Many of my massage patients this past couple of weeks have reported some sort of pain related to arthritis. As the winter approaches, the cold weather sets in, also the aches and pains start to appear. There are over 100 types of inflammatory arthritis, and in the U.S., over 50 million people are affected.
I’m a clinical certified aromatherapist, and during my clinical training, one of the first things we learned is that not all Essential Oils (EOs) bring the same results, even when the circumstances are similar. That is what I love about the EOs, they are unique like human beings, and our taste, attraction, and perception of the oils vary. Some different EOs may have similar therapeutic properties, and what works for me not necessarily work for you. The challenging part of blending the correct oil comes with experience. The important thing is to keep in mind that synthetic oils (which are not therapeutic – they just smell good) and there are oils used for clinical aromatherapy, and those are organic, pure, of known source and trustworthy distillers.
Here are some of EOs that I suggest for arthritis:
Frankincense (Boswellia carterii) – This is a good anti-inflammatory. It is composed of 43% of terpenes (myrcene is a pain reliever), 55% of Esters (part of the chemistry supports immune moderating).
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) – I always tell everyone, over and over, if you must pick only one EO to carry with you or to have at home, that is the one. Lavender is, in my opinion, the most versatile of the EOs. It is skin regenerative, sedative/calming, analgesic, antispasmodic, antiseptic, antiviral, antibiotic, fungistatic, enhances a sense of well-being, and alters the perception of pain, among other therapeutic properties.
German Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) – 67% Sesqueterpenols (a-bisabolol) – good anti-inflammatory and analgesic, and this is an EO with classical use for arthritis, inflamed joints, neuralgia, rheumatism, sprains, etc.
Ginger (Zingiber officinale) – up to 50% sesquiterpenes (anti-inflammatory) and up to 8% terpene (myrcene) – good analgesic. One of the classical clinical application is for arthritis.
As I mentioned above, there are other EOs with similar therapeutic properties, but these are the ones I would try first. The EOs are not a replacement for medicine currently prescribed, and this information neither consists of medical advice nor a replacement for medical advice. EOs are not to be ingested and are not to be applied undiluted. I do not sell EOs, but I have a list of reliable sources of distillers and vendors. I do not recommend any main-stream EO company (or MLM companies) because those sometimes sacrifice important ethical commitments that Clinical aromatherapists are supposed to follow.
I hope to see you soon. Stay safe,
Mauricio – Massage by Bertone LLC
