Essential Oils for Common Ailments
For centuries, essential oils have been used to treat common ailments and disease. However, does modern science prove the therapeutic claims of essential oils? Are they nature’s medicine chest? Or is it old wives’ tales?
Let’s look at what scientific evidence there is to back up the protective, preventative, healing, and curing claims of essential oils.
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Which Common Ailments do Essential Oils Help?
Aromatherapists and herbalists have long supported the healing powers of scent. Essential oils are the concentrated ‘essence’ of the plant. Essential oils contain many chemical compounds. Each essential oil has a unique chemical composition which relates to the oil’s specific therapeutic qualities.
Essential oils have antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, analgesic, antioxidant, antiviral, detoxifying, carminative properties and much more.
Like the whole plants from which they are extracted, essential oils have healing qualities. Here are some common ailments for which essential oils are commonly used.
Muscle Pain
Muscular aches and pains are a common symptom. Most of us have experienced them at some point often due to stress (causing tension), overuse (exercise muscle exertion), or injury (inflammation). Muscle pain can cause extreme discomfort anywhere in the body.
Essential oils that have analgesic, antispasmodic, and anti-inflammatory properties work well for muscle injury. Using a massage oil with essential oils will release tension, reduce inflammation, and relieve pain quickly. The primary benefit of using essential oils is no adverse side effects unlike a lot of over the counter pain relief. Common essential oils used for muscle pain include black pepper, rosemary, frankincense, lavender, marjoram, cypress and peppermint. 1
One study looked at neck pain and the use of aromatic oils black pepper, marjoram, lavender, and peppermint. After a four-week trial, participants showed marked improvements in neck pain and movement with a daily application of a cream containing the essential oils. 2
A trial over 3 weeks using acupressure and lavender essential oil massage for lower back pain had impressive results. It showed a marked improvement on flexibility and movement and a 39% reduction in pain. 3
Chamomile essential oil was shown to be very effective for patients with knee osteoarthritis. Application of chamomile oil 3 times daily over a 3-week period resulted in less need for medicated painkillers, reduced stiffness and increased physical movement. 4
Peppermint oil is used to reduce muscle soreness. After exercise, it relieves pain and increases recovery of muscle movement. 5
Headaches
According to the Migraine Research Foundation “Nearly 1 in 4 U.S. households includes someone with migraine.” Migraines affect both children and adults, but women are most affected by this debilitating disease. 6
Migraines are the most severe form of headaches. Other main types include tension and cluster headaches. The most common treatment for headaches is over the counter painkillers. These medications can cause a host of undesired side effects, and in a few cases, make headache symptoms worse. 7
Essential oils can be an effective alternative treatment that targets the headache triggers. For effective relief, apply diluted essential oils directly to the temple area or massage into the scalp. Alternatively essential oils can be used in a diffuser to ease headache symptoms through inhalation. Also adding a few drops of essential oil to a warm or cold compresses applied to the forehead helps relieve headaches.
The most commonly used essential oils for headaches are lavender, peppermint, and chamomile. If you try an essential oil and don’t like the aroma or find it doesn’t work for you, it is always acceptable to try an alternative.
Chamomile oil has a traditional use for treating migraines/ its potent anti-inflammatory properties help reduce pain at the site of the migraine. Chamomile essential oil helps stops the blood vessels form contracting and relaxes the muscles – relieving throbbing and pounding. 8
One of the safest essential oils to use, lavender, is well-known at relieving headaches. A renowned relaxant and calmative, lavender oil works well at reducing tension headaches. Lavender oil’s properties as an analgesic, antianxiety, and antidepressant make it an effective treatment for headaches caused by anxiety. 9
Inhaling lavender essential oil is a safe and effective treatment in the management of migraine symptoms. One study showed participants who inhaled lavender oil for 15 minutes while having a migraine attack reduced the severity of the migraine. 10
Peppermint oil works well for tension headaches. It is cooling and soothing for pain relief. Peppermint essential oil can be massaged across the forehead and shows effective relief within 15 minutes. As peppermint oil does not make you sleepy, it’s an invigorating, refreshing aroma that makes it practical for daytime application. 11
Earache
Earaches are a common complaint that can affect one or both ears. Both adults and children can suffer from earache. Causes of earache can be from infection, wax buildup or fluid build up (otitis media).
The essential oils tea tree and lavender can be used to treat earache. Essential oil should never be used internally for earache. Massaging the outer ear and surrounding area can relieve pain from earache.
Tea tree’s powerful antibacterial properties have proven effective at killing bacteria that cause otitis externa. Applying a mix of carrier oil and 1-2 drops of tea tree essential oil on and around the ear will help fight ear infection. 12
Studies of chamomile oil have shown it is useful in the treatment of external ear infections. Chamomile essential oil’s antimicrobial qualities are effective in controlling the bacteria growth that causes otitis externa. 13 14
Basil essential oil has been tested for application into the external ear canal for middle ear infections with very effective outcomes. Even the vapors of basil oil appear effective on the bacteria’s S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae which cause acute otitis media. This research is promising as alternative applications of basil oil in treating ear infections. 15
Travelling on an airplane can lead to earaches due to the atmospheric pressure. Massaging around the ear area with lavender or chamomile essential oil diluted in a carrier oil can give relief from this discomfort.
Allergies
Seasonal allergies affect 40% of the world’s population. Yearly, more people are suffering from allergies and numbers keep increasing. In America, nearly 10% of adults suffer allergic rhinitis (hay fever) – a common seasonal allergy. 16
The body’s overactive immune system response to allergens to produce histamine irritates the upper respiratory passageways. This produces the common hay fever symptoms of congested sinus, watery eyes, runny noses and headaches.
These allergy symptoms can be relieved using essential oils. To use essential oils for respiratory allergies, they are best inhaled or used in a diffuser. Essential oils help open the airways, reduce inflammation, and boost the immune system.
Research has proven peppermint oil’s anti-inflammatory benefits to be effective at relieving the symptoms of allergic rhinitis (hay fever). 17
A blend of sandalwood, frankincense, and ravensara oils were studied to see their effectiveness in treating seasonal allergic rhinitis when inhaled. The study outcome showed improvement in symptoms of blocked nasal passages, runny and itchy noses, as well as sneezing. This blend of essential oils also improved sleep quality and reduced fatigue associated with seasonal allergic rhinitis. 18
Allergies can also come from household pollutants such as cleaning products. Strong chemicals used in cleaning products can exacerbate asthma. Changing to green cleaning products can reduce exposure to these chemicals and help eliminate allergic reactions. 19
Skin allergies from pollen, grass, and insect bites can be soothed with chamomile or tea tree essential oil. Chamomile oil is cooling and soothing for itchy allergy rashes. Tea tree oil is best used for treating insect bites. Diluted with a carrier oil and applied to the affected area with a clean cotton ball, these oils will reduce the symptoms of some skin allergies.
Pets
Animals have sensitive noses to smells and essential oils should be used around them with extreme care. Using chamomile essential oil (1 drop added to the water level) in a diffuser around animals can help with anxiety and nervousness during fireworks season.
Essential oils can be toxic to animals and should never be used on pets without expert veterinary guidance. Tea tree essential oil can be fatal to cats and dogs and should never be used undiluted. 19 20
Conclusion
Essential oils are effective natural alternatives to help symptoms of many ailments. Safety is the most important aspect when using essential oils. Always read guidelines and never think more is better!
[color-box color=”blue”]We recommend doTerra essential oils. If you order today, you’ll get a free peppermint oil ($30 value) and access to wholesale pricing in the future! Try it today.[/color-box]
Source
- http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/21/1/20/htm
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25192562
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15130569/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26256137
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22666646/
- http://migraineresearchfoundation.org/about-migraine/migraine-facts/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11435995
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25238714
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3612440/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22517298
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27106030
- https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-laryngology-and-otology/article/tea-tree-oil-in-vitro-efficacy-in-otitis-externa/D42151306635947CA21C3FDB5631B3D4
- http://bepls.com/bepls_june2016/8f.pdf
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18392512
- https://academic.oup.com/jid/article/191/11/1876/2191818
- https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/series/sr_10/sr10_252.pdf
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9889172
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4808543/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24344857
- https://naha.org/assets/uploads/Animal_Aromatherapy_Safety_NAHA.pdf
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