Essential Oils for Pain Support

Pain.  Ouch.  I think it is safe to say that we have all dealt with pain at some point in our lives.  Physical, emotional, you name it.  Bottom line is, no one likes being in pain.  No one.  And if we are in pain, we go to most lengths to ease that pain.  

As you may know, Tamara and I love our Young Living Essential Oils.  We use them for sleep and immune support, add them to our beauty products, and really so much more.  

We had the pleasure of joining our Oily Angels team in Nashville at the Thrive Conference a few weeks ago.  One of the highlights of the weekend was listening to Dr. Oliver Wenker, MD speak about using essential oils for pain.  Today, I am going to share with you, what I learned from him.

Did You Know?

• Pain is the most common reason in the United States to visit a Physician.
• More than 100 million people in the United States suffer from chronic pain (most common is back pain).
• Both physical and emotional pain can severely interfere with a person's quality of life and general functioning.

Pathophysiology of Pain

Nociceptive

• Stimulation of nerve fibers (pressure, cut, acute injury)

Neuropathic

• Damage of tissue in the brain, spinal cord, or nerves 

Psychogenic

• Real or perceived pain caused by mental or emotional problems.

Side Effects of Pain Meds

Narcotics

• Addiction (about 5-fold increase in the past 15 years) and death (about 30,000 each year)
• Constipation, nausea, dizziness, rash, liver problems, and more

NSAIDS (Aspirin, Celebrex, Motrin, Indocin, Toradol, Aleve, Naproxen)

• ulcers, bleeding, liver failure

Acetaminophen (Tylenol)

• Liver and kidney failure

Essential Oils for Pain Support

Lavender

• Lavender essential oil is a safe and effective treatment of acute migraine headaches. (source)
• Lavender is capable of blocking calcium influx and sodium permeability across cellular ion channels (calcium influx into sensory nerve cells and high permeability for sodium is necessary for the pain to be transducted. (source)

Copaiba

• Copaiba has topical anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. (source)
• Copaiba has been compared to Cannabis for pain relief. (source)
• Copaiba has gasto protective properties. (source)

Peppermint

• Capable of blocking calcium channels
• Capable of inhibiting Substance P in the brain (neurotransmitter for pain)
• Displays opioid-like action via interaction with NMDA receptors (N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor)
• Activates k-opioid receptors in the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves
• Menthol and Carvone are just two compounds in peppermint known to decrease pain (source)
• Peppermint Oil has shown to relax gastrointestinal smooth muscle by reducing calcium influx (source)

Wintergreen

• Contains 85%-95% of the active ingredient methyl salicylate
• Similar to aspirin
• Good for pain relief
• Doc Olli's favorite to treat sore muscles after exercising (in combination with Copaiba and Peppermint

Ginger

• Ginger oil possesses antioxidant activity as well as significant anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive properties (source)

Clove

•  Eugenol, found in Clove oil, shows a dose-dependent anti-nociceptive activity in various pain models.  It possesses anti-inflammatory and peripheral anti-nociceptive activities.  (source)

Doc Olli's Favorites

Acute Pain

• Copaiba + Peppermint + Wintergreen (1:1:1) (If a large amount is needed, dilute in carrier oil.
• Copaiba + Clove
• Deep Relief roll on or Panaway

Chronic Pain

• Combination of anti-stress, anti-inflammatory and anti-pain.  For example, Stress Away, Copaiba, Clove, Peppermint, and PanAway, together with a healthy lifestyle.

Essential Oil Blends

Deep Relief

• Peppermint
• Lemon
• Balsam Fir
• Copaiba
• Clove
• Coconut
• Wintergreen
• Helichrysum
• Vetiver
• Palo Santo

PanAway

• Clove
• Wintergreen
• Peppermint
• Helichrysum

Emotional Pain Support

• Frankincense
• Lavender
• Idaho Blue Spruce
• Stress Away
• Peace and Calming
• Valor
• Trauma Life

To Sum it all up:

• There are well over fifty essential oils that can be used to relieve pain.
• They can be found in nature's medicine chest (plants).
• They typically work very fast with few side effects.
• Most of them relieve pain AND inflammation AND stress all at the same time.

Of course, all of this goes along with a healthy lifestyle!  An anti-inflammatory diet, healthy sleep, regular exercise, relaxation, and meditation are all  helpful in preventing pain and future pain! 

Do you use essential oils for pain?  For more information on Dr. Wenker's presentation on pain, I hosted a Google Hangout on the topic!  You can check that out here:

 

 

http://youtu.be/Iz1xP0NgX6o

 

 

As you know we only recommend using Young Living Essential Oils. We trust their purity and believe in their Seed to Seal Guarantee. If you are ready to get started using Young Living Oils, we are happy to have you on our team!

Pin it!