Essential oils for rheumatoid arthritis are not able to completely cure rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis, but they can significantly relieve some symptoms such as swelling, inflammation, stiffness, and pain.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune, chronic, inflammatory disorder. This medical condition occurs when your immune system attacks the body by mistake. This disorder can damage body systems, such as joints, skin, eyes, lungs, heart, and blood vessels, and it can cause intense pain in your joints.

Rheumatoid arthritis is not curable, although, with the proper therapy, disease progression can be significantly slowed. Osteoporosis is a disease that resembles rheumatoid arthritis in terms of symptoms. However, rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, and osteoporosis involves the weakening and damage of the joints.

Essential oils are odorous products obtained from a plant’s raw material. There are more than one hundred and fifty essential oils made out of thirty thousand types of plants on the market nowadays. Here’s a guide on how to choose the best essential oil brands These natural remedies are familiar for their anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and anxiolytic effects, and that is one of the reasons why they are used as an alternative or additional therapy for some medical conditions.

In this article, we have gathered valuable information about essential oils that might help with rheumatoid arthritis symptoms reduction and the beneficial and potential hazardous role of essential oils.

SEVEN ESSENTIAL OILS FOR RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Essential oils and aromatherapy are safe to implement as a part of the therapy for rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis. The best essential oils for reducing the symptoms of these medical conditions are:

• eucalyptus essential oil
• frankincense essential oil
• lavender essential oil
• evening primrose oil
• ginger essential oil
• turmeric essential oil
• basil essential oil
• black pepper oil

EUCALYPTUS ESSENTIAL OIL

The essential oil that comes from eucalyptus is used as an antiseptic, a perfume, as an ingredient in cosmetics, as a flavoring, and in dental products. Symptoms as swelling, pain, and inflammation can be reduced by eucalyptus essential oil usage because of its compounds. A 2013 study that involved knee surgery patients showed that the patients who inhaled eucalyptus essential oil for three days experienced knee pain reduction and lower blood pressure.

FRANKINCENSE ESSENTIAL OIL

Since ancient times chronic pain and inflammation have been treated by resin and essential oils of frankincense, also known under the name Boswellia serrata Linn. Arthritis Foundation noted that this essential oil is valuable because its components are considered to be capable to fight autoimmune response and prevent cartilage damage.

LAVENDER ESSENTIAL OIL

The lavender essential oil may be added to a bath, inhaled, or applied topically. Various studies have confirmed that this essential oil can reduce symptoms of numerous medical conditions such as depression and anxiety. The lavender essential oil also plays a significant role in pain reduction. A 2016 study showed that lavender essential oil is efficient when it comes to the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee. This study is suggesting mixing of two essential oils – sweet almond oil and lavender oil.

EVENING PRIMROSE OIL

Along with black currant essential oil and borage oils, evening primrose essential oil is rich in omega-6 fatty acid. Due to this compound, evening primrose essential oil is useful when it comes to reducing the inflammation process in the human body. Also, this essential oil can help with the reduction of joint pain, stiffness, and tenderness. The Arthritis Foundation suggests that patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis take between 540 mg of evening primrose oil in divided doses daily for six months for desired effects.

GINGER ESSENTIAL OIL

Chronic inflammation and pain have been treated with ginger essential oil for centuries. This powerful pain reliever can be taken as a supplement (in a tablet or a pill form), or it can be added to meals. Various studies have shown that ginger essential oil contains compounds that can ease the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Ginger transforms due to digestion into gingerols, a group of anti-inflammatory compounds.

TURMERIC ESSENTIAL OIL

Turmeric and its effects have not been the subject of scientific research yet. For now, we know that turmeric essential oil may have anti-inflammatory effects, and it appears to reduce symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

BASIL ESSENTIAL OIL

A variety of potentially therapeutic compounds could be found in basil. The essential oil contains 1.8-cineole and linalool, compounds that reduce swelling and inflammation. Basil essential oil may enhance digestion, improve alertness, and help with muscle aches.

A QUICK GUIDE ON HOW TO USE ESSENTIAL OILS FOR RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

This guide will contain recipes for mixing specific types of essential oils and instruction on how to take these mixtures. The main reason for mixing different essential oils is to produce a powerful essential oil that will help with various medical conditions. It is suggested to mix lavender, rosemary, and juniper essential oil with coconut oil. The next step is to place a few drops of the mixture into hot water and inhale the steam. The patient might consider to massage the mixture of the essential oils directly into painful joints or put it into a warm bath.

RISKS

Potential risks that may occur when using essential oils include sun sensitivity, headaches, rashes, and gastrointestinal problems. Essential oils are used for thousands of years, and they are considered to be natural remedies, but before adding them to your therapy you may consider consulting a doctor. A majority of the essentials oils used to treat chronic inflammation and pain are not known to cause negative effects.