If you suffer from arthritis, then chronic pain the day and often the night is unfortunately nothing new to you. To date there is no known cure for arthritis but pain relief is something every sufferer wants. Aromatherapy using essential oils has been known to help with arthritis pain.
Aromatherapy is a holistic approach, to help treat various ailments and conditions by helping to heal imbalances in your body ? arthritis pain definitely being one. These essential oils come from all over the plant kingdom and is in effect the ?essence? of the particular plant, tree, flower or bush. Most importantly, these essential oils also make you feel good! An aroma therapist can choose which oils are best for you.
Various essential oils have been associated with relieving arthritis pain:
Cinnamon essential oil is definitely good for arthritis pain because it is anti inflammatory and helps removing the stiffness and pain of muscles It can help with rheumatism, achy muscles, cold hands and feet (if due to poor circulation) but also for colds, coughs and the flu. It can also help with recovery from an illness. A few drops of cinnamon essential oil can be used in your bath, also as a compress as detailed below.
Hot compresses are one of the most effective ways to relieve pain and reduce inflammation of joints.
Put 3 to 6 drops of essential oil into a bowl of hot water (not boiling as this is going on your skin!). Soak a cotton cloth in the mixture then wring until it stops dripping. Put the cloth onto the affected area. Wrap a towel over the cloth to keep in the warmth. When it cools, just repeat two to three times.
You can also rub diluted essential oils onto your skin. Mix two to three drops into vegetable oil or a skin cream. 3% essential oils in 97% vegetable oil or cream is generally considered safe and effective. Remember that essential oils are very potent so treat them with care and do your research before putting them on your skin. Rub a diluted version of one or more of the above essential oils onto affected areas as well as pulse points (inside wrists, for example) during the day to help alleviate pain.
It is important to buy high grade pure essential oils. Most health food stores carry a wide range of essential oils.
Also the use of cinnamon bark (as in the spice that you can buy at your local supermarket) taken with honey in hot water as a drink can also do wonders for arthritis. You should not drink cinnamon essential oil! See my article ?Relieve Arthritis Pain with Honey and Cinnamon? for further information.
From the above, you can see that consulting an expert (aroma therapist) is a good idea as s/he can guide you as to which essential oils are best for your individual condition.
Sandra Fierling
Author Bio
Sandra Fierling is an avid researcher of arthritis related articles, programs and products, including Anatrin and runs a successful website dedicated to debunking various arthritis myths for the benefit of the consumer. For great free arthritis tips, discount offers and more, see Sandra's website at www.arthritisreviews.com
