Best Essential Oils For Inflammation | Anti-Inflammatory Essential Oils

Inflammation is a natural process of the immune system which aims to protect our body from outside threats and invaders like viruses, bacteria, germs, infections, and any sort of injury. Inflammation is an immune response that represents healing by increasing blood supply and heat toward the infected area. Inflammation is the body’s way to say that something is not right. Inflammation can cause swelling and pain.

There is certain inflammation that is chronic in nature. It can be an immune response without any injury, like arthritis. In arthritis, the body treats its own components as exotic and it starts to attack them, causing discomfort to you. Some of the symptoms and effects of inflammation include redness, swelling, pain, bleeding, loss of function, skin irritation, etc.

There is a natural solution to this inflammation issue and it is essential oils. Essential oils have anti-inflammatory properties that help in reducing inflammation and discomfort. The use of essential oils helps in regulating the immune system of the body and thus impacts inflammation.

Read below to find out the amazing essential oils that help in reducing inflammation.

What Are Some Of The Best Anti-Inflammatory Essential Oils? | Best Essential Oils For Dealing With Inflammation

1. Thyme Essential Oil

Thyme oil is one of the most important essential oils that are rich in anti-inflammatory properties and can help reduce inflammation. It contains a component called phenol carvacrol that helps in suppressing the COX-2 enzyme that contributes to inflammation. Thus thyme oil helps in reducing inflammation and pain (1). The continuous use of this oil can help in treating acute and chronic inflammation.

2. Clove Essential Oil

Clove is one of the most ancient ingredients that is used for curing many different ailments. Clove oil has a powerful compound called eugenol that helps in increasing the blood flow near the inflamed area. Eugenol is rich in antioxidants that help fight free radicals and reduces inflammation.

Clove oil also has analgesic properties that help in relieving pain and inflammation. Clove oil is very versatile and it can be used for inflammation and reducing pain in muscles, arthritis, joints, injuries, mouth, etc (2). The use of clove oil has been shown to reduce gum inflammation.

Additionally, clove oil’s ability to alleviate inflammation and discomfort makes it one of the top essential oils for cramps. It can effectively ease painful muscle cramps, stomach cramps, and menstrual cramps.

3. Lavender Essential Oil

Lavender oil is being used for ages as a part of the skincare routine. Lavender oil is rich in anti-inflammatory properties and it can treat different types of inflammation. It is rich in analgesic and antioxidant properties that fight free radicals, improve blood circulation, and release pain, swelling, and inflammation (3).

Lavender essential oil is also considered as one of the top essential oils for warts due to its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and wound healing abilities. Applying lavender oil helps attack the root cause – HPV – while alleviating pain and swelling. The soothing lavender compounds also aid the body’s immunity against the wart virus to inhibit further outbreaks when used regularly.

4. Rose Essential Oil

Rose essential oil has calming properties that help relieve inflammatory skin. It is often considered one of the best oils for healing skin, and possesses calming properties that help relieve inflammatory skin conditions. Its antibacterial and natural healing attributes assist in mending and repairing various skin and health issues. Beyond its skincare benefits, rose oil has many therapeutic properties that have been proven to reduce menstrual cramps, stress, anxiety, and more. Thus, rose oil can effectively address inflammation issues.ShareSave

Rose Essential Oil, with its delightful fragrance and versatile properties, is an ideal choice for soothing sore muscles. Its anti-inflammatory and muscle-relaxant qualities help ease tension and promote muscle recovery after strenuous activities make it one of the essential oils for sore muscles. Incorporate Rose Essential Oil into your wellness routine and experience its comforting embrace on tired, achy muscles.

5. Eucalyptus Essential Oil

Eucalyptus essential oil is one of the best essential oils for treating inflammation as it has natural cooling properties. Eucalyptus oil can help calm irritated and inflamed skin as it has anti-inflammatory properties and antimicrobial properties. It also has analgesic properties that help in reducing pain and swelling (4).

Also, Eucalyptus oil is a popular choice as an essential oil for runner’s knee. Its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties make it effective in relieving pain and discomfort associated with this condition. When diluted in a carrier oil, massaging Eucalyptus oil onto the affected area can provide soothing relief, making it a valuable addition to a runner’s natural wellness toolkit.

6. Fennel Essential Oil

Fennel essential oil contains natural astringent properties that are believed to reduce swelling, pain, and inflammation. It alleviates fluid retention and can offer relief in different issues.

7. Bergamot Essential Oil

Bergamot oil has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antibacterial properties. It has natural healing properties that help in dealing with different skin and health-related issues.

As one of the top massage oils for aromatherapy, bergamot essential oil uplifts mood and induces relaxation with its bright, citrusy aroma. It can help relieve stress and anxiety as well as provide antispasmodic effects when used in aromatherapy massage blends.

8. Ginger Oil

Ginger essential oil has many medicinal and therapeutic effects and can offer relief in different conditions. It is rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties which help in releasing any sort of pain and inflammation from the affected area (5).

Ginger oil has warming effects and it promotes blood circulation near the affected area thus boosting the healing process. Thus, it offers relief from the discomfort associated with inflammation.

9. Turmeric Essential Oil

Turmeric oil has medicinal properties that can help you heal many different internal and external body issues. Turmeric oil has an active polyphenol called curcumin which has anti-inflammatory properties and is responsible for reducing inflammation and pain.

Turmeric oil is rich in antioxidants and natural healing properties that help offer relief in many different sorts of pain and inflammation including arthritis pain. Turmeric oil can be used to relieve sore muscles.

Know more about : Turmeric oil

10. Tea Tree Essential Oil

Tea tree oil is one of the most famous essential oils. It is being used for a long time to treat skin irritations. It is rich in antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties that help in healing skin inflammation, swelling, and pain. Tea tree oil has properties and components that suppress inflammatory responses offering you relief.

Tea tree essential oil is also widely regarded as one of the best essential oil for hemorrhoids. Its natural anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties can help reduce swelling, soothe discomfort, and promote healing for hemorrhoidal tissues.

Also, tea tree oil considered as a powerhouse among essential oils for diarrhea, boasts remarkable antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Extracted from the leaves of the Melaleuca alternifolia tree, this natural remedy has been used for centuries to combat various ailments.

11. Patchouli Essential Oil

Patchouli oil has calming and healing properties. Patchouli oil reduces inflammation, redness, and skin irritation, and naturally soothes the skin.

12. Peppermint Essential Oil

Peppermint essential oil has cooling properties like menthol that helps in reducing inflammation and pain. It has analgesic properties that offer a cool numbing sensation and helps reduce pain. Peppermint oil can offer relief from acute inflammation.

13. Roman Chamomile Essential Oil

Chamomile oil has natural healing properties. It contains anti-inflammatory properties that help in reducing pain and inflammation of the affected area. It helps reduce skin irritation, infections, swelling, anxiety, stress, etc., and soothes and calms your skin.

14. Helichrysum Essential Oil

Helichrysum has natural healing and repairing properties that can help heal damaged and irritated skin. Helichrysum oil contains a compound called arzanol that possesses anti-inflammatory properties and reduces pain and inflammation. It is rich in antiviral, and antioxidant properties that help in reducing skin irritation and infections, thus speeding up the healing process (6).

15. Clary Sage Essential Oil

Clary sage oil has soothing and calming properties that help in easing out pain and inflammation. It has been proved that clary sage oil contains antispasmodic and provides relief in menstrual cramps. This essential oil contains aphrodisiac properties that offer relaxation and calms the skin of the affected area. Continuous use of this oil can help reduce skin inflammation.

16. Rosemary Essential Oil

Rosemary essential oil has a natural healing process that helps reduce skin irritation and inflammation. Rosemary oil helps improve blood flow, It also increases the delivery of white blood cells and speeds up your recovery process. It has anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce pain and discomfort.

17. Frankincense Essential Oil

Frankincense essential oil is considered one of the most effective essential oils for relieving pain. Frankincense oil contains an immunostimulant that helps in boosting the natural immune responses of the body (7).

The use of frankincense oil helps in increasing the healing process. Frankincense oil has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties that help in relieving pain and inflammation. Its use can also offer relief in pain and inflammation caused due to rheumatoid arthritis.

18. Copaiba Essential Oil

Copaiba oil is one of the best options for getting relief from pain and inflammation suffered during arthritis or during joint stiffness. Copaiba oil helps prevent the generation of nitric oxide production which is responsible for inflammation. Thus, this oil can help reduce inflammation in the body (8).

19. Sweet Marjoram Essential Oil

Sweet marjoram is rich in carvacrol which is an antioxidant compound. The antioxidant compound helps in reducing inflammation and fights the issue of oxidation (9).

20. Basil Essential Oil

Basil essential oil is one of the most important essential oils to heal any sort of respiratory inflammation. It contains a 1,8-cineole compound that has anti-inflammatory properties. This compound help ease inflammation and pain. It also helps in reducing swelling as it contains a linalool compound.

Moreover, basil oil can provide immense relief from knee pain thanks to its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. Massaging diluted basil oil over arthritic knees significantly reduces inflammation and discomfort. This makes it one of the best essential oils for knee pain.

How To Use Essential Oils For Inflammation?

Essential oils work well in many different ways. Following are some of the ways in which essential oils have proven to help with inflammation.

Massage

You can dilute the essential oil with any carrier oil like coconut oil, jojoba oil, argan oil, olive oil, etc. Then you can apply this diluted mixture over the affected area and massage it in a circular motion. This will help in reducing pain, swelling, and inflammation. This is the most effective way to use essential oils to combat inflammation. Always remember to mix carrier oil if you wish to use essential oils topically.

Diffusion

You can diffuse essential oils with the help of an essential oil diffuser. The main benefit of diffusing essential oils is that the essential oil particles disperse in the surrounding. You can inhale essential oils through the surrounding. Diffusion is best for stress-related inflammation.

Mouth

Essential oils are not considered to be safe for consumption. Though there are certain essential oils that can be used in the form of mouthwash to offer relief from gum inflammation.

Risks And Precautions

There are many essential oils that are safe to use, but there are certain risks attached to them and to avoid them, the following precautions should be adopted.

It is advisable to take a patch test before the application of essential oil to the affected area. If you witness any allergic reaction, discontinue the use of essential oils and consult your doctor.

Essential oils are the safest option to use but there are chances that they might have certain side effects like redness, skin irritation, inflammation, headache, nausea, vomiting, allergic reactions, etc. If you witness any such side effects, discontinue the use of essential oils.

Avoid excess use of essential oils as they are high in concentration and can impact your skin. Use essential oil only once or twice a day.

Avoid using an undiluted essential oil, always dilute it with a carrier oil and then apply it.

Essential oils can be used for consumption only with the prior recommendation of the doctors.

DIY Essential Oils Home Remedies For Inflammation

DIY Recipe #1

DIY Massage Oil Blend For Inflamed Joints And Muscle

Ingredients

• 5 drops of lavender essential oil
• 4 drops of sweet marjoram oil
• 5 drops of ginger oil
• 1 tablespoon of jojoba oil (Or any other carrier oil of your choice)

Directions

• Take a bowl and mix all the above ingredients in it.
• Stir well the oils to make a good blend.
• Massage the affected area in a circular motion for 5 to 10 minutes.
• You can use this blend twice a day.

DIY Recipe #2

DIY Essential Oil Blend For Skin Inflammation

Ingredients

• 2 drops of helichrysum essential oil
• 3 drops of chamomile essential oil
• 5 drops of lavender oil
• 1 tablespoon olive oil (Or any carrier oil of your choice)

Directions

• Take a bowl and pour all these oils into it.
• Stir well all the oils in the bowl to make a nice mixture.
• Take the diluted mixture and apply it over the inflamed skin.
• You can repeat this twice a day.

DIY Recipe #3

DIY Essential Oil Blend To Calm Irritated Skin

Ingredients

• 5 drops of lavender oil
• 2 drops of chamomile essential oil
• 5 drops basil oil
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil (Or any other carrier oil of your choice)

Directions

• Take a bowl and mix well all the above oils in it.
• Stir well all the oil to make a nice blend.
• Apply this mixture to the affected area to soothe and calm inflammation due to irritated skin.
• You can use this blend twice a day.

Conclusion

Essential oils offer many medicinal, skin, and health benefits. If you’re experiencing inflammation then without thinking much make essential oils your best friend. If you are suffering from a severe inflammation issue that needs proper medication, add essential oils massage along with your medication to see quicker results. Essential oils can be applied topically, they can be used to massage the affected area, or they can be diffused. Essential oils have analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and antioxidant properties that help in healing different types of inflammation. You can keep switching essential oils to better understand how these oils work and which ones work best for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Source:

• J Lipid Res. (2010) Carvacrol, a component of thyme oil, activates PPARα and γ and suppresses COX-2 expression. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2789773/ 
• Joice Nascimento Barboza. Bioactive Compounds of Food: Their Role in the Prevention and Treatment of Diseases. An Overview on the Anti-inflammatory Potential and Antioxidant Profile of Eugenol. https://www.hindawi.com/journals/omcl/2018/3957262/ 
• An Acad Bras Cienc. (2015). Antioxidant, analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of lavender essential oil. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26247152/ 
• J Lipid Res. (2010) Carvacrol, a component of thyme oil, activates PPARα and γ and suppresses COX-2 expression. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2789773/ 
• Int J Prev Med. (2013). Anti-Oxidative and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Ginger in Health and Physical Activity: Review of Current Evidence. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3665023/ 
• ScientificWorldJournal. (2013). Arzanol, a Potent mPGES-1 Inhibitor: Novel Anti-Inflammatory Agent. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3807707/#:~:text=Arzanol+is+a+novel+phloroglucinol,belongs+to+the+family+Asteraceae 
• Z Naturforsch C J Biosci. (2003). Chemistry and immunomodulatory activity of frankincense oil. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12710734/ 
• Tyler Bahr. Complement Ther Clin Pract. (2018). Effects of a massage-like essential oil application procedure using Copaiba and Deep Blue oils in individuals with hand arthritis. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30396617/ 
• An Acad Bras Cienc. (2015). Isolation and identification of chemical constituents from Origanum majorana and investigation of antiproliferative and antioxidant activities. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26247152/