When you feel pain, the first thing you always do is get medicine in your medicine cabinet. When it comes to pain, aromatherapy can, however, do a lot more than medicine such as preserving your immunity, your stomach, your intestines, your level of toxicity which is not the case for medicine that are far from harmless, in addition to the addictive effect. Find below some painkiller essential oils that will help!
Some medicine are dangerous?
-Paracetamol
Paracetamol, for example, has toxic effects on the liver and stomach. According to this study, people taking an acceptable but highly daily dose of paracetamol (3 g per day) have an increased risk of premature death up to + 60 %. They also have a higher probability of having a cardiovascular problem (+ 19 %), an intestinal hemorrhage (+11 to 49 %) or kidney damage. In the USA, paracetamol is the leading cause of acute liver failure. The liver is indeed the first target of paracetamol administered at too high doses.
-codeine and prescription opium derivatives
They are the ones who are a risk of habituation, yet their prescription seems to become something common. Overdose causes drowsiness and coma. In the United States, they are wreaking havoc. They are supposed to relieve pain, analgesic opioids make more victims every year across the Atlantic. In 2017, 72 000 people died of an overdose, two-third of which resulted from the misuse of these natural or synthetic opiate drugs.
However, some essential oils are a really good way to relieve the pain and with an incredible speed compare to certain medicine. Their duration of action can go up to several hours with less important risks, even more, if we respect the basic rules of EO.
Essential oils can also help to effectively relieve punctual or chronic pains due to their antalgic, anti-inflammatory or antispasmodic properties while contributing to the well-being and energy; anti-depressive, euphoric, calming…
Painkiller essential oils
1. Eucalyptus citriodora essential oil= anti-inflammatory and painkiller
With its anti-inflammatory and calming properties, it relieves joint pain (rheumatism, arthritis, tendinitis, sciatica…), and muscle (body aches). It is perfectly adapted to the throbbing and deep pains of the structure (bones, tendons).
Use: Add 2 drops eucalyptus citriodora essential oil in a tablespoon of coffee VO (arnica, tamanu…). Then, massage the painful areas 3 times a day for 7 days maximum.
Warning:
-Perform a skin test before application
-Do not apply pure on the skin
-Not suitable during the first 3 months of pregnancy
-Do not use on a kid younger than 3 years old
2. Peppermint essential oil, cold effect
The peppermint essential oil is refreshing and has a strong numbing effect. Peppermint also has interesting properties for relieving pain. Indeed, menthol gives peppermint essential oil a strong antalgic power.
The oil works like an opiat medicine; by working like an opioid receptors, it blocks the message of pain that goes from the spinal cord to the brain.
Because of its powerful analgesic power, peppermint essential oil is recommended to relieve pain associated to migraines with application to the temples on birth hair on the upper forehead and in the neck.
Use: always dilute (5 drops in a tablespoon and preferably with one or two other complement of essential oil like lavender aspic).
Warning:
-Peppermint essential oil is not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding period.
-Not suitable for children under the age of 12, for people suffering with hypertension and cardiovascular problems.
-Do not apply pure
-Can hurt and irritate the skin if applied pure.
3. Clove essential oil = anaesthetic oil
This oil is well known to relieve dental pain and cavity.
In addition to its relaxing properties that confer eugenol if it is rich, clove essential oil also relieves joint pain or muscle.
Use: Dilute in water to make a mouthwash with anaesthetic properties, ideal to relieve cavities, abscesses, canker sores, gingivitis or toothache.
Dilute in VO concentration only to 10 % maximum in synergy, then apply it by massaging the painful area.
Warning:
-This essential oil is dermocaustic
-Perform a skin test before applying
-Do not apply pure on the skin
-This oil is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women and also for kids younger than 8 years old.
4. Wintergreen essential oil – anti-inflammatory
Wintergreen essential oil is a very good anti-inflammatory, but also a good painkiller and antispasmodic. It is frequently used for muscle pain (body aches, contractions, cramps…) or related to arthritis. That is why she is very popular with athletes and in the sports industry.
Did you know? A pharmacist from Grasse, in the south of France, has demonstrated that 1 ml of wintergreen was stronger than 1.4 g of aspirin. In fact, wintergreen essential oil contains 90% of methyl salicylate that is transformed into salicylic acid, which means the same active metabolite of the medicine aspirin (acetyl salicylic acid.)
Use: Add 2 drops of wintergreen essential oil in a tablespoon with vegetable oil (arnica, tamanu…). Then, massage the painful areas 3 times a day for 7 days maximum.
Warning :
-Perform a skin test before applying
-Do not apply pure on the skin
-Do not inhale
-Not suitable for pregnant or breastfeeding women
-Do not use on kids younger than 8 years of age
-Not suitable to people with anticoagulation disorders or people who are allergic to salicylate (allergies to any type of aspirin)
-Not suitable for people with eczema, asthma, haemorrhage, or who recently had surgery.
5. LAVANDIN, The 2 in 1
A natural hybrid of fine lavender and lavender aspic. Lavandin is a good painkiller essential oil with its anti-inflammatory properties. Its little plus? Bring calm, serenity and promoting natural sleep.
Use: Add 2 drops of lavandin essential oil in a tablespoon with vegetable oil (arnica, tamanu…). Then, massage the painful areas 3 times a day for 7 days maximum.
Warning:
-Perform a skin test before applying
-Do not apply pure on the skin
-This oil is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women
-Do not use on kids younger than 3 years old
-Not suitable for epileptic people.
Manage neurological pain with essential oils (Neuralgia)
These nerve pains are among the most violent and rebellious. For this, you have to use the best essential oil with rich terpene ester such as lavender, ylang-ylang or wintergreen.
The recipe: The tiger balm
Here is one of the most powerful recipe against pain ;
In 160ml of a very fatty balm of the type homeoplasmin, add ;
- 2 drops EO Eugenia caryophyllata (clove)
- 10 drops EO Mentha piperita (peppermint)
- 20 drops EO Gaultheria procubens (wintergreen)
- 30 drops EO Melaleuca leucodendron (Cajeput)
- 38 drops lavandula latifolia (spike lavander)
To apply at least two times a day