Essential oils for pain (physical and emotional)

As human beings that we are, it will be inevitable that at some point we will face some kind of pain. Essential oils with analgesic, calming or relaxing properties are a very good alternative to the therapeutic resources of allopathic medicine, generally very effective in relieving it, but they do not work as well when the pain becomes chronic or is resistant to conventional treatments. These, in addition, are often accompanied by significant side effects.

The essential oils are particularly effective in eliminating pain or at least relieving it, with the advantage that do not produce undesirable consequences (as long as they are chosen and applied properly).

In this video we tell you how to use a mixture of essential oils for muscular pain from contractures:

Soothing pain with aromatherapy has many benefits

Turning to essential oils to treat pain offers numerous advantages, especially for those who suffer from chronic pain or for cancer patients, since they also offer a great emotional relief.

It is evident that, in some cases, it will not be possible to do without allopathic treatment, but they are compatible. Combining them can reduce the dose of the drugs in many cases and improve the results with fewer side effects.

During pregnancy and if you are taking medication, it is necessary to consult an aromatherapist if the use of essential oils is contraindicated.

to understand how aromatherapy works in the treatment of painFirst, we are interested in knowing a little about this mechanism.

Pain is a defense tool. Without it, our lives could be in danger, but it is a complex and subjective phenomenon, because each person feels pain in their own way depending on their state of health and many other factorsWe perceive pain through a specific sensory and neural circuit. Curiously, we will only feel it if the brain decides that it is necessary. With the same injury, one person feels severe pain and another hardly notices it.

Essential oils can act in different ways on this process that leads to experiencing pain..

How do essential oils work to soothe pain? This is how science explains it

Numerous scientific studies confirm the anti-pain action of some essential oils. The investigations attribute the different therapeutic actions to certain molecules present in the oils.

Some are capable of blocking the release of chemical messengers responsible for inflammation and the painful message in its origin.

Others inhibit pain sensory receptors thanks to a producing activity of the neurotransmitters GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) and serotonin.

Finally, there are molecules in essential oils capable of inhibiting neuronal synapses involved in the last level of the pain circuit.

We can give some examples:

linaloolwhich is found in many essential oils (ho wood, lavender, petitgrain, bergamot, thyme chemotype linalool, etc.), can block the transmission of synaptic signals in the brain, which can reduce the perception of pain.menthol of peppermint, well known for its anesthetic properties, acts on “kappa” opioid receptors, producing a local anesthetic effect.Para-cymene acts on inflammation and the so-called encephalinergic system, also involved in the pain circuit. It is abundant in thyme –especially in the paracymene and thymol chemotypes–, in polybract eucalyptus and oreganos.beta-caryophyllene is a major constituent of copaiba essential oil and activates the endocannabinoid system, which controls pain signal transmission from the site of injury to the central nervous system.eugenol clove saturates pain receptors to such an extent that it makes them useless, at least for a while.

The best essential oils for physical pain

There is large number of effective essential oils. Among them are the following:

exotic basil. Ocimum basilicum methyl-chavicol chemotype is indicated for muscular, digestive and period-related pain. It is very useful for people who suffer from fibromyalgia.Clove. Syzygium aromaticum It is widely used to soothe toothache. Thank you to your anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anesthetic properties It is indicated in any type of condition rheumatic. It is used to facilitate Birth. Copaiba. The Copaifera officinalis reticulata gives us one of the most valuable essential oils. Due to its polyvalent anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, It has nothing to envy to the media CBD.Lavender. The Lavandula angustifolia It is very interesting because it covers a large number of issues. We will use it in case headache, muscle pain, neuralgia, cramps, sore throat or ears and to relieve pain during menstruation. It is very valuable for people who have to live with pain because, In addition, it is antidepressant and anxiolytic.. Its effect has been verified even using it in diffusion.Peppermint. People who suffer from migraines will benefit greatly from the use of the essential oil of Mentha x piperita. It is indicated also in pain of neuralgic origin, such as postherpetic pain. This Contraindicated in arterial hypertension.Rosemary. Salvia rosmarinus It is a classic to relieve contractures and rheumatic pathologies. In this case, the most appropriate chemotype is camphor.Always alive. Helichryssum italicum It cannot be missing at home or in the backpack of hikers. We will use it in any type of joint, muscle or tendon injury. is the great anti-bruise of aromatherapy.Moroccan thyme. Thymus satureiodes It is an exceptional essential oil for people who suffer rheumatic diseases, especially arthritis rheumatoid. Fight inflammation, calm pain and rregulates the immune system

Essential oils also for emotional pain

Essential oils also help ease emotional pain that accompanies many chronic pathologies.

Thanks to the relaxing, antidepressant and anxiolytic properties of some essential oils we will be able to cope more satisfactorily with the most challenging pathologies.

Regardless of the route of administration used, essential oils always act through the sense of smell. This is directly connected to the limbic system in the brainwhich is intimately involved in the control of emotions.

The exact mechanism of action is not yet known.but we know for sure that some molecules have an anxiolytic effect, that others are antidepressants and a few are capable of inducing sleep. We will obtain these benefits through the aromas that give off certain essential oils.

How to use essential oils at home to reduce pain

To get the best results you need to follow some guidelines. Except in some specific cases (migraines, menstrual pain, blows with bruises)in which only one oil is used, we will normally prepare a mixture.

To make our mix it is preferable to combine 3 to 5 essential oils in a vegetable oil base of arnica, hypericum or sesame.

Soothe, comfort, relax and sedate is possible with oils bergamot, mandarin orange, sweet orange, lavender, ylang ylang and petit-grain.

All of them are suitable for use with a diffuser and for massage. They improve mood especially when one is moody and irritated. Reduce anxiety and stress levels promoting relaxation and sleep.

ylang-ylangwhich acts on opioid receptors, is very useful for cancer patients. Along with lavender, They form a duo of high therapeutic value.

We highlight four types of pain or very frequent symptoms and we propose a mixture of essential oils in each case:

for menstrual pain: Apply four pure drops of the following mixture on the lower abdomen following the instructions in the following section.1 ml essential oil (EA) of exotic basil chemotype (qt) methyl-chavicol1 ml of EO lavenderFor musculoskeletal pain: Apply 10 drops of this mixture to the area.2 ml EO of exotic basil qt methyl-chavicol2 ml EO of copaiba2 ml EO of lavender2 ml EO of Moroccan thyme1 ml of peppermint1 ml of rosemary qt camphor40 ml of sesame oilToothache: Apply a remedy in the affected area with these proportions: 1 drop of cloves 2 drops of vegetable oilMigraine: Apply to the forehead and temples with a gentle massage.2 drops of peppermint2 drops of vegetable oil

Dose and frequency of application

The dilutions are adapted according to the degree of pain.:

Soft pain: 10 to 15%moderate pain: 15 to 20%severe pain: 30 to 50%, in some cases we could apply the pure preparation.

We will apply the preparation with some frequency. We will start with 8-10 drops every half hour, four times in a row. As we notice relief, we will space out the applications. You can do 3-4 more applications, whenever you feel you need them.