About 1.5 million people from age 30 and above in the US suffer from Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA); women have a higher chance of having RA than men.
Rheumatoid arthritis results in swellings in joints all over the body due to the inflammation of the synovial membrane, which is a membrane that lines the surfaces of joints.
This causes excess synovial fluid to accumulate in the synovial capsule in between the joints, resulting in inflammation, swelling, stiffness, and pain around the joint.
Essential oils have been used to treat Rheumatoid Arthritis for ages; the earliest use was recorded in Egypt 2000 years ago.
However, modern research shows that essential oils cannot cure Rheumatoid Arthritis, but they can offer fast relief from rheumatoid symptoms like inflammation, swelling, pain, and stiffness.
Essential oils are extracts from plants in their concentrated, undiluted form. These extracts give plants their characteristic taste, aromatic, or pungent smells associated with some plant types, including spices.
Essential oils can be obtained from the leaves, stems, roots, sprouts, flowers, and seeds of plants, depending on the parts of plants with the highest concentration of the extract.
How to Use Essential Oils for Fast Relief from Rheumatoid Arthritis
A study conducted in 2010 found that using essential oils reduces the symptoms of RA by up to 75% by inhibiting the activities of enzymes associated with inflammation at the joints.
Of the essential oils tested, thyme essential oil recorded the highest potency against Rheumatoid Arthritis. Other essential oils used during the studies include clove, rose, eucalyptus, bergamot, and fennel.
The following are common methods of using Essential oils to treat Rheumatoid Arthritis symptoms
Before massaging rheumatoid joints with essential oil, you must dilute it in a carrier oil to prevent extreme skin irritation or other adverse reactions.
It is also important to conduct a patch test with the diluted essential oil before applying it directly to your skin.
To do a patch test, apply a small drop of essential oil to a small patch of skin and watch for reaction; if there’s no observable reaction, you can start using essential oils on rheumatoid joints.
Add 10 to 15 drops of essential oils to 1 ounce of any carrier oil of your choice to prevent skin irritation and burn sensitivity.
Thyme essential oil is extracted from the thyme plant (Thymus vulgaris). Thymol, the active ingredient in thyme essential oil, is a potent anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial substance.
Hence, it is important to dilute thyme essential oil in carrier oils like coconut or olive oil before use.
Although thyme is commonly used in the kitchen to add flavor and aroma to foods, it is one of the most popularly used essential oil to treat rheumatoid arthritis.
Read Also: Joint Pain Relief Remedies: How to Use Essential Oils to Relieve Joint Pain
Jesus’s story in the bible wouldn’t be complete without mentioning frankincense; hence, its use dates back thousands of years ago for religious ceremonies due to its strong aromatic scent.
Frankincense is an oil extract from the Boswellia tree (Boswellia carterii) with a powerful chemical composition that makes it useful as a potent pain reliever with strong anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiseptic properties.
Research conducted in 2011 proves that frankincense essential oil is more potent than aspirin for relieving arthritic pains and inflammation by reducing autoimmune responses and cartilage degeneration in joints.
The use of eucalyptus for treatment dates back to hundreds of years ago in Australia by the Aborigines. Eucalyptus essential oil is an extract from the leaves of the Eucalyptus plant (Eucalyptus globulus) rich in chemical compounds with potent anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and analgesic properties; making it useful in treating diverse ailments, including fevers and digestive disorders.
Research conducted in 2013 shows that inhaling eucalyptus essential oil reduced pain and blood pressure after surgery.
You can use Eucalyptus essential oil topically by diluting 10 drops with 2 tablespoons of coconut oil or other types of carrier oils.
Ginger essential oil is extracted from the rhizome (underground stem) of the ginger plant (Zingiber officinale). Gingerols, shogaols, and other active ingredients present in ginger make it suitable for various treatments, including cold, arthritis, migraines, and digestive disorders.
A study conducted in 2019 showed that ginger essential oil effectively prevents weight gain and inhibits enzyme activities responsible for inflammation.
Like other essential oils, you should dilute 10 drops of ginger essential oils with two tablespoons of carrier oils before applying it directly to your skin.
The turmeric plant belongs to the same family as ginger, and like ginger, it has been used for centuries to detoxify the body, prevent inflammation, cancer, and hair loss, treat digestive disorders, boost the immune system, treat various skin conditions, improve blood flow, and as spices.
Turmeric essential oil is extracted from the rhizome of the turmeric plant (Curcuma longa), and it contains active ingredients such as curcumin, zingiberene, cineol, and other substances that give it its potent antioxidant, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-microbial properties; making it the perfect treatment for rheumatoid symptoms as proven by a study conducted in 2011.
Basil essential oil is an extract of the basil plant (Ocimum basilicum) used in Ayurvedic medicine since time immemorial to treat skin diseases, cough, indigestion, diarrhea, arthritis, etc.
It is also used as insects repellant due to its characteristic smell.
Basil essential oil is a powerful analgesic proven by research to provide relief from rheumatoid pains, wounds, burns, headaches, sports injuries, etc.
The active ingredient linalool has strong analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-microbial properties, hence its usage in treating diverse ailments.
For rheumatoid arthritis, diffusing 4 drops in a tablespoon of carrier oil like coconut or almond oil is perfect for massaging infected joints.
Read Also: 8 Knee Strengthening Exercises to Get Rid Of Knee Pain Fast At Home
Lavender essential oil from the lavender plant (Lavandula angustifolia) is one of the most widely used essential oils due to its calming effects on the nerves.
It is also used to treat diverse microbial diseases, skin infections, menstrual cramps, depression, allergies, muscular and joint pains, etc., due to its anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, hypotensive, sedative, antioxidant, and analgesic properties as suggested by research conducted in 2015.
Active ingredients found in Lavender essential oil include linalool, lavandulol, geraniol, etc., all of which confer the ability to treat diverse arrays of ailments.
Rheumatoid Arthritis is a degenerative disease that gets worst as you advance in age.
However, lifestyle changes like following a healthy diet, losing weight, and engaging in low-impact exercises like walking, cycling, swimming, tai chi, and water activities can help improve arthritic conditions.
While you work at improving or preventing arthritis, it is important that you use any or a combination of essential oils to give you fast relief from rheumatoid arthritis.
If you’re interested in making your mixture of essential oils for fast relief from rheumatoid arthritis pain, you should try this recipe by Well and Living:
Read Also: How to Use Essential Oils to Get Rid Of Ingrown Hair Fast At Home
While calluses are the body’s natural way of protecting your hands, feet, or other body…
Congratulations if you've clocked 50 or are about to attain the 'golden jubilee.' You have…
It is a well-known fact that a sedentary lifestyle of sitting all day long either…
Quads are the most important muscles in the body to pay attention to because they…
It is suggested that an imbalance of good bacteria in the gut (intestines) due to…
Merriam-Webster dictionary defines anxiety as apprehensive uneasiness, usually over an impending or anticipated ill. Going…