Tag Archives: aromatherapy for arthritis

No more ouchs or aches: Aromatherapy for arthritis and joint pain relief

Joint pain can be one of the most debilitating of illnesses that can affect any human being. This is more so if you are suffering from arthritis, gout or other syndromes. The first thing that comes to your mind while you are in pain is – “what can I do to get instant relief from this?” Since arthritis is a major illness that affects many Americans, you cannot go in for buying OTC drugs for it. You need to consult a physician and take only prescription drugs. This would normally take time and your pain will grow unbearable by that time. Aromatherapy essential oils can give instant relief from such excruciating pain. Though not all essential oils are good in treating joints, some are very good in alleviating the inflammation and sickness when massaged on to the affected areas. This article will focus on the essential oils which will offer instant relief from joint pain.


Why aromatherapy for joint pain? Arthritis is basically inflammation of the joints and occurs in several types in affected patients. The most common among them is osteoarthritis which affects the bones very badly. Natural remedies in the form of aromatherapy can help treat this condition. As an alternative treatment for arthritis, aromatherapy works with liniments. A liniment heats the skin and underlying muscles to relieve one of joint pain. Often the base of a liniment is rubbing or drinking alcohol. However, this has been changing since the advent of the benefits of essential oils. From rubbing alcohol, people have shifted to vegetable oils/essential oils as base. This is because oils heat up faster and stimulate the muscles (underlying the joints) to act well. Essential oils also stay on the skin for longer time, making it suitable for massaging.

Essential oils for arthritis and joint pain relief:
Some of the essential oils which are used for arthritis and joint pain relief: Rosemary, Marjoram, Lavender, Eucalyptus, Peppermint, Cedarwood, Nutmeg, Yarrow, Clove bud and Sage. These oils should not be applied directly to the skin and should be mixed with carrier oils (1% to 3%) before use. You can massage this mixture in 2 or more times daily. To make a dilution of 1% , mix 6 drops of essential oil to 1 oz of carrier oil.

Another way is to stimulate skin is through liniments. To do that, include Tiger Balm, White Flower oil and Peppermint/Camphor in the preparation. These stimulate both hot and cold reactions in the nerve endings of the skin which makes the liniment hotter than it is and that in turn stimulates healing. To be the most effective, liniments should contain Rosemary, Marjoram and Lavender. For arthritis and other joint pain relief, you can add the following oils in your massage recipe or hot water bath – Chamomile, Marjoram, Birch, Ginger etc. Cinnamon, Eucalyptus, Clove and Peppermint make the best liniments.

How to make liniment?
This recipe will help you make a liniment that would cure your pain readily. Mix 8 drops of Eucalyptus oil with 8 drops of Peppermint, 8 drops of Rosemary, 4 drops of Cinnamon Leaf, 4 drops of Juniper Berry, 4 drops of Marjoram and 2 oz of alcohol. Stir the combination two or three times daily to disperse the oils in alcohol. Since the recipe is a bit stronger that the usual massage recipe, never use it over a large area of the body. You can also use this as a warm-up treatment before heavy exercising or physical work. This would prevent the bones from cramping or painful areas.