(NaturalHealth365)  Chronic pain is very common health issues worldwide, affecting well over 60 million people in the United States alone, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).  Unfortunately, many people turn to conventional pain relievers as their first or only solution for pain.  But, as we all know, pharmaceutical drugs can cause unwanted side effects.

In fact, the Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide warns that over-the-counter pain relievers can cause liver damage, headaches, stomach problems, dizziness, and risk of kidney or heart problems.  In addition, The Cleveland Clinic notes that prescription medication can cause hormonal imbalances, constipation, depression plus many other negative side effects.

Because of these side effects, it’s worth considering alternatives. Surprising to most people, essential oils – which are concentrated plant oils – are natural pain killers that can be used instead of toxic drugs.

How do essential oils actually reduce pain symptoms?

A 2011 study in the journal Molecules found pain-killing properties within essential oils that can affect the brain by entering the bloodstream and creating a pain-relieving effect within the central nervous system. Researchers, in this study, explained that essential oils are being studied for use as alternatives to conventional pain relievers because they are natural and studies find them effective, so they might be used more as mainstream pain relievers in the future.

The Molecules study tested many applications for taking essential oils, including taking them orally, receiving an injection, applying them on the skin and more, so various application methods might be available over time. However, some of these methods are still being studied and might have potential dangers depending on the type of essential oil, so you should stick to using them on your skin or inhaling them until we know more about potential side effects from taking them in other ways.

Even when you use them on your skin, essential oils can cause allergic reactions – so test them in a small area before using them liberally.

How to get natural pain relief with a safe, at-home remedy

For pain relief, natural health experts recommend that you use essential oils of lavender, peppermint, Roman or German chamomile, eucalyptus, sweet marjoram, rosemary or thyme because these oils have strong analgesic, or pain-relieving, properties.

You can use essential oils in different ways to take advantage of their natural gifts.  To use them safely, at home, try these methods:

• Apply them to the skin. To do this, add a few drops of the oils to a base oil like almond oil, and rub the mixture into your skin.
• Inhale the scent. You can do this by simply smelling the oil straight from the bottle it comes in. Or, add some drops to water in a spray bottle and spray it around your home or use a diffuser to distribute the oils into the air.

Overall, essential oils can help you find relief from a variety of physically painful issues – naturally and effectively. Plus, they give you the added bonus of smelling delightful.

If you have a positive experience with essential oils – post your comment below, we’d love to hear from you.

Sources for this article include:

NIH.gov
MDPI.com
Clevelandclinic.org
Massagetoday.com