Fibromyalgia is a potentially debilitating condition that affects the entire body by causing inflammation of the musculoskeletal system. In addition to chronic, widespread pain, fibromyalgia can cause a wide variety of symptoms that interfere with a person’s ability to function on a daily basis. Sadly, many things about this condition are still unknown, making it a struggle for sufferers to find adequate relief.
Fascinatingly, essential oils may be able to help with many of the symptoms associated with fibromyalgia. Essential oils are safe, totally natural and proven by science to have the potential to reduce everything from muscle pain to depression. Best of all, essential oils are affordable and highly accessible.
What Is Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes widespread pain throughout the body. This pain is often debilitating, causing the sufferer to experience a drastically reduced quality of life (source).
Besides causing pain to the sufferer, fibromyalgia can result in depression, sleep problems, anxiety and chronic fatigue. Sufferers of fibromyalgia may also have trouble fighting off infections as this condition can interfere with the function of the immune system.
Currently, there is no known cure for fibromyalgia. At the moment, there are a few prescription medications that can help with some of the symptoms. However, these medications may cause extreme side effects.
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What Causes Fibromyalgia?
Currently, the exact cause of fibromyalgia is unknown. However, doctors believe that it may have to do with genetics. Many researchers believe that fibromyalgia can occur after severe physical or emotional trauma.
How Essential Oils Can Help with Fibromyalgia Symptoms
Essential oils are natural and safe plant-derived oils that have been used for centuries to treat an enormous variety of common ailments. Many essential oils possess potent anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce pain when applied topically to the body. Many essential oils can also have profound effects on mood levels when inhaled through the nose.
In one study, fibromyalgia sufferers were administered a blend of essential oils that are known for their anti-inflammatory properties. The study found that by massaging the subjects with this blend of essential oils, the subjects found significant relief from several of their fibromyalgia symptoms (source).
Essential Oils for Fibromyalgia
Lavender Essential Oil
Considering its wide array of well-documented health benefits, it should be no surprise to anyone that lavender essential oil is at the top of the list. Between its anti-inflammatory properties that fight pain, its incredible ability to lower symptoms of anxiety and its positive effects on sleep, lavender essential oil is capable of treating many fibromyalgia symptoms simultaneously.
Countless studies have shown that lavender essential oil can reduce sleep onset time thanks to its profound effects on the nervous system. Fibromyalgia sufferers who struggle with sleep may find relief by inhaling the oil at bedtime.
Lavender essential oil’s powerful anti-inflammatory properties can ease joint and muscle pain when massaged into the skin. The oil has also been found to have the ability to treat headaches.
Many fibromyalgia sufferers experience anxiety symptoms. Lavender essential oil’s unique ability to reduce feelings of stress and anxiety is well-documented. Inhaling the oil slows down the nervous system, calms the mood and lowers cortisol levels throughout the body.
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Frankincense Essential Oil
Frankincense essential oil also has the potential to treat several fibromyalgia symptoms. The oil is well-known for its anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce pain throughout the body when massaged into the skin. This is because of a chemical compound called monoterpene. This compound stimulates blood flow to the affected area when absorbed through the skin’s surface.
This oil can also improve the function of the immune system because it acts as a natural and safe steroid. It may also kill a wide variety of microorganisms that can threaten the immune system’s overall function.
Like lavender essential oil, frankincense oil can reduce stress and improve sleep (source).
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Clove Essential Oil
Clove essential oil’s analgesic properties are absolutely incredible. By applying clove oil to the skin, it can numb pain quickly by blocking pain receptors that travel through the nervous system. One study found that clove oil can numb pain just as effectively as a popular pain-numbing solution that is often used by dentists during dental procedures.
Clove essential oil has also been found to naturally improve overall mood because of its mild and safe stimulant properties. These same properties give the oil the unique ability to fight chronic fatigue, an extremely common and debilitating symptom of fibromyalgia.
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Grapefruit Essential Oil
Fibromyalgia sufferers may find some relief from their symptoms by inhaling grapefruit essential oil. Various studies have demonstrated how this essential oil lifts the mood, combats fatigue and reduces brain fog. This has to do with limonene, one of its leading chemical compounds.
Plus, thanks to grapefruit essential oil’s high amount of vitamin C, it can improve overall immune function. The oil also has anti-inflammatory properties that can treat pain throughout the body.
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Rosemary Essential Oil
Rosemary essential oil’s amazing pain-fighting abilities come from both its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. When massaged into the skin, the oil both reduces inflammation while numbing pain quickly.
Plus, rosemary essential oil reduces cortisol levels and slows down the nervous system when inhaled. Therefore, it can reduce anxiety levels and help the mind drift off to sleep (source).
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Cedarwood Essential Oil
Cedarwood essential oil is yet another multi-tasking essential oil that can address several fibromyalgia symptoms at once. Studies have found that its anti-inflammatory properties can significantly reduce the pain associated with arthritis, an inflammatory condition that causes debilitating pain.
Like lavender essential oil, cedarwood oil can dramatically lower symptoms of stress and anxiety while promoting sleep. In one study, cedarwood oil was found to reduce hyperactivity in rats when inhaled (source).
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Summary
As you can see, there are several essential oils that may combat the potentially crippling symptoms of fibromyalgia in a completely natural way. If you have found that any of these essential oils have been able to help you with your symptoms, tell us about it in the comments section below!