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:
Ginger
Ginger is widely known to help reduce inflammation, which consequently can lower the pain and discomfort associated with stiff and sore joints. A study from the University of Miami was reported on by the Arthritis Foundation to show that ginger extract affects certain inflammatory processes at a cellular level. The study compared the effects of a highly concentrated ginger extract to placebo in 247 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. The ginger reduced pain and stiffness in knee joints by 40 percent over the placebo .
So if you’re looking for a good essential oil to help provide relief to your discomfort, our Ginger Root CO2 would be a good place to start. Just keep in mind that this is a powerful oil and only needs a 1% dilution. Add it to your favorite carrier oil and massage onto the affected area. You could try warming the carrier oil or using a warm compress to help increase relief.
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 .
Plant Therapy carries three different Eucalyptus oils: Globulus, Radiata, and Dives. Dilute each of these to 2-4% in a carrier oil and rub onto aching or swollen joints for some relief.
Copaiba
Copaiba is widely known for its ability to help alleviate sore muscles and joints. It’s a prime candidate for an essential oil that supports the pain-relieving needs of those suffering from arthritis. This is due in part to its large quantity of beta-caryophyllene, which interacts with cannabinoid receptors in the body and releasing beta-endorphin .
This is such hopeful news for the millions of people around the world who suffer from daily chronic pain! Try adding 2 drops each of Copaiba Oleoresin and Frankincense Serrata in a tablespoon of your favorite carrier oil and massage onto the areas of concern.
Lavender
Inflamed, stiff joints are not the least bit comfortable to deal with throughout the day. And even though we can’t all live pain-free all the time, we can use Lavender Essential Oil to feel more comfortable. 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 is great to help calm the frustration associated with living day to day with arthritis.
Turmeric
This warm, spicy scent may be familiar to cooking enthusiasts, but did you know you can use Turmeric Essential Oil to help provide comfort to inflamed joints? An active constituent in Turmeric, called curcumin, has demonstrated soothing effects on joints and may be effective at helping relieve some of the discomforts for those suffering from rheumatoid arthritis .
In fact, a study out of Japan has shown that curcumin significantly reduces inflammation due to its relationship with interleukin-6, an inflammatory cytokine known to be involved in the arthritis process .
Rapid Relief Blend
Relief for uncomfortable, sore joints is what this blend was made for! With the warming oils of Clove Bud, Black Pepper, Cinnamon Cassia, Ginger Root CO2, and Thyme Thymol, plus the added therapeutic benefits of Peppermint, Laurel Leaf, Chamomile German, and Juniper Berry, using Rapid Relief guarantees you will be using an expertly blended mix of essential oils that will help warm the area of concern and increase circulation, giving you a sense of relief and ease.
Dilute to 5% in Aloe Vera Jelly or your favorite carrier oil and massage directly onto the area of concern.
Sources:
What is Arthritis? (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.arthritis.org/about-arthritis/understanding-arthritis/what-is-arthritis.php
Health benefits of Ginger for Arthritis. (2015). Retrieved from http://blog.arthritis.org/living-with-arthritis/health-benefits-of-ginger/
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
Copaiba Oil. Retrieved from https://tisserandinstitute.org/learn-more/copaiba-oil/
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
Curcumin. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/dietary-factors/phytochemicals/curcumin
Wada, T., Araki, Y., Sato, K., Aizaki, Y., Yokota, K., Kim, Y., Oda, H., Kurokawa, R., Mimura, T. (2014). Aberrant histone acetylation contributes to elevated interleukin-6 production in rheumatoid arthritis synovial fibroblasts. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24513290
