6 Essential Oils to Cool Inflammation Down
The Heat Is On
Inflammation is really a protective response in the healing process of the body to remove what the body considers harmful or irritating. It’s beneficial when it’s working correctly, but can contribute to health problems when an excessive amount is produced as in chronic inflammation.
Inflammation lasts a longer period of time with chronic inflammation. It’s as if the switch never gets turned off. It lasts a shorter period of time with acute inflammation. You may notice redness, swelling, heat, and pain in an affected area.
Noooo – Not Another Pill!
For those of you who don’t like taking pills no matter if they are prescribed or herbal, essential oils are a great alternative for you. You don’t have to worry about the mind-staking pill countdown: 1…2…3, then quickly throw your head back and gulp to swallow a pill. I’m all too familiar with that process. Don’t get me wrong. I’ll take a pill, but if I can find another effective way to get great benefits, then I’m all for it. You can use essential oils individually or mix them together to help you with inflammation. Try some of the oils below to see what works best for you.
The Cool Down Countdown
1. Frankincense
This is one of my favorite essential oils. It’s like ‘liquid gold’ because you can use it to help with so many things. It’s more expensive than some of the other oils, but definitely worth it. The oil comes from the sap of Boswellia trees in African & Arabian regions. Various studies have shown that frankincense effectively reduces inflammation, because it inhibits different inflammation enzymes in the inflammatory process.
2. Lavender
This well-known oil does more than help you relax and sleep. It also aids in pain relief and inflammation. Lavender’s anti-inflammatory properties may help to relieve joint pain, headaches, backaches and back pain, muscle tension and spasms, sprains, muscle aches, and rheumatism.
3. Helichrysum
Heli who? Another common name for this oil is Everlasting or Immortelle. The common names come from its ability to generate new tissue in the body. That makes this oil sound like some type of Sci-Fi superhero. This is helpful with some chronic inflammation conditions where tissue degenerates such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Its unique compounds make it useful in reducing inflammation in joints, muscle cramps, sprains, and body pain.
4. Yarrow
Yarrow is one of the few essential oils that are blue in color. The rare color develops during the steam distillation process to extract the oil from the Yarrow plant. It has anti-inflammatory properties that may help relieve any type of inflammation. For example, it helps stop uric acid from gathering in the muscles and joints of those with rheumatism and arthritis.
5. Peppermint
I love the taste and smell of peppermint! It’s so invigorating and uplifting even when eating it or drinking the tea. But did you know that this popular oil can be helpful with reducing inflammation and pain? The cooling sensation that it gives also helps to lessen the heated or burning sensation that is sometimes felt with inflammation and pain.
6. German Chamomile
The oil from these daisy-looking flowers is soothing and cooling to inflamed areas. It also helps your mind and body relax, which can benefit you when experiencing inflammation and pain all within itself.
Bonus Oil- A Must Mention
Speaking of oils, I can’t write about inflammation without including emu oil. Though it’s not an essential oil, studies have shown it to have a high level of anti-inflammatory properties.
We have used it in my house to cool down inflammation such as menstrual cramps, inflamed nerves in the back and side of face, headaches caused by inflammation (not constriction like in migraines) just to name a few.
You can also mix emu oil with essential oils to transport them into the body quicker too. While acting as a carrier oil, it also takes whatever it’s mixed with on a journey through the skin. In other words, your body is able to use the essential oils (or anything else it’s mixed with) more efficiently, because emu oil penetrates deep into the skin tissue to the cellular level without irritating it. It’s like the Star Trek of oils – beam me up (in) Scotty!
The oils mentioned above are by no means an exhaustive list. There are other oils that are helpful in relieving inflammation and pain such as eucalyptus, myrrh, sweet marjoram, ginger, juniper, thyme, and more.
Of course there are herbs that are helpful with your inflammation cool down as well. Essentials oils are another avenue in the path of natural health. It’s always good to have options. We do carry the oils mentioned and much more in the store. You can come to one of the stores, call or email us, if you have any questions.
I’d love to hear how you cool down inflammation.
Disclaimer
These statements are for informational purposes only and have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information and these products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition, consult a physician before using these products.
References
Massage Today/August, 2009, Vol. 9, Issue 08 by Shellie Enteen, RA, BA, LMBT
Organicfacts.net- Lavender/ Helichrysum/ Peppermint
Lawless, Julia 1995. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils
