Overview
Pain can serve a useful function, warning when the body is not functioning properly. However, chronic pain can be draining and debilitating, interfering with daily functioning. Fortunately, several essential oils offer potential for pain relief, including topical and internal applications.
About Smells and Pain
The brain can register a smell faster than a pain response. A scent can be registered by the amygdala, the brain’s “emotional center,” according Mehmet Oz, M.D., a professor of surgery at Columbia University Medical Center in New York City. As a result, a scent can induce immediate physical effects. Individuals should keep in mind, however, that scents should be used for a brief period of time. “Short-term exposure is key because people stop responding to scents after a few minutes,” notes Alan Hirsch, MD, neurologist at the Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago.
Clove Oil
Clove oil is analgesic, providing rapid numbing to sore areas. According to the National Institutes of Health, clove oil (applied sparingly) can be used topically for dental pain. Please note that children and pregnant women should avoid use of this oil.
Evening Primrose Oil (EPO)
Evening primrose oil has anti-inflammatory properties and can benefit both circulation and the digestive system. The University of Maryland Medical Center notes that the oil can be beneficial for breast tenderness and pain, as well as for pain and tingling in the feet and legs, which are a complication of diabetes (diabetic neuropathy).
Lavender
Lavender has sedative properties and can be applied topically or inhaled, for stress relief. A 2005 “Journal of Advanced Nursing” study observing 635 women for 10ten days after childbirth found that women who used essential lavender oil in the bath had lower pain scores. A smaller study in the journal “Pain Practice” tracked 50 patients after breast biopsy surgery. The patients who inhaled lavender oil (with oxygen) as part of their post-operative care reported more satisfaction with pain management. Individuals can apply a few drops of lavender oil to diffusers, candles or handkerchiefs and sniff throughout the day to mimic this effect.
Peppermint Oil
Peppermint oil has analgesic and stimulating properties. The “Journal of Pediatrics” in 2001 followed 42 children with irritable bowel syndrome over a two-week period. Children taking the peppermint oil supplements had significantly less pain than those taking the placebo. However, parents should note that ingesting essential oils carries a high degree of risk due to toxicity, especially in children. Inhaling peppermint fumes would be a far less dangerous option.
Topical Oil Application
In general, essential oils should not be applied directly to the skin. Instead, mix a blend of up to 10 drops of essential oil into 20ml carrier oil such as olive or grapeseed oil. Create a much more dilute blend with two drops of essential oil to 20ml of carrier oil, if the mixture is to be used for children. Place in an airtight glass bottle. When using the oil mixture, pour out a small amount into a clean bowl to avoid contamination of the whole bottle.
Precautions
Use of essential oils may cause interactions with existing medications or provide new skin allergies. Individuals interested in using aromatherapy would do well to consult with a trained provider.
About this Author
Trina Lion has been a literacy consultant for 14 years: writing, proofreading and copyediting for an array of industries, and spearheading grant-funded literacy programs for families. Lion has written for Braille Bug, the children’s website of the American Foundation of the Blind, and “Acupuncture Today,” a journal for practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine.
