- Arthritis Joint Pain Relief with Aromatherapy - Kevin Rosseel, Morguefile
Arthritis treatments are anything but simple, with a variety of different approaches and cures available from doctors, naturopaths, and other experts. The best solutions, of course, are those that offer arthritis pain relief without side effects. Essential oils are one of many natural arthritis treatments that really work.
Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis
In most cases, finding the right treatment depends on identifying which type of arthritis is the cause of joint stiffness, soreness or pain. The two most common types are rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.
- Osteoarthritis – The soft cartilage cushioning in the joint breaks down, allowing bones to rub against each other where they shouldn't. Osteoarthritis is considered a degenerative disease.
- Rheumatoid arthritis (sometimes written incorrectly as rhumatoid arthritis) – The synovial membrane, the lining that surrounds and protects the entire joint, becomes swollen and inflamed. Rheumatoid arthritis is considered an autoimmune disorder and it can eventually cause deterioration of cartilage and bone.
There are many medical and holistic arthritis treatments. Some work, and others don't. Aromatherapy might seem like a new approach to joint pain, but it is actually a very old remedy that has been found effective by healers and herbalists for generations.
Aromatherapy Arthritis Treatments
Although most people associate aromatherapy with relaxation, massage, and pleasant odors, it can be much more than that. Essential oils are one of nature's oldest healing tools, used in medicine and health care around the world for millennia.
Essential oils are effective at treating joint pain because they penetrate cells quickly and easily, providing oxygen, nutrients, and lipids that injured and inflamed joints need. Some essential oils are heating, others cooling, and some are even able to help the body rebuild damaged joints and restore mobility.
When using essential oils for therapeutic use, the quality is extremely important. Most aromatherapy oils sold in stores are cut or adulterated with other ingredients to make them less expensive, but less effective – and sometimes, downright toxic. Read The Real Quality of Essential Oils for details on essential oil safety.
Choosing Essential Oils for Arthritis Pain Relief
Despite the differences between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, the same essential oils can be useful in providing relief from joint pain and restoring the movement and flexibility of the joints. Some of the best essential oils for arthritis relief include:
- wintergreen
- birch
- basil
- rosemary
- peppermint
- helichrysum
- juniper
- marjoram
- cypress
- ginger
- black pepper
- pine, fir, spruce
- nutmeg
Any of these oils, or a combination of several, can be applied directly on the area where arthritis pain is worst, and may be reapplied every 15 minutes or as needed. Depending on skin sensitivity and which oils are chosen, it is often best to dilute the aromatherapy oils in a 1:1 ratio with extra virgin olive oil or another pure fatty oil base.
Reference
- Essential Science Publishing (compiled by), Essential Oils Desk Reference, 2nd Edition. USA, Essential Science Publishing, 2001.
- Mayo Clinic staff, "Arthritis," MayoClinic.com, 23 January 2009.
Victoria Anisman-Reiner - Victoria Anisman-Reiner is a freelance writer with extensive experience in holistic health care and animal training.
