28 Best Essential Oils For Pain Relief

Pain can stem from many different causes and make even everyday activities cumbersome.

I did a little research to learn which essential oils are good for reducing pain and inflammation.

Keep reading to learn which ones might help you and how to use them.

Top essential oils for pain

What Is The Strongest Essential Oil For Pain?

The strongest essential oil for pain really depends on what kind of pain you have and often it’s a combination of essential oils that end up working the best.

Here are my top recommendations for pain in premade blends:

Top 28 Essential Oils For Pain

There are many different essential oils that can be used for pain relief.

Some soothe the mind and body to alleviate stress and tension and indirectly help improve the pain profile, while others have actual analgesic properties.

Yet others possess anti-spasmodic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-rheumatic properties, all of which serve to alleviate pain in various ways.

Here are 28 of the most popular essential oils that promote healing and help ease pain and inflammation. 

Best essential oils for pain

Do you still need to buy your essential oils? You can find quality oils at Simply Earth or in my Amazon  Shop.

1. Lavender Essential Oil

Lavender is a wonderful sweet calming oil that has a luscious scent and is most known for its ability to induce a state of relaxation with supports pain relief indirectly and relieves stress. 

It is anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and also contains sedative properties that help with muscle tension, joint pain, headaches, and muscle spasms.

Learn more about lavender essential oil here

Lavender essential oil for paim

2. Eucalyptus Essential Oil

Eucalyptus is another wonderful-smelling oil that boasts analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties.

The mere scent of eucalyptus elicits feelings of peace, calm, and serenity.

Great for nerve and muscle pain, it also helps clear up sinus congestion and is great to use for flu-related aches and pains.

Learn more about eucalyptus essential oil here

Eucalyptus Essential Oil has many benefits. Read on to learn more and how to use it.

3. Clary Sage Essential Oil

Clary sage is calming, and soothing with anti-inflammatory and anti-spasmodic properties and is effective in easing muscle tension, PMS cramps, and spasms.

4. Sandalwood Essential Oil

Sandalwood works as a sedative on the nervous system, so it helps to relieve nerve pain and muscle spasms.

Best essential oils for pain

5. Juniper Essential Oil

Juniper relieves joint and muscle aches and helps with spasms thanks to its antispasmodic properties.

6. Chamomile Essential Oil

Chamomile has anti-inflammatory properties so it helps to relieve spasms, lower back pain, joint pain, migraines, and PMS-related pain.

7. Yarrow Essential Oil

Yarrow has a natural analgesic and powerful anti-inflammatory properties so it’s great for muscle and joint pains.

8. Mustard Seed Oil

When applied as a paste warm mustard seed oil may improve blood flow to the inflamed painful joints and help relieve pain.

Mustard seed used in cooking is also helpful as it contains omega-3 fatty acids, selenium, and magnesium, which are all linked to improving arthritis symptoms.

Essential oils for pain

9. Tea Tree Essential Oil

Tea tree oil is derived from the leaves of the tea tree and is used to relieve the pain and inflammation of arthritis.

10. Lemon Essential Oil

Lemon oil is an anti-inflammatory that reduces joint inflammation.

11. Olive Essential Oil

Olive Oil contains a compound called oleocanthal that works in a similar fashion to the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that are prescribed for arthritis pain.

Research has shown that oleocanthal decreases the production of COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes that cause inflammation.

Which essential oils are good for pain

12. Helichrysum Essential Oil

 Helichrysum has antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, and analgesic properties all of which may be used in support of various types of pain relief.

13. Ginger Essential Oil

Ginger oil is widely used for back pain, muscle pain, and arthritis.

14. Cedarwood Essential Oil

Cedarwood oil is widely used in Ayurvedic medicine and the oil is extracted from Cedarwood trees.

Works great as a massage oil in diluted form and is used to ease arthritis and joint stiffness and pain.

Related: Manly Essential Oils and DIY Recipes

15. Frankincense Essential Oil

Frankincense oil is extracted from the Boswellia plant that grows in northern Africa.

Its anti-inflammatory properties are why it is used to relieve stress and pain, and it is widely used in herbal medicine.

Various research studies show its ability to ease arthritis knee pain.

Frankincense can be used in aromatherapy and also comes in supplement form.

Essential oils for knee pain

16. Spruce Essential Oil

The oil derived from the spruce tree has a wonderful aroma and has been used since ancient times to promote relaxation and boost immunity.

Many rely on it to help ease the pain that is caused by arthritis and rheumatism, as well as bone, and back pain, and sciatica.

17. Sweet Marjoram Essential Oil

Sweet marjoram with its sedative properties supports the relief of muscle pain, spasms, stiffness, and rheumatism.

18. Peppermint Essential Oil

 Peppermint is a great oil to alleviate joint and muscle pain.

Athletes use it when they are training and many fitness buffs love it as a massage oil.

Learn more about peppermint essential oil here

Peppermint essential oil for pain

19. Thyme Essential Oil

Thyme is a natural antispasmodic, which makes it good for muscle and joint pain.

20. Wintergreen Essential Oil

Wintergreen contains methyl salicylate, which is the exact pain reliever in aspirin, making this essential oil effective for headaches, arthritis, and menstrual cramps.

21. Rosemary Essential Oil

Rosemary works for back, muscle, joint, and headache pain because it has analgesic and antispasmodic properties.

22. Myrrh Essential Oil

Myrrh has been used for centuries to treat swelling caused by arthritis.

A powerful anti-inflammatory that is also believed to help wound healing.

It also helps calm the spirit and relax the body, which promotes healing.

Note: Myrrh should never be used during pregnancy.

Bay essential oil can be used to help with pain

23. Bay Essential Oil

Bay essential oil possesses anti-spasmodic, analgesic, antiseptic, and sedative properties.

The oil is extracted from the leaves of the Bay tree that is native to the Caribbean Islands.

Its anti-spasmodic properties make it useful for cramps, aches, and other related symptoms caused by spasms within the body.

Bay oil blends well with Cedarwood, eucalyptus, lavender,  lemon, and orange.

Note: Bay oil should not be used during pregnancy as it contains high levels of eugenol that can cause irritations in the skin and mucus membranes.

24. Copaiba Essential Oil

Copaiba oil helps soothe aching joints, reduces inflammation, and loosens tense muscles along with boosting the effectiveness of other essential oils.

According to Webmd.com it may potentially kill germs, too.

Buy Simply Earth oils and supplies here –>>Simply Earth.com

Use “STACYRUSSELLFREE” when you buy the subscription box to receive a $45 gift card.

25. Vetiver Essential Oil

Vetiver essential oils are extracted from the roots of the Vetiveria zizanoides grass, which is part of the same botanical family that holds lemongrass.

It is used for general aches, arthritis, rheumatism, and headaches.

26. Vanilla Essential Oil

 Vanilla was studied by the Columbia University Medical Center where subjects smelled vanilla while performing stress tests and the vanilla resulted in them having more stable heart rates and blood pressure readings than those who took the same tests in an unscented environment.

27. Cajeput Essential Oil

28. Clove Essential Oil

Cloves have uses beyond your holiday meal spice, as the essential oil extracted from the clove flower buds possesses anti-inflammatory and anesthetic properties.

Clove oil that is derived from the flower buds is of much better quality than that derived from stems or leaves, so read the labels.

Some of its uses include tooth pain, and throat infections, which is why it is used in many pharmaceutical and dental products.

Clove oil also helps boost digestion and alleviate various digestion problems because it relaxes the smooth muscle lining of the digestive tract, which helps to prevent intestinal spasms, bloating, and gas.

Clove oil also has antifungal, antiviral, and antibacterial properties that help rid the body of digesting upsetting pathogens.

Use essential oil for pain

How To Use Your Essential Oils For Pain Relief

There are many ways you can use essential oils but the most common for pain relief is blending them into massage oil.

While you can use any of the oils on their own, the blending of various compatible essential oils is commonplace and can greatly improve results.

You can blend on your own or purchase premade blends specifically intended for pain.

You can find quality oils at Simply Earth or in my Amazon  Shop.

Essential Oils For knee painHow To Use Essential Oils As A Massage Oil

Essential oils work great in massage form, but you should never apply undiluted oils directly to the skin because they can cause burns, dilute with a carrier by using about 10 to 12 drops to 1 ounce of carrier oil.

Carrier Oils To Use

These are some of the easiest-to-find carrier oils to use with your essential oils. 

  • Sweet Almond Oil
  • Jojoba Oil
  • Olive Oil
  • Avocado Oil
  • Coconut Oil
  • Evening Primrose Oil
  • Rose Hip Oil
  • Shea Butter

Massage Oil For Cramps Recipe

You Will Need:

1 oz glass bottle
6 drops of Peppermint Essential Oil
5 drops of Cypress Essential Oil
4 drops of Lavender Essential Oil
Sweet Almond Oil (almost 1 oz)

Instructions:

  1. Add essential oils to bottle and swirl to incorporate.
  2. Fill the rest of the bottle with sweet almond oil.
  3. Massage into your stomach or use it as a daily moisturizing oil after your shower.

Pin It For Later 

Massage Oil recipe using Essential oils for cramps.

Cramp Care Compress Recipe

  • 1 tbsp Fractionated Coconut Oil
  • 3 drops Ladies Choice Blend
  • 4 cups Hot Water (approximate)
  • Small Towel or Cloth

How To Use Essential Oils Roller Bottle Blends For Pain

Essential oils and carrier oils can be added to blank roller bottles to make it easy to roll on your temples, neck, bottom of your feet, or wrists.

More roller blends here

Roller Bottle Blend For Headaches

If you don’t have a blank roller bottle to make the recipe below you can blend the essential oils with 1 tablespoon of carrier oil and massage gently into the temples. 

Click here for the best essential oils to use for headaches

Essential Oils For Headaches

Roller Blend For Muscle Pain

  • 2 drops Bergamot
  • 3 drops Relief Blend (buy at Simply Earth)
  • 3 drops Cajeput
  • Fractionated coconut oil

Coupon Alert: Recieve a $45 rebate to use on your next purchase when you use STACYRUSSELLFREE to buy the Simply Earth subscription box

 

How To Use Your Essential Oils As Aromatherapy For Pain

One of the main ways to use these essential oils for pain relief is through aromatherapy.

Diffusing oils into the air allows us to breathe their therapeutic benefits that then work through our sense of smell.

Dr. Mehmet Oz, professor of surgery at Columbia University Medical Center in New York City stated that various research studies support the use of aromatherapy for pain relief and, as opposed to other remedies, aromatherapy acts very fast as the brain interprets the scent quickly and feels it instantaneously.

While researchers are not yet sure exactly how aromatherapy really works, the theory is that our sense of smell works to stimulate the part of our brain that activates relaxation and promotes healing.

If you don’t have a diffuser you can place a few drops in a pot of boiling water and breathe in the steam.

As an alternative, you can put a few drops into your palm and breathe in deeply.

Some people like to add a few drops of oils to their pillows to help them sleep at night.

Diffuser Blend For Migraines

Diffuser Blend For Headaches

Diffuser Blend For Sleep

Lavender is a wonderful scent to promote peaceful sleep, which indirectly helps with pain.

Use it in a diffuser in your bedroom to activate this healing aroma, and sleep better.

Use it alone or blended with other oils.

More essential oil blends for sleep here
This diffuser blend of lavender, cedarwood, frankincense should help you sleepa

Click here for more diffuser blend recipes

Essential Oil Bath For Pain

A warm bath can do wonders to soothe tired, achy muscles, and joint pain that is caused by arthritis and rheumatism.

Place a few drops of essential oil into a bath, and add Epsom salt to make it even better.

Essential Oil Detox Bath For Pain

Final Thoughts

 All of us have to deal with pain at some point in our lives.

Essential oils may prove to be of great benefit since they are easy to buy and easy to use.

Let me know what essential oils have worked best for you!

 

Keep Reading

Discover Over 100 Uses For Your Essential Oils
Can Essential Oils Really Help You Lose Weight?
21 Cinnamon Diffuser Blends That Smell Amazing

Sources:
https://www.arthritis.org/living-with-arthritis/treatments/natural/other-therapies/aromatherapy-pain-relief.php
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321853.php
https://www.bustle.com/p/9-essential-oils-for-pain-relief-that-actually-work-according-to-science-9114293
https://www.webmd.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/essential-oils-treat-rheumatoid-arthritis

Best Essential Oils For Pain

Reader Comments

  1. Oh, I love this, and need to read it again! you have the basics laid out so clearly! Great job,

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