting from painful and sore muscles.
How to use this oil: Mix a few drops of lavender essential oil in one tablespoon of coconut oil or castor oil and gently massage on the painful area. This oil is also known to be a famous sleep aid. Use this essential oil in a diffuser and spray it in your bedroom or add a few drops in your bath water before going to bed.
2. Chamomile essential oil
The German chamomile oil is extracted from Matricaria chamomilla and the Roman chamomile oil is extracted from Anthemis nobilis. Both of them contain analgesic properties and this property can be used to cure joint and muscle pains, headaches and also neuralgia. Both of these chamomile oils have a carminative effect which can help you get relief from abdominal pain occurring due to gas.
The dark blue coloured German chamomile oil is highly effective in curing lower back pain in grownups, PMS pain in women and bowel related diseases. It is very effective in providing relief from body pains that result due to inflammatory conditions. This chamomile oil has excellent anti-inflammatory properties due to the presence of a compound called chamazulene. This compound also gives the chamomile oil its characteristic colour. The Roman chamomile oil is milder than the German chamomile oil and is extremely soothing. It is often used to treat irritability and abdominal discomfort in little children.
3. Peppermint essential oil
Peppermint essential oil is one of the first essential oils that has been in use medicinally. Peppermint essential oil is most commonly and widely used as a digestive aid. Historically, this essential oil has been used to help get relief from muscle spasms and pain caused due to inflammation. Peppermint essential oil is well known for its anti-parasitic, anti-microbial and anti-fungal properties. This essential oil is acquired from an organic hybrid of water-mint and spearmint. This essential oil has an extremely refreshing fragrance. This fragrance is the result of the presence of menthol in this oil.
Menthol is the key component of this essential oil. This essential oil contains antispasmodic effect which has been taken advantage of in various medicinal measures to help get relief from nausea, stomach ache and indigestion. This oil helps in suppressing painful muscle spasms by soothing the lining of the intestine and stomach. The peppermint essential oil has analgesic properties. Thus, when this oil is used tropically, it provides relaxation to your lower back muscles, reduces pain cause due to fibromyalgia and headaches due to tension. This essential oil also acts as a decongestant and relieves headaches cause due to sinus and nose and throat congestion.
4. Eucalyptus essential oil
Eucalyptus essential oil is a pungent oil. It is extracted from the leaves and bark of the eucalyptus tree. It is distilled from the Eucalyptus globulus, which is an Australian native tree. This essential oil is a powerful decongestant and also possesses anti-inflammatory properties that will help you get relief from pain caused due to muscle injuries and nose and throat congestion. This is an extremely strong oil. Be careful and remember to dilute this oil before applying on the skin.
How to use this oil: You can prepare this essential oil as a warming balm or a cream and apply tropically to get relief from lower back pain due to muscle spasms. You can opt to make your very own pain relieving cream using beeswax, menthol crystals, coconut oil, eucalyptus essential oil and camphor. You can also use this oil to treat insect bites and stings, as a sinus decongestant, as a disinfecting cleanser, to get relief from asthma and as a therapeutic oil.
5. Rosemary essential oil
The rosemary essential oil is extracted from a shrub called Rosmarinus officinalis. Rosemary essential oil is commonly known as an appetite stimulant and a memory enhancer. This essential oil has analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties as well. This essential oil has a very unique woody smell and has been in use since centuries for several beauty and health benefits. Rosemary essential oil is said to have very powerful healing properties and is known to be a favorite of the German-Swiss botanist and physician, Paracelsus. From physical to mental health, from skincare to the garden, this oil has some incredible benefits.
How to use this oil: Use this oil tropically to help you get relief from muscle spasms, back pains and joint pains. Its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties will kick in and provide you relief from the pain. For headache, you can inhale its vapours and get some relief. This oil is also known to be very useful in treating rheumatism.
6. Wintergreen essential oil
The wintergreen essential oil is known to be obtained from a North American shrub called Gaultheria procumbens which grows very close to the ground. The Native Americans have used this essential oil significantly in their tribal medicines, owing to its pain relieving properties. Earlier, the leaf extract of this essential oil was used internally to treat bladder problems and digestive issues, but now this oil is only used tropically as it was found to be toxic and was said to possess a risk of triggering intestinal haemorrhage. The wintergreen essential oil is known to be excellent for treating neuralgia and skeletal pains. This oil is very commonly used in treating muscle pain and arthritis.
How to use this oil: Apply this oil tropically on your lower back to help get relief from the pain. Always remember to dilute this essential oil with carrier oils before using. This oil can also help you get relief from sore throat and headaches.
7. Clove essential oil
Cloves are known to be the unopened sprouts of the Syzygium aromaticum tree that are found in the tropics. The oil that is extracted from the cloves is highly pungent and spicy. It also renders a burning sensation when it is applied in undiluted from on the skin. The burning sensation is then followed by an action that provides relief from extreme pain almost immediately. This oil provides immediate relief from toothache as well.
How to use this oil: To get instantaneous relief from joint pains, muscle pains and soreness and back aches, mix this essential oil with any on the carrier oils such as olive oil or jojoba oil and massage it tropically onto the affected part. To get rid of throat pain, take a cup of warm water and add a few drop of clove essential oil and gargle with that mix.
The antimicrobial property of this oil can help you get rid of the infection as well. For insect stings and bites, use this oil in undiluted form and apply it on the affected part of the skin for immediate relief from the pain. To get rid of headaches, take a cup of salt solution or water and add a few drops of this oil and apply this mix on your neck and forehead.
8. Ginger essential oil
Ginger is popularly known to be a digestive aid. Ginger roots are widely used as a spice. The health benefits provided by ginger essential oil is nearly same as that provided by fresh ginger. The most effective form of ginger is known to be the ginger essential oil as it contains a very high level of gingerol. It is said that ginger essential oil is the best way to use ginger for medicinal purposes. The ginger essential oil is highly effective in curing a number of conditions like lupus, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis etc. This oil can be used tropically to get relief from back pains and muscle spasms. It can also be inhaled and taken internally.
It has been proved that ginger essential oil has no side effects even when used for a longer period of time. These days, the ginger essential oil is also used to treat respiratory conditions, inflammation, menstrual disorders, upset stomach and nausea. This oil is also used in aromatherapy and it is known as the “oil of empowerment” as it gives a feeling of self-assurance and courageousness.
9. Sandalwood essential oil
This essential oil is acquired from the heartwood of the sandalwood tree, also called Santalm album. This is the reason why sandalwood essential oil is known to be the most expensive of all essential oils. High quality sandalwood oil is extracted from a tree that is at least 50 years old. Older the tree, the better the quality of the oil. But it is worth having this expensive essential oil in your medicine closet, owing to its anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic properties. This essential oil is also famously known to be a very powerful and effective pain reliever. . It can help you get relief from neuralgia, skeletal pain, muscle pain or joint pains.
How to use this oil: Take a cup of water and add three drops of this essential oil and apply it onto the affected area.
10. Marjoram essential oil
This essential oil is made from sweet marjoram which is an herb that is related to the herb oregano. This edible and spicy oil is antispasmodic and analgesic. To get relief from back pain, dilute this essential oil with carrier oil and apply on the affected are.
These essential oils are effective home remedies to stop back pain. Some of the above mentioned essential oils can be mixed together to get an added benefit when it comes to back pain relief. You can make your own mixture on a trial and error basis.
