Best Essential Oils for Arthritis – (Recipes Included)

Nobody can deny the fact “Time and tide wait for none and we cannot stop time”. Likewise, our body is prone to face challenges as we age. Arthritis is one of the common medical conditions that cause pain and movement problems that interfere with our day to day activities. That is why it is imperative to understand the best way to control arthritis. Using essential oils for arthritis can help you manage the symptoms. Essential oils do not only relieve the associated pain but also provide additional mental and physical benefits.  The following essential oils have been proved effective in treating arthritis.

Essential Oils for Arthritis and Joint Pain

Peppermint Essential Oil

Extracted from the leaves and flowers of peppermint, its recorded history goes back to the 17^th century. Peppermint originates in Europe with healing components like menthol and limonene. Peppermint oil serves as the best treatment for rheumatoid arthritis due to its anesthetic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. It aids in alleviating the pain and inflammation accompanied by this condition.

There are countless reasons to keep peppermint oil in your medicinal cabinet such as this oil helps in alleviating stomach pain, suppressing headache, boosting energy, loosing sore muscles, relieving stress, bringing mental focus and inhibiting bad breath to name a few.

Application: Add 40-50 drops of peppermint essential oil in 3 oz. of carrier oil. Store the blend in a dark-colored bottle to keep it fresh. Allow the mixture to be fuse together for at least 2-3 days. Then apply a small amount each day on the affected areas like knee pain, joint pain, and arthritis in fingers.

Eucalyptus Essential Oil

With a characteristic strong and penetrating smell, Eucalyptus essential oil offers amazing multi-faceted medicinal properties. So there is no doubt why it has been widely used in numerous products such as sprays, soaps, inhalers, rash creams and a lot more. Eucalyptol is the main component of the oil which acts as a key to provide a powerful anti-inflammatory effect. Applying eucalyptus oil gently on knee pain, swelling or joint pain often brings quick relief.

Eucalyptus oil boasts innumerable benefits such as hair nourishment, keeps the bug away, kills cold sores, controls diabetes, reduces fever, fights mouth bacteria, and soothes rheumatoid arthritis and even muscle injury.

Application: The usage of particular oil varies according to the ailment. However, to treat joint pain and arthritis you need to add 7-8 drops of eucalyptus oil into 7-8 drops of peppermint oil. Then mix 3 Tbsp. carrier oil like olive oil. Create a blend and store away from direct sunlight. Rub into joint pain, knee pain, and swelling.

Lavender Essential Oil

When we talk about the best essential oils for arthritis, Lavender essential oil has to be on the list. Extracted from the flower buds of Lavandula angustifolia, Lavender oil can help to fight against inflammation and reduce knee and joint pain. People with rheumatoid arthritis, have found significant changes after applying lavender oil topically.

Other than a powerful remedy for arthritis, Lavender oil has many health benefits such as induces sleep, relieves stress and anxiety, treats acne, stimulates urine flow, improves blood circulation, treats respiratory disorders, boosts immunity, aids in digestion and even prevents cancer.

Application: This oil can be used without dilution for instant pain relief. But it is suggested to go for a skin patch test to avoid skin irritation. Rubbing it in a circular motion will aid in reducing inflammation. Lavender oil also aids in relieving the frustration associated with severe arthritis.

Ginger Essential Oil

This most common culinary spice also offers wide-ranging therapeutic uses. The excellent anti-inflammatory effect of ginger oil makes it one of the first essential oils added to the home. It is best known to treat a variety of inflammatory conditions including arthritis. Ginger oil contains several active ingredients that improve blood circulation and reduce joint pain, knee pain, and swelling.

Ginger oil has many other marvelous benefits such as cures infection, improves your digestive tract health, relieves upset stomach, alleviates stress, reduces anxiety, treats colds and flu, soothes sore muscles, boosts your metabolism, lowers your cholesterol level and many more.

Application: Dilute a few drops of ginger oil into a carrier oil. Massage gently into the affected area. Ginger essential oil blends well with oils of lavender or lemongrass. You can also use a warm compress to enhance absorption.

Rosemary Essential Oil

Extracted from the leaves, rosemary oil has been extensively used for a variety of purposes since ancient time. The main component of this oil, rosmarinic acid, is the key ingredient to provide the healing effect.  The ability of rosemary essential oil is unmatched in terms of treating headaches, muscle pain, rheumatism, and even arthritis. It is rich in certain anti-inflammatory properties that relieve the joint pains and other aches.

With so many qualities, rosemary essential oil benefits are well-researched and supported. Treating respiratory problems, preventing STDs, removing bad odor, relieving pain, boosting the immune system, improving oral health are some of the benefits of this oil.

Application: when you are using any essential oil to treat arthritis, always consult a doctor about the usage of the oil. Follow a general rule of thumb to mix 10 drops of essential oil in 1 ounce of carrier oil and apply the diluted blend on the affected area.

Frankincense Essential Oil

This oil is derived from the dried resin of some trees in the Boswellia genus. Many studies have been conducted with patients struggling with cancer and all have shown impressive benefits of frankincense oil. People, who are struggling with severe arthritis, often complain of joint pain, knee swelling and arthritis in fingers. And frankincense oil serves this very purpose of relieving the associated pain.

In addition to treating arthritis, the benefits of frankincense oil include improving oral health, regulating mensuration, preventing gas buildup, reducing scars, promoting digestion, acting as a tonic, stimulating urination, reducing respiratory issues, keeping uterus healthy and speeding up healthy.

Application: Either you can use this essential oil in diffusers or it can be directly inhaled. There are many topical body care products are available to provide the expected soothing effect. Direct application is possible. Dilution is not required except for the most sensitive skin. Always consult a health professional if you are nursing or taking medication.

Chamomile Essential Oil

Chamomile is a soothing and healing herb, its essential oil is world known for its calming and anti-inflammatory properties. If you want to bid adieu to your life hampering arthritis, chamomile essential oil can do wonders. Emotional relief should not be ignored in the case of arthritis. Just like lavender oil, chamomile oil also calms the mind and relaxes the body.

This powerful oil is great for keeping kidneys clean, helping babies to sleep, maintaining the health of the central nervous system, enriching your hair color, making skin young, and easing skin rashes and eczema.

Application-Take few drops of warm chamomile oil and give a gentle massage on the affected region to improve circulation. You can add it into a diffuser in your bedroom for sound sleep.

Helichrysum Essential Oil

This is miracle oil and its benefits as an essential oil for arthritis is just as valuable. When it comes to natural antibiotic and powerful pain-relieving properties, Helichrysum oil is the best. It does not only increase circulation but also reduces inflammation in the joints and arthritis in fingers. This essential oil for arthritis can also help with fatigue.

One of the greatest essential oils for rheumatoid arthritis, this oil has many more impressive benefits such as promotes faster healing of wounds, fights fever, clears blood clots by thinning them, relieving coughs, providing warmth to the respiratory system, promotes digestion and a lot more.

Application: You can use this oil in three ways. Put a few drops in a diffuser and use aromatically, blend it with a carrier oil and massage gently, use internally only when diluted. It is always recommended to take an allergen patch test as well. Also, avoid contact with sensitive areas like eyes and ears.

Word of Caution

The symptoms of arthritis vary greatly from person to person and the best combinations of treatments are personalized to the patient. Other than using essential oil for arthritis, a professional expert finds various ways including exercise, a combination of diet, over-the-counter medicines and alternative medicines to overcome the problem.  It is better to use essential oil only if prescribed. Since most of the essential oils are potent, it is advised to dilute the oil whenever possible.