If you are reading this article, then it is likely that you or someone you know is recovering from a broken bone. If it is any consolation, you are not alone. It is estimated that as many as 7 million people are treated for a broken bone or broken bones each year in the U.S alone.
Broken bones are among the most common of all orthopedic injuries. Of course, bone fractures vary in severity but a broken bone is usually accompanied by a great deal of discomfort and pain. Not only do they affect you physically but broken bones can also affect your emotional well-being and prevent you from getting the sleep you need.
As wonderful as essential oils are, nobody is going to claim they can heal a broken bone. However, essential oils can be used as a complimentary therapy to make you as comfortable as possible.
If you are recovering from a broken bone, read on to find out how essential oils can help the process.
How Essential Oils Can Help
Essential oils have a myriad of uses and can benefit your physical and emotional health in a number of ways.
Unfortunately, no essential oil is going to heal a broken bone. However, essential oils can help make you more comfortable during the recovery process and may help in several ways.
First of all, some essential oils have natural pain killing and anti-inflammatory properties. Essential oils like peppermint, lavender and eucalyptus oil have analgesic properties that may help ease your pain.
Essential oils may also help accelerate healing by stimulating the flow of blood and nutrients to the site of the injury. This can stimulate the repair of damaged tissues and nerves and also prevent the loss of important minerals like calcium.
As well as helping you physically, some essential oils can also help relax your mind and help you get the sleep your body needs to recover.
Studies have confirmed the role of aromatherapy in pain management. Massaging with essential oils can have a very positive effect on people trying to manage their pain. Essential oils can ease pain and also help people feel a great deal better. (1)
Let us take a look at some of the best essential oils to help ease your pain and discomfort and aid your recovery.
The Best Essential Oils for Broken Bones
Peppermint Essential Oil
Peppermint essential oil is one of the most popular oils because of its diverse range of benefits ranging from soothing muscle aches and pains to oral hygiene. It also has a welcome cooling effect when applied to the skin and can help ease pain and discomfort.
Peppermint essential oil is a powerful substance derived from the mentha piperita plant. Studies have found that it has powerful anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. (2) (3) These properties can help ease the pain and discomfort associated with bone breaks and fractures.
As well as its analgesic and anti-inflammatory actions, peppermint essential oil can also improve the circulation of blood to the site of your injury. This can help stimulate the tissue and the nerves and may even help you to heal faster.
How to Use It
Peppermint essential oil is very powerful and should never be applied to the skin undiluted. Before applying it to your skin, make sure that you dilute it with a suitable carrier oil like coconut or jojoba oil then massage it into the affected area.
Lavender Essential Oil
Lavender essential oil is the most popular of all essential oils. It has a very wide range of health benefits and a reputation for being safe and gentle on the skin.
While it may be gentle-acting, it is also a powerhouse when it comes to its therapeutic properties. It has excellent analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties that can help ease the pain and discomfort you are suffering after a break.
One study found that inhaling the oil helped relieve pain in children following a tonsillectomy. (4)
Another study found that when applied topically, it had anti-inflammatory and analgesic actions similar to tramadol. (5) One study also found that inhaling the oil helped relieve pain from migraines compared with a placebo. (6)
As well as its outstanding pain relieving properties, lavender essential oil is also widely used to calm the mind and to treat common issues like stress and anxiety. Studies have also found that lavender essential oil can promote better quality sleep, which can benefit people recovering from a broken bone and other types of pain. (7)
How to Use It
To treat pain from a broken bone, dilute your lavender essential oil with a suitable carrier oil. There are many carrier oils to choose from including coconut, olive and sweet almond oil. Apply the mixture to the affected area of your body when you are feeling pain.
Inhaling lavender essential oil can also help ease pain and may also help calm your mind and sleep better. try diffusing the oil around the home or adding a few drops to your pillowcase at night.
Clove Essential Oil
Clove essential oil has powerful pain killing effects and is often used to deal with dental issues like toothache.
However, clove essential oil can also be used to help treat pain in the muscles, joints and bones and might help ease your discomfort while recovering from a broken bone. (8)
How to Use It
You can take advantage of the analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of this essential oil by diluting it with a carrier and massaging it into m the affected part of your body.
Eucalyptus Essential Oil
Eucalyptus essential oil has an extremely diverse range of health benefits and has been growing in popularity as a result. While it is best-known for its effects on respiratory health, it can also help relieve pain.
When it comes to treating the pain and discomfort associated with a broken bone, eucalyptus deserves to be near the top of any list. Eucalyptus essential oil is well-known for its ability to relieve pain and is often found as an ingredient in over the counter remedies for muscle aches and pains.
Studies have demonstrated that eucalyptus essential oil has excellent anti-inflammatory and analgesic actions. One study found that simply inhaling the oil had a positive effect on pain in patients recovering from knee replacement surgery. (9)
How to Use It
Dilute your eucalyptus essential oil with a suitable carrier oil then gently massage into the affected area several times a day.
Studies have found that inhaling the oil can also help kill pain. try diffusing the oil or inhaling directly from the bottle whenever you feel the need.
Cypress Essential Oil
Cypress essential oil finds its way onto this list because of its ability to soothe inflammation and stimulate blood circulation.
The oil is also used for a range of other purposes including spasms, respiratory issues and to treat stress and anxiety
Cypress essential oil may help speed up your recovery from a broken bone by stimulating blood flow to the affected area of the body. This can help provide the nutrients and oxygen your bones need to heal more effectively.
How to Use It
First dilute the cypress essential oil with a suitable carrier oil. Apply the mixture to the area of your fracture 3 or 4 times a day.
Black Pepper Essential Oil
Black pepper essential oil has a warming and soothing effect when applied topically butt it can also stimulate the circulation of blood.
When you apply this oil, it helps boost the supply of blood to the site of your break and improves the supply of nutrients to the injury which may help it heal more effectively.
How to Use It
First dilute the essential oil with a carrier oil like olive oil or coconut oil then gently massage the mixture into the affected area of your body.
Ginger Essential Oil
Ginger essential oil is another oil with excellent anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties that can help relieve the pain you feel during your recovery period.
One study, published in 2014, looked at the effects of applying ginger essential oil to the back in patients with lower back pain. The researchers found that the treatment effectively reduced pain in both the short and long term. (10)
How to use It
Never apply ginger essential oil to your skin ‘neat’. Make sure that you dilute it with a carrier oil then gently massage it into the affected part of your body several times a day. This can help relieve your pain and hopefully speed up your recovery.
Roman Camomile Essential Oil
Roman chamomile essential oil has a number of potential benefits including antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. It is often used to treat inflammation and pain in the muscles and joints.
Roman chamomile essential oil has very similar properties to German chamomile oil. These oils are also used to help promote sleep and emotional well-being which can help people cope with the stress of recovery.
How to use It
You can apply chamomile oil topically after diluting it with a carrier oil to treat pain and inflammation. You may also try diffusing the oil or inhaling it directly from the bottle to help you relax and sleep more easily as you recover.
Bergamot Essential oil
Last, but definitely not least, is bergamot essential oil. This oil is a popular oil in aromatherapy and is used for a wide the range of conditions.
Studies into the effects of bergamot essential oil have found that it is an effective remedy for neuropathic pain, for which opioids are often ineffective. (11)
How to Use It
First dilute your bergamot essential oil with a suitable carrier oil and massage it gently into the area of your fracture. repeat several times a day for as long as necessary. You can also inhale bergamot essential oil directly from the bottle or diffuse the oil around the home.
How to Use and Precautions
Essential oils can help with a wide range of conditions may even help ease your pain and discomfort as you recover from a broken bone. However, there are certain precautions you should be aware of.
- Do not use essential oils internally.
- Always dilute your essential oil with a suitable carrier oil before applying it to your skin.
- Even after diluting your oil, it is recommended that you do a patch test to make sure you are not allergic to the oil.
- Pregnant women and those who are breastfeeding should consult their doctor before using essential oils.
Final Thoughts
Recovering form a a broken bone can be a long and painful process. While essential oils will not heal your bones, they can help make the process more comfortable.
Some essential oils have proven anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties that can help ease your pain. They can also help stimulate blood flow which might speed up the healing process. Certain essential oils can also help calm the nerves and improve your quality of sleep, which can help with your recovery.
The post 9 Essential Oils for Broken Bones by Marc Seward appeared first on Healthy Focus.