7 best essential oils for pain relief

If you’ve never tried essential oils for pain relief before, it’s time you do.

In fact, many topical preparations already make use of various essential oils to deliver analgesia, even though you may have never realized this.

Not only are essential oils effective at what they do, but they are also less likely to result in unwanted effects, especially since most times they are not consumed.

Wondering which essential oils can help with your pain? Here’s a list of them below:

1. Peppermint oil
One of the most well-known essential oils for helping to manage pain, it is also one of the few that can be consumed in small quantities for systemic benefit.

Consumption of a few drops of peppermint oil can help to relieve symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, smooth muscle spasm of the digestive tract, and also relieve gas pressure and pain.

2. Lavender essential oil
Best known for its ability to help induce relaxation, Lavender essential oil is very effective at helping to reduce stress and anxiety. How does this help pain?

It has been shown that a few drops of lavender essential oil applied to the neck can help to treat headaches, reduce neck or other muscle cramps, and can help you sleep.

3. Chamomile essential oil
Similar to lavender, chamomile is well-established first for its relaxing properties, but is also an effective analgesic agent, helping to treat headaches and even nerve tingling and pain. In addition to this, it can also be applied topically to reduce inflammation around joints.

A small amount of chamomile is safe for consumption, helping to relieve flatulence and abdominal spasms. It can also help manage painful symptoms of bowel disorders or even PMS.

4. Eucalyptus oil
Eucalyptus is a very effective anti-inflammatory agent, but should only be used topically. Its decongestant properties are just as impressive, but it also has the potential to help manage pain as a result of insect stings.

Eucalyptus oil should not be applied undiluted to skin as it is corrosive in nature. It should be added to a suitable carrier base such as coconut oil prior to application.

5. Cayenne pepper essential oil
It should come as no surprise that an extract made of cayenne pepper is extremely helpful for managing pain, thanks to the presence of a compound capsaicin.

It is extremely effective for managing a range of pain conditions including neuralgia, arthritic pain and even that characterized by shingles. Shingles occurs in adults wherein the chickenpox virus that usually lies dormant reactivates and causes intense nerve pain.

6. Marjoram oil
Marjoram oil is an effective inflammation reducing agent when applied to muscles or joints, but can also be used effectively to relieve headaches as well.

Interestingly, it also possesses antispasmodic action, which can be applied to various parts of the body to ease the twitching. If you’ve ever experienced a painful calf muscle spasm or cramp, quickly reaching for and applying marjoram oil can help minimize your discomfort.

7. Flaxseed oil
We all know that consuming flaxseed oil is good for you, as it possesses Omega-3 fats that positively influence many aspects of your health.

Amongst these is easing discomfort associated with arthritic disease, as well as other pain mediated conditions that have an inflammatory component.

Application of the oil is also acceptable, but in this case, oil consumption is actually superior.