Anyone who has suffered with back pain, or are currently dealing with back pain issues will know the impact it has on day to day life. Using essential oils for back pain and inflammation relief is a natural and effective way to compliment your current treatment.
There are all kinds of causes, types, and reasons for back pain. Sciatica, arthritis, slipped discs, and lumbago are some of the more common conditions. All of which can be incredibly painful, but can be treated with essential oils.
Essential oils are natural oils extracted from herbs and plants. They retain the healing and wellness properties from the plants. For thousands of years these oils have been used for their healing benefits, and are still used by millions of people worldwide.
Read on to discover how you can use essential oils to provide the relief from back pain you’ve been looking for. Which oils to use, how to use them, and some really good blends to help get you back to your best!
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Essential Oils for Back Pain and Inflammation Relief
Basil Essential Oil
This is the perfect essential oil to help ease tight muscles by loosening and relaxing any muscular tension not only for your back but anywhere you apply it. Basil essential oil is good for mental fatigue, and your nerves.
If you have neuritis, which is the inflammation of one or more nerves, it is recommended that you rub the oil into your back and up to your neck area.
Ginger Essential Oil
This is also a warming oil and is great to apply to your tired, sore, painful back muscles. Ginger essential oils are effective in helping with rheumatism and arthritic conditions along with easing the tightness in your back muscles.
This essential oil is something that you should have in your home because if you experience any muscle spasms or discomfort in your back you should use this oil on them.
Marjoram Essential Oil
This essential oil is great for back pain because it is soothing, warming, and will help to ease the sore muscles in your back and your joints.
Marjoram essential oil is also stress easing, emotionally calming, and soothing. It can help to reduce inflammation in your back. If you have arthritis you should use this essential oil.
Eucalyptus Essential Oil
This is a soothing, warming essential oil that contains strong anti-inflammatory properties. When paired with a strong analgesic it makes it effective at relieving pains, aches, and stiffness.
Lavender Essential Oil
Lavender is one of the essential oils that is a great all-around oil. It can help with so many different medical conditions. This oil is good to use for restlessness, stress, anxiety, hyperactivity, and fatigue.
It is not as hot or warming as some of the other essential oils used for back pain but it does have some powerful analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties that are great for a backache.
If you’re finding it difficult to get a good night’s sleep read how Lavender oil can be used to help you sleep better.
Peppermint Essential Oil
This essential oil is uplifting and refreshing and contains anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties to help ease your back pains.
It has a lovely soothing, cooling aroma and feel and can make a quick difference to how much pain you’re feeling and the amount of inflammation.
Rosemary Essential Oil
This is a top-rated essential oil for soothing backache, due to its analgesic and tonic qualities.
Rosemary essential oil is also effective in giving you relief from the pain caused by arthritis and aches.
Ways You Can Use Essential Oils to Treat Back Pain and Inflammation
Aromatic Baths – Having a long soak in a hot bath is a great way to relax and reduce pain all over your body. Add a few drops of one of the blends I’ve covered in this article to the hot water.
You get the aromatic benefits from the oils being released in the steam, as well as the oils being absorbed into your skin in the water.
Topically – This is going to be the best method for most people. Massaging the blends directly into the areas that are giving you pain or are visibly inflamed is a quick way to treat the area.
Always test a small area of skin first for any skin sensitivity or allergies. Mixed with a carrier oil it’s very unlikely you will experience any problems, avoid using the oils undiluted.
Diffusing – Diffusers, such as the Radha Beauty Diffuser work by creating a cool, fine mist of oils and water into the air. This is a good way to absorb the properties of the oils while relaxing, or even sleeping.
This method is particularly useful for people in a great deal of pain where massaging is too painful. Or, if it’s too hard to reach the areas of your back you’re treating.
Essential Oil Recipes and Blends to Help Reduce Back Pain
3 Easy to Make Essential Oil Formulas for Various Types of Back Pain
Below you will find three formulas for treatment of regular back pain. Most of these essential oils in all three blend formulas are common and you may already have them on hand.
Recipe 1
- 10 drops rosemary essential oil
- 10 drops peppermint essential oil
- 10 drops basil essential oil
- 2 tablespoons of carrier oil
Mix the ingredients together and massage gently into the desired area.
Recipe 2
- 10 drops eucalyptus essential oil
- 10 drops ginger essential oil
- 10 drops lavender essential oil
- 2 tablespoons of carrier oil
Mix the ingredients together and massage gently into the desired area.
Recipe 3
- 10 drops sage essential oil
- 10 drops marjoram essential oil
- 10 drops rosemary essential oil
- 2 tablespoons of carrier oil
Mix the ingredients together and massage gently into the desired area.
Essential Oil Recipe for a Slipped Disc
Slipped discs can be incredibly painful and often traditional medicines just don’t help enough. Slipped discs occur when ligaments around a vertebra break.ou should be seeking the advice of a physician, but can also use essential oils to compliment your treatment.
You should be seeking the advice of a physician, but can also use essential oils to compliment your treatment.
Here is an effective blend you can massage into the area with the slipped disc to give you some extra pain relief and reduce the swelling and inflammation.
- 5 drops eucalyptus essential oil
- 5 drops ginger essential oil
- 10 drops peppermint essential oil
- 10 drops rosemary essential oil
- 2 tablespoons of carrier oil, such as doTERRA fractionated coconut oil
Blend all the above oils together to make a topical application. Massage gently into the desired area a few times a day.
Essential Oil Recipe for Sciatica Pain
Sciatica is pain being caused by the sciatic nerve. Anything causing irritation to the sciatic nerve can cause you a great deal of pain and discomfort.
It usually affects the lower back and progressively gets worse and more painful if you don’t start doing something about it. You need to treat the pain and make some lifestyle and posture adjustments going forward.
Here is a blend of essential oils that will provide some of that much-needed relief from sciatica pain:
- 10 drops rosemary essential oil
- 12 drops lavender essential oil
- 10 drops marjoram essential oil
- 2 tablespoons of carrier oil, such as doTERRA fractionated coconut oil
Mix this oils into a blend and use via one of the methods mentioned above.
I’m a MA, (CMT) Certified Massage Therapist, Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT), and Reiki Master — I’m a licensed massage therapist with over 10 years of experience in the industry.