Back pain is a pretty common problem nowadays and one of the most common pains you will most likely experience at least once in your life. It can strike suddenly without any warning – whether you’re picking something up from the ground or getting up from your chair, you may experience swift back pain that can go on for hours or even days. Sometimes, back pain lasts for only a short time, but even then, it hurts like hell.
The worst thing about back pain is that it’s not easy to locate the culprit nor reduce the pain. The pain can be excruciating no matter the treatment and it will most likely prevent you from going around your day as you normally do. Back pain is especially bad when you consider our modern lifestyle, where we spend half of the day sitting.
If you take painkillers, the pain may subside for a while until it comes back with vengeance. This is why people resort to natural remedies and OTC pills which are often quite effective. Humanity has treated any kind of pain naturally for millennia, especially when it comes to essential oils. Essential oils can treat any kind of pain including back pain pretty effectively, but they work a bit slower than medications. Give them time, however, and you’ll resolve the problem once and for all, while also improving your overall health.
7 Best Essential Oils For Instant Back Pain Relief:
1. Ginger Essential Oil
One of the major triggers for back pain seems to be inflammation, so reducing it sounds like a good idea for reducing back pain. When it comes to relieving inflammation, nothing works better than ginger essential oil. If you’re suffering from lower back pain, this oil can do wonders. Ginger essential oil’s incredible pain-relieving properties and health benefits have been studied for decades and science has already confirmed it can help you deal with back pain.
Massage your lower back and the painful area with the oil twice a week, and the pain should disappear in over a month.
2. Lavender Oil
Lavender is one of the most popular essential oils around. It is commonly used as a way to relax in aromatherapy and is a well-known remedy for various types of pain as well. Lavender oil has a soothing and sedative effect and will help you deal with stress, anxiety, and back pain as well.
Thanks to its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, the oil will reduce the inflammation in your back and relieve your sore muscles. It’s best to blend a few drops of it with a bit of carrier oil (coconut or olive oil), then massage your lower back with the mixture. Additionally, you can also use it in a diffuser in your living room and bedroom to keep stress at bay and your muscles relaxed.
3. Rosemary Oil
Rosemary oil is a powerful appetite stimulant and memory booster that has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties as well. Rosemary oil has been used in cosmetics for a long time and there’s a list of reasons why. It has also been used for its effects on our overall health and its ability to significantly reduce pain.
A recent study showed that rosemary oil, if used properly, can be a powerful natural painkiller. Rub a few drops of it on your back 2-3 times per week and you should soon notice its positive effects.
4. Chamomile Oil
There are two types of chamomile essential oil – the German type is extracted from the Matricariachamomila plant, while the Roman chamomile oil is derived from the Anthemisnobilis plant. Both work great for relieving pain and have powerful analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. At the same time, they have carminative properties as well and can help you with flatulence and similar digestive problems.
When it comes to back pain, German chamomile oil works better. It is especially effective for inflammatory conditions thanks to the presence of chamazulene, a powerful anti-inflammatory compound that is also responsible for the oil’s dark color. If you plan on using this oil, and you really should, mix a few drops with some coconut oil, then massage the painful area for about 15 minutes every couple of days.
5. Wintergreen Oil
We bet you haven’t heard about this one. Wintergreen, along with birch, are the only two plants in nature that contain methyl salicylate, the primary ingredient in aspirin. This means that wintergreen has powerful analgesic properties, making it a great remedy for back pain.
Native Americans regularly used wintergreen oil to defeat pain, and science has already shown that it can provide quick pain relief. Just rub a bit of the oil on your lower back every night before going to bed and you’ll soon feel the results. Additionally, the oil can also provide relief from headaches and sore throat.
6. Frankincense Oil
Frankincense is probably the most powerful anti-inflammatory essential oil. It easily relieves muscle tension and pain and is quite an effective stress reliever as well. Of course, it can also work wonders for back pain. The oil works by inhibiting the action of the COX-2 enzyme, while also reducing inflammation. It should be combined with a carrier oil before rubbing it on your back, however, as it’s too strong for you to handle it on your own.
7. Clove Oil
Clove oil is regularly used as a natural remedy for toothache thanks to its powerful analgesic effects. It has a pungent and powerful smell and ‘freezes’ pain faster and better than anything else. Just mix 3-4 drops of it with a few drops of coconut or jojoba oil, then rub it on your back – the relief should come instantly.
The Best Essential Oil Blends for Back Pain
1. Rosemary and Peppermint
As we already said, rosemary is a great anti-inflammatory oil, while peppermint has antispasmodic properties. The combination of both would obviously provide quick back pain relief and is also very effective for back spasms. However, make sure the peppermint oil is diluted well enough or it can be quite irritating for your skin. Make sure it doesn’t come in contact with your eyes or you’ll be in big trouble.
Rosemary oil shouldn’t be used by pregnant women and people suffering from high blood pressure and epilepsy. On the other hand, peppermint shouldn’t be used by children or pregnant women.
2. Frankincense and Lavender
While lavender is an anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic oil frankincense can reduce your stress and induce deep breathing. Both will raise the levels of oxygen in your body and relieve the pain in your back. Rub the blend on the painful area, but make sure to stop it if your skin gets irritated.
