Essential Oils for Neck and Back Pain
There are a number of ailments out there that nobody wants to have to deal with. They are quite literally a pain and can provide a real detriment to our way of living. One of the most difficult and frustrating to deal with is back pain. There have been studies conducted that estimate that up to 80% of the population will deal with back pain at some point in their lives. This means that almost no matter what your course of life is, you will most likely have to deal with back pain at some point in time.
If that’s not bad enough as it is, back pain is not universal. Some pain is easier to mitigate and manage while other pain can be practically crippling. Not only that, back pain does not have to be caused by a serious issue. Aches and pains can permeate your back, causing discomfort all its own.
If you are looking to avoid using pharmaceuticals as a way to treat your chronic back pain, there is an all-natural solution available that might be more your speed: essential oils. Essential oils are tackling a litany of different aches, pains, and ailments while more users are learning the healing properties that they possess.
WHAT ARE ESSENTIAL OILS?
Essential oils are completely natural products that are extracted from a single type of plant species. Not all plants produce essential oils, though, so don’t assume that you can find an essential oil for just any plant. In the plants that do produce, however, you'll find the essential oils in the roots, stems, leaves, flowers, or fruits. It is possible to extract your own oils from these plants, but the process can be difficult especially if you have never done it before.
That is why finding essential oils already created for specific uses is a much better route. We will go over the best essential oils out there and what they can do for you later on in this guide.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AROMATHERAPY AND ESSENTIAL OILS?
Basically, these are interchangeable terms that mean the same thing. The term aromatherapy has an implication with it that insinuates that all essential oils smell nice and can benefit us in this very specific way.
Quite the contrary, however, is the fact that there may be many essential oils that do not have a particularly pleasant odor. Smell is a very subjective thing, but German chamomile is an example of an essential oil that does not appeal to a great many people.
The term aromatherapy also implies that smelling or ingesting these essential oils is the only way to garner their benefits. But the fact of the matter is that there are a number of ways to enjoy the benefits of essential oils.
Essential oil therapy is essentially the same thing as aromatherapy, but the latter has a much more recognizable cadence to it that gives it a much more recognizable reach in terms of name recognition.
WHAT ESSENTIAL OILS ARE GREAT FOR BACK PAIN?
While it would take too long to list all of the essential oils on the market today, we can narrow the search a little bit by talking about those that can aid in back health. And since so many of us will experience back pain over our lifetimes, it can be highly beneficial to know which essential oils are best for managing that level of pain.
BASIL
Basil is not just for adding a little bit of flavor to our favorite dishes, it can also be ideal for helping with tight muscles and pain relief. Basil has qualities to it that aid in relaxation and helps to loosen up any particular muscle tension wherever it is applied.
Basil also happens to be great for mental fatigue and calming your nerves. This can help relieve a little bit of that muscle tension that can be caused by being tense and stressed for long periods of time. In the case of your back, it is highly recommended that the oil be rubbed into the spine, lower back, and all the way up into the neck area.
SWEET MARJORAM
Marjoram, like basil, probably has more recognition as a cooking aid than anything else. But the thing about Marjoram is that it is a great essential oil for back pain because it is soothing, warming, and can ease tension on the muscles and joints and provide pain relief.
Marjoram also possesses emotional calming abilities, relieving stress and providing a generally soothing sensation. It can help to reduce inflammation as well, making it great for treating things like arthritis that can be quite painful. This is an herb that also has sedative compounds to it; these can help to relieve muscle pain and spasms, joint stiffness, migraines, rheumatism, and osteoarthritis. Marjoram has a ton of healing qualities that we are just learning more about.
CHAMOMILE
Most recognizable as a particular type of soothing tea, Chamomile is yet another essential oil that is popular for a whole other reason. Still, it has anti-inflammatory compounds and can also provide pain-relieving measures.
Additionally, chamomile also possesses terrific antioxidant compounds, part of the reason that it is such a popular option as a drink in addition to essential oil. German chamomile in particular has calming and soothing features and has also been found to aid in the support of joint health, helping to mitigate some pain levels because of that support.
GINGER
Ginger is an immensely popular plant and herbal remedy and also happens to be one of the most popular essential oils out there. Because of its warming properties, ginger works perfectly as an application for tired, sore, and pained back muscles.
Ginger is particularly effective for rheumatism, tightness, and arthritic conditions. You are experiencing discomfort or any spasm-like conditions, make certain that you have your ginger essential oil on hand to help alleviate those symptoms.
EUCALYPTUS
Not just for koalas, eucalyptus has soothing, warming properties contains some of the strongest anti-inflammatory qualities out there. Those anti-inflammatory properties, especially when paired with strong analgesic effects, make it particularly effective when it comes to relieving pains, aches, and stiffness.
That strong-smelling oil has anti-inflammatory and analgesic compounds that are particularly good for that muscle and nerve pain. Not only that, it will be able to clear out your sinuses at the same time, offering you relief if you suffer from sinus headaches in particular.
LAVENDER
Much like peppermint, lavender is one of the most well-known and popular essential oils that there is. Lavender oil is particular indicated as used against stress, hyperactivity, restlessness, anxiety, and fatigue.
And while it is not as warming as some of the other oils on the list, lavender still has some pretty powerful analgesic and anti-inflammatory qualities. These make for great tools in treating backaches that can be uncomfortable at best and debilitating at worst.