Are you living with arthritis? It’s a blanket term used to describe over 100 different conditions of joint inflammation. Each kind of arthritis has different causes including wear and tear, infections and underlying diseases.

The information here is general in nature and if you’re just beginning your search for answers, this is a good start. Yes, aromatherapy can help with arthritis, but any form of it can be very serious, so please talk to a trusted medical professional.

What Causes Arthritis?

According to WebMD.com, there’s several risk factors involved that cause arthritis:

• Age – As you get older, your joints tend to wear down.
• Gender – Most types of arthritis are more common among women, except for gout.
• Genes – Conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and ankylosing spondylitis are linked to certain genes.
• Excess weight – Carrying extra pounds makes arthritis in the knee start sooner and get worse faster.
• Injuries – They can cause joint damage that can bring on some types of the condition.
• Infection – Bacteria, viruses or fungi can infect joints and bring on some types of arthritis.
• Work – If you go hard on your knees at work such as knee bends and squats, you might be more likely to develop osteoarthritis. 

What Are The Symptoms of Arthritis?

• One or more joints that are swollen or stiff
• Joints that look red or feel warm to the touch
• Tenderness
• Trouble moving
• Problems doing everyday tasks

Is There A Cure For Arthritis?

The short answer is no. There’s relief through exercise, diet, analgesics and medication. The most common prescribed medications are:

• Corticosteroids: Reduce inflammation and suppress the immune system.
• Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs): The most standard RA treatment helps to slow down the progression of RA.

Just so you know, these drugs may help slow down the progression of arthritis but they can cause negative side effects such as stomach upset as well as liver and immune system issues. Again, this is a conversation to have with a trained medical professional. arthritis and essential oils

What Can I Do To Help Myself?

Here are some ways you can help yourself when living with arthritis:

• Watch your diet and do your best to get rid of sugar and processed foods.
• Move your body every single day.
• Drink plenty of water – seriously – pure water helps get rid of toxins in your body
• Watch your weight. Excess weight can cause all sorts of problems.
• Educate yourself. The more you know about arthritis, the more you can help yourself. 
• If your doctor recommends treatment, don’t put it off. The sooner you begin treatment, the more likely you are to avoid permanent joint damage.

Think about looking into Turmeric (circumin). It’s a huge anti-inflammatory and may provide some form of relief. Curcumin can reduce inflammation and enhance the body’s antioxidant capacity, making the immune system more efficient. This benefit may help lower inflammation, ultimately decreasing joint pain, increasing mobility, and restoring functionality in problematic areas.

How Can Aromatherapy Help?

If you’re one of the millions living with arthritis, aromatherapy can help improve your quality of life. Will it fix or cure arthritis? No. (Nothing can.)

However, essential oils are known (and proven*) to address inflammation, joint swelling and pain – the hallmarks of arthritis.

Aromatherapy is also ideal for assisting with long term depression that many times goes along with any chronic condition.

One of the Scented Balance products that has made a big difference for those with chronic pain is Flexatoid Rheumatoid Arthritis Cream. It helps with the pain, inflammation and joint swelling. It’s very kind and gentle to your liver along with easing the constant pain.

I can’t heal your arthritis – only YOU can do that. Aromatherapy offers a gentle and effective tool to help you get the most out of your life. If I can help address your pain for more hours in the day with Flexatoid and provide more ease of movement for you, then I’ve done my job.

If you have concerns or simply want to talk through this information, please fill out this simple contact form and let’s talk today!

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Consult your physician before beginning any exercise program.

*Metin, Z. G., & Ozdemir, L. (2016, April 15). The effects of aromatherapy massage and reflexology on pain and fatigue in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A randomized controlled trial. Pain Management Nursing, 17(2), 140–149. Retrieved from http://www.nursingplus.com/article/S1524-9042(16)00021-7/abstract

*Nasiri, A., Mahmodi, M. A., & Nobakht, Z. (2016, November). Effect of aromatherapy massage with lavender essential oil on pain in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee: A randomized controlled clinical trial. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 25, 75–80. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1744388116300597