One of the most common questions I hear is how to use essential oils for inflammation. Unchecked inflammation causes all sorts of problems especially with your heart and kidneys.
So just what is inflammation? Healthline.com gives a really simple explanation of inflammation:
Inflammation occurs in the body when the immune system is activated. Inflammation can have many different causes, such as from an infection or even a reaction to a food allergy. The body senses that something is wrong, so it sends blood cells to that area to help heal what’s wrong and kill off any “invaders.”
Chronic inflammation can be even more damaging as left unchecked, your immune system is always on guard. Eventually, your immune system gets “tired” and you get sick. According to Facty Health, some things that cause inflammation are:
- Digestive troubles
- Emotional stress
- Physical stress
- Insulin resistance
- Hormonal imbalance
- Synthetic fibers (i.e. latex)
- Poor diet
- Food allergies
- Chemicals
- Trigger foods (i.e. corn, safflower oil)
No matter what, there will always be a bit of inflammation in your system – this is good. It’s when the inflammation is not kept in check by a healthy diet and lifestyle that it becomes an issue.
Staying away from foods that cause inflammation is a real key to a healthy diet – which is any food high in sugar and saturated fats. So, what are good foods that fight inflammation?
- Fatty fish
- Whole grains
- Dark leafy greens
- Nuts such as walnuts and almonds
- Beets and beetroot juice
- Garlic and onions
- Olive oil (Make sure it’s REAL olive oil!)
- Naturally fermented sauerkraut
- Berries and tart cherries
I’d like to note something important here: eating right and eating well are two completely different things.
If you have a gluten intolerance, whole grains are going to make you miserable. If garlic and onions give you indigestion, it doesn’t make life any easier. If you’re allergic to histamines, then eating sauerkraut or other naturally fermented foods will make your head and nose stuffy.
See what I mean? Eat the right foods for you that help with inflammation.
A 2010 study found that there are some essential oils that inhibit inflammation, especially Oregano and Thyme. Frankincense and German Chamomile are both good choices as well.
With that said – using essential oils for inflammation can be a huge help but only if you’re making healthy lifestyle choices to supplement and help them. There’s a lot you can do to help yourself by taking advantage of aromatherapy.
Image By Freepic.comIf you think you’re dealing with inflammation, the first thing you need to do is talk to your healthcare professional to get to the root cause. If you don’t do that, then anything you do to relieve the inflammation is simply putting a band-aid on the situation.
It’s the same thing as disconnecting the check engine light on your car. The problem is still there, you’re simply ignoring it. Eventually, the engine will stop running. By paying attention to your body (your engine) now, you greatly increase your chances of healthy living.
Using Aromatherapy to Address Inflammation
So the question becomes: do essential oils really help with inflammation? The short answer is yes, but. Yes, they do help with inflammation – there have been many studies confirming this and lots of oils have natural anti-inflammatory properties. But use them in addition to healthy lifestyle choices. Inflammation doesn’t appear in your body overnight and essential oils alone won’t make it go away overnight.
If you have occasional issues with inflammation, you can use this blend to assist you:
Anti-Inflammatory Oil
- 1 ounce of Trauma Oil
- 3 drops of Lavender (Lavendula angustifolia:
- 3 drops of Helichrysum (Helichrysum italicum)
- 5 drops of Frankincense (Boswellia carterii)
- 3 drops of German Chamomile (Matricaria recutita)
- 3 drops of Thyme (Thymus vulgaris ct. linalool)
- 1 ounce dark glass bottle with treatment pump
Blend all the listed essential oils in 1 oz. of Trauma Oil. Apply gently to inflamed area 5-6 times daily. You can use this long term as well.
If you don’t have these oils on hand, I make this blend for $36.95. You can choose Custom Blend in the shopping cart and I will send an invoice to you for the balance of the payment. Or you can simply send an email to me and I’ll take care of you in one easy step.
I want to help you take charge of your well-being. It’s not hard to do and yes, aromatherapy can make a major difference.
Please let me know what questions you have; I would love to talk with you about your needs and concerns. You can email me directly at balance (a) scentedbalance (dot) com or fill out the contact form.
Do it today.
As always, I am very grateful you chose to stop by.
Blessings!
Melissa
PS – the above statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Any products mentioned are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Please see a qualified medical professional for any and all health issues.
