Treating Fibromyalgia with Essential Oils
Those who suffer from fibromyalgia know how debilitating the painful symptoms of the condition can be. Fibromyalgia affects the musculoskeletal system and inflicts pain in various connective tissues and muscles through out the body. Fortunately there are a number of essential oils for fibromyalgia.
What are the Symptoms of Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia involves a cluster of symptoms and is often misdiagnosed. In order to be properly diagnosed, you must experience pain in 11 to 18 trigger points. Trigger points are places in the body where even a slight touch can elicit severe pain.
Common trigger points can be found in the knees, hips, shoulders, back of the head, and upper chest. Common symptoms associated with fibromyalgia are anxiety or depression, a lower threshold for pain, issues with sleeping or memory, and severe fatigue.
What are the Causes of Fibromyalgia?
It is currently unknown what exactly causes fibromyalgia, but it is believed that certain factors coming together contribute to the development of the condition.
Genetics: Those suffering from fibromyalgia tend to have a family history of the conditions.
Illness: Certain illnesses can trigger fibromyalgia symptoms.
Emotional/Physical Trauma: Experiencing physical injury or emotional trauma may trigger symptoms of fibromyalgia. There has been a link discovered between Post-traumatic stress disorder and fibromyalgia.
How do you Treat Fibromyalgia?
Fortunately, along with traditional treatment prescribed by a physician, there are other measures you can take to help make fibromyalgia pain and flare ups a thing of the past. There are certain lifestyle changes and natural remedies you can try to help treat symptoms such as fibromyalgia pain, fibromyalgia fatigue, fibromyalgia memory loss, in check.
From essential oils, to vitamins, and diet, you can live a healthy and pain-free life.
What Essential Oils are Good for Fibromyalgia?
Using essential oils to help treat the painful symptoms of fibromyalgia can help treat the pain in certain trigger points, as well as fatigue and anxiety. The following essential oils have been found to help treat this condition.
1) Rosemary
The natural analgesic properties of rosemary help to treat pain and can be applied directly to the trigger points. Rosemary essential oil also helps to soothe achy muscles, and inflammation.
2) Lavender
Lavender oil helps to treat two main symptoms of fibromyalgia; pain and anxiety. This analgesic oil help to increase blood circulation, reduce inflammation, as well as soothe frazzled nerves.
Lavender also helps to soothe other symptoms associated with fibromyalgia, such as headaches, migraines, nausea, and depression. Lavender essential oil is commonly used to treat conditions of the musculoskeletal system such as arthritis, rheumatism, muscle spasms, sore muscles, and back pain.
3) Clary Sage
Those suffering from depression associated with fibromyalgia will find a mood boost with clary sage essential oil. Clary sage oil soothes anxiety and also helps to calm muscle spasms.
4) Helichrysum
This pain relieving oil helps to reduce muscle pain and improve circulation. Helichrysum essential oil has also been found to encourage the healing of nerve tissue.
5) Sweet Marjoram
Sweet marjoram essential oil helps to soothe achy joints and muscle spasms associated with fibromyalgia. Sweet marjoram has many other applications, such as helping to improve blood circulation, alleviate arthritis, and treat indigestion.
6) Thyme
If fatigue associated with fibromyalgia has you down, thyme oil can help revive you. This energizing oil gets the blood flowing while stimulating the mind and immune system.
Thyme also has a warming effect, helping to soothe sore muscles and joints. Simply apply a few drops of thyme essential oil to your trigger points and sore areas to experience relief.
7) Black Pepper
This spicy oil is perfect for muscle aches and pains. This warming oil jump starts the circulatory system while helping to melt away stiffness and pain.
Mix a couple drops of essential oil into your favorite carrier oil and use as a massage oil to treat your fibromyalgia pain.
8) Ginger
The natural pain relieving properties of ginger essential oil help to treat pains afflicting the skeletal system. Ginger helps to warm stiff muscles and help reduce muscle spams. Ginger essential oil is also great for treating the painful symptoms of arthritis as well as improving digestion.
9) Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus essential oil addresses many symptoms associated with fibromyalgia such as poor blood circulation, fatigue, achy muscles, and stiffness. Eucalyptus oil gets the blood flowing, preventing the buildup of toxins and tissues and reducing the instances of flare-ups.
Eucalyptus essential oil is also known for its anti-inflammatory properties, which helps to reduce pain associated with fibromyalgia.
10) Peppermint
This invigorating and effervescent essential oil helps to awaken the senses and help combat fatigue. When combined with a carrier oil, peppermint essential oil makes a great pain relieving massage oil, which can help treat aches and pains inflicting the body.
What are some Essential Oil Blends for Treating Fibromyalgia?
The great thing about essential oils is that they can be blended and used in a variety of ways to help treat the painful and debilitating symptoms of fibromyalgia. Listed here are some soothing blends proven to help make life with fibromyalgia a little bit easier.
Essential Oils for a Relaxing Bath
- 1 teaspoon sweet almond oil
- 1 drop of black pepper essential oil
- 2 drops juniper essential oil
- 2 drops cypress essential oil
Fill your tub with warm water. While waiting for your tub to fill, combine the essential oils in a bowl. Once everything is mixed together, massage the blend directly to the affected areas. Once you have sufficiently covered all of your trigger points, slip into the bath and relax for 30 minutes.
Essential Oils to make a Pain-Relieving Bath Oil
- An amber bottle
- 15 drops rosemary essential oil
- 6 drops marjoram essential oil
- 5 drops black pepper essential oil
Mix the essential oils in an amber bottle. Keep this bottle of pain relieving bath oil every time you experience a flare up. Fill up your tub with warm water. Apply four drops of the essential oil blend to the bath. Soak and relax in the water for 15-20 minutes.
Fibromyalgia Massage Oil Blend
To make a soothing massage oil to blend onto your affected areas, mix the following together:
- 1 drop sweet almond oil
- 1 drop juniper essential oil
- 1 drop lavender essential oil
- 1 drop peppermint essential oil
What are some Supplements I can take to Help Treat my Fibromyalgia?
To help treat the symptoms of fibromyalgia or to prevent a flare-up, there are some supplements you can take:
- Magnesium
- Vitamin D3
- Fish Oil
- D-Ribose
How Does Diet Affect Fibromyalgia?
By altering your diet, you can help improve fibromyalgia symptoms and prevent flare-ups from occurring.
Foods to Eat
- Antioxidants: Consuming foods rich in vitamins A, C, and E help to prevent illness and keep your body’s defenses up.
- Lean Protein: Eating lean protein helps to keep your muscles strong, supports tissues, and keeps energy levels high.
- Green Vegetables: Regularly consuming green vegetables helps to maintain sufficient levels of magnesium while boosting overall health.
- Omega-3 Fats: Getting enough omega-3’s helps to reduce levels of inflammation, which can help reduce pain associated with fibromyalgia.
- Probiotic Foods: Yogurt, kimchi, kefir and other fermented products help to improve digestion while keeping candida levels low.
Foods to Avoid:
- Sugar: Sugar has been proven to increase pain and inflammation.
- Alcohol and Caffeine: Cut down on alcohol and caffeine to help prevent dehydration mineral deficiencies, which can exacerbate fibromyalgia symptoms.
- Processed Foods: Foods that have been processed or are loaded with additives can make the condition worse.
- Gluten: Gluten increases inflammation. It also may help to trigger an autoimmune response.
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