Essential oils come in handy for many things, like stress relief, skin care, and pain relief. Many use essential oils in a diffuser, but certain oils are safe for topical use, as long as you follow some basic guidelines.
Can You Use Essential Oils on Your Skin?
You should never apply essential oils to your skin unless you’re using a pre-mixed commercial product designed for direct topical use. That’s because pure essential oils are highly concentrated and would cause irritation on your skin.
To make your oils skin-safe, use carrier oil to dilute the oil. Common carrier oil options include coconut, almond, and jojoba.
Lavender Oil
Lavender oil is our go-to when it comes to pain relief. It is also proven to be especially effective for those with knee arthritis, thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties. Finally, Lavender oil can reduce stress and improve sleep quality, which are great ways to manage chronic pain.
Read More: Natural Home Remedies for Arthritis Flares
Rosemary Oil
Rosemary plants contain a high level of carnosic acid, which can heal nerve endings. Therefore, rosemary oil relieves headaches, sprains, sore muscles, rheumatism, arthritis, and other nerve pain.
When using rosemary oil topically, a 3% dilution is ideal. However, you should still start with 2.5% if you’ve never applied essential oils to your skin in the past or if you have sensitive skin.
Eucalyptus Oil
Eucalyptus is often used in topical analgesics and works best with joint pain. Eucalyptus oil also has a soothing and cooling effect that can release tension and stress.
Turmeric Oil
Turmeric is a highly-effective anti-inflammatory. Turmeric oil can reduce pain and soothe cramps, stiffness, and soreness in the joint. Other than regular carrier oils, you can also mix tumeric oil with aloe vera gel to DIY a pain relief cream.
According to recent research, turmeric oil is also beneficial for those suffering knee osteoarthritis by improving knee functionality.
Peppermint Oil
Peppermint oils are great remedies for migraines, tension headaches, and sinus headaches. It also helps with muscle and joint pain. Many combine peppermint oil and lavender oil to add some soothing effect to help their body and mind relax. Peppermint oil can relieve pain when applied topically as long as the concentration stays between 10-30%.
Bergamot Oil
While lesser known, bergamot oil is one of the most effective and praised pain relieving essential oils in the community. Two of the main compounds in bergamot oil, linalool and carvacrol have anti-inflammatory and anticonvulsant effects when applied directly to the skin. Therefore, bergamot oil can reduce inflammation, lower cholesterol levels, and improve your mood.
Massage with Essential Oils: Aromatherapy Massage
In addition to carrier oils, you can also dilute essential oils with your favorite massage lotion or gel. This gives you the freedom to combine multiple oils for the effect you want.
Since massage stimulates circulation and muscle recovery, it also helps activate essential oil’s healing properties more effectively. This is called aromatherapy massage, which combines essential oils with shiatsu, kneading, or deep tissue massage techniques.
Aromatherapy massage should be given by a professional practitioner. Also, if you’re pregnant, consult a professional before incorporating essential oils into your pain-relieving routine.