The all natural, safe and effective use of essential oils is part of a very ancient holistic approach to treating the mind and body. When the remedies are rubbed into the skin, ingested, or inhaled, a chemical reaction produced. Very aromatic, these essential oils have explicit effects on the body and mind such as pain relief and anti inflammatory action. Both these properties aid in the treatment of arthritis. Using essential oils for arthritis care has been shown to be successful.
In the United States, the essential oils are used to compliment conventional therapies. This type of therapy has been made use of for centuries as a holistic healing tool. Aromatic oils are extracted from plants and are extremely concentrated in their pure form — they should be diluted before use. Different combinations of the oils are diluted and blended together to create synergistic, holistic preparations for pain relief and inflammation reduction.
This type of therapy can produce actual physical results in the affected areas. One of the most accepted of these outcomes is the successful treatment of pain. Absorption is the best way to apply the remedy since the oil quickly penetrates the skin. A combination of pain relieving and anti-inflammatory properties are absorbed during massage.
Using the proper blend and dilution of the oil will help to relieve the pain and inflammation in the arthritic joints. They can be used in a bath by adding a specific number of drops to the tub, or rubbed or messaged into the affected areas. Warm compresses can also be made to wrap around or placed on the body.
The application of hot compresses is the most successful use of the remedy to relieve the arthritic pain. To make a compress, place a cotton cloth into a bowl of hot water with several drops of the oil added. Wring the cloth out and apply it to the affected area. The vital blend should contain oils known for their pain relieving properties.
The greatest benefit for arthritis results from proper oil selection. Oils that contain menthol (like peppermint or corn mint), camphor (like rosemary), boswellic acids (from frankincense), and the aspirin-like compounds found in wintergreen can be especially helpful. These tend to dull the nerves at the site of the condition, allowing greater freedom in limbs and joints.
It is necessary to use the right oil that either by themselves or in combination with others contains properties that alleviate pain. Frankincense has been shown to relieve the pain of arthritis and improve the condition in as little as seven days. Frankincense has been used for hundreds of years as a holistic approach to treating arthritic joins. Other potentially useful oils include frankincense (with its well-researched boswellic acids), wintergreen (primarily made of a form of liquid aspirin), and ginger (a strong anti-inflammatory). One of the most remarkably effective oils is called “helichrysum” — and while expensive, it is pain relieving, anti-inflammatory, and regenerative at the same time.
When using essential oils for arthritis care it is important to be sure that the proper pain relieving and anti inflammatory blends are used. Make sure not to apply any of the remedies to the skin if there are any cuts or scratches. Also make certain that the oil is not irritating to the skin. The safest way to apply the active essential oils is to blend them in a carrier oil such as sweet almond. This will not reduce the efficacy of the essential oils, but actually help them penetrate the areas in need of support. Checking with your primary care provider or any specialist who is treating your arthritis should be done before beginning any alternative treatment.
The author is a frequent user of helichrysum essential oil and other natural botanicals for healing.