Looking for joint pain relief? Recent studies have corroborated the use of aromatherapy for pain relief. Professor Mehmet Oz at Columbia University Medical Center in New York City commented “Aromatherapy is effective because it works directly on the amygdala, the brain’s emotional center. This has important consequences because the thinking part of the brain can’t inhibit the effects of the scent, meaning you feel them instantaneously.”
Aromatherapy has common uses and has calming effects helping reduce anxiety or energising effects helping combat depression. It also promotes skin rejuvenation but on top of this pain relief is also an extremely important benefit of a bespoke aromatherapy treatment and in particular it can ease the pain of arthritis.
Arthritis sufferers commonly complain about pain in the limb joints and those who have tried aromatherapy can vouch for the pain relief properties of certain essential oils . Sudden weather changes do not help those with joint pain either as they sometimes struggle using their limbs. A simple task like grabbing a door handle, keeping hold of things or picking something up can become quite a strain.
Massage itself can benefit people with painful hand or wrist arthritis although. As a massage therapist aware of the physical symptoms of arthitis you are extremely gentle whilst massaging those achy joints. The pressure applied needs to be quite light and gentle. However, an aromatherapy massage can be a more powerful combination as you get the added benefit of using therapeutic essential oils suited for your condition, and diluted in carried oil and these are applied via massage helping alleviate the joint pain experienced.
A gentle aromatherapy massage warms up the skin and underlying muscles and joints hence helping relieve pain. Chamomile, peppermint, sweet marjoram and ginger are effective essential oils for joint pain, which can be used in a full body massage. These can also be added to a pain-relieving bath. For arthritic hands or feet you can also try a daily hand or foot bath (ensure you first consult your aromatherapist on how to use these concentrated oils safely [*])
An essential oil preparation with cinnamon, peppermint, and clove is also great skin-heating blend. In addition, Tiger Balm, which contains peppermint, can stimulate both hot and cold reactions in the skin’s nerve endings. There are also some muscle-relaxing and inflammation-reducing essential oils such as rosemary and lavender, which penetrate into the skin to work directly on the muscle.
An an interesting fact : did you know that, in between your aromatherapy massage treatments, you can regularly drink nettle tea at home to also help alleviate joint pain?
All in all, it is worth noting that, whilst aromatherapy can certainly help relieve the painful symptoms it does not tackle the root cause of the condition itself, therefore, so you would still need to take medical advice from the experts on your condition as well take the necessary treatment as prescribed by your own doctor.
In the meantime, why not trying aromatherapy alongside conventional medicine? Be kind to your mind, body and soul…a therapeutic massage can work a treat. Keep warm in this weather too 🙂
[*] Please notice and remember: do not use essential oils at home without first consulting your qualified aromatherapist on how to best use these safely at home – these contain very concentrated natural chemicals, which could irritate your skin and/or cause you an adverse reaction.