Fibromyalgia affects about 2% of adults. And it’s not just some random condition. It really takes a toll on your quality of life. Pain and stiffness all over the body, constant fatigue, depression, and sleep problems are just some of the symptoms. So no wonder people want to get rid of it in any way possible. Luckily, it can be effectively treated and managed. And in this article, we’ll give you some essential oils for fibromyalgia that many people found helpful.
Fibromyalgia Symptoms
Let’s first go over the symptoms of fibromyalgia; that way you can better understand how each essential oil can help.
- Pain and stiffness all over the body
- Fatigue
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Sleep problems
- Digestive problems
- Dull memory & focus
- Headaches & migraines
It is still unknown to doctors why fibromyalgia occurs, so we can’t say for sure that any essential oil can tackle it directly. But, the essential oils we’ll give you can tackle each one of the symptoms and provide significant relief, and even complete relief, to your overall condition.
Essential Oils For Fibromyalgia
Peppermint Oil
So as we’ve mentioned, one of fibromyalgia’s symptoms is a faint memory and focus, often called “brain fog” or, more specifically, “fibro fog”. Some studies found that due to peppermint oil’s anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic properties, it actively counters fibro fog.
Also, peppermint oil can provide pain relief due to its cooling effects. So if you are experiencing pain in a specific area, try rubbing some peppermint oil directly on it.
Lavender Oil
Lavender might just be one of the best essential oils for fibromyalgia. That is if you constantly suffer from anxiety, depression, and sleep problems.
Lavender is known to have, are you ready for it? Antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antibacterial, antiseptic, and antidepressant properties, as well as sedative, analgesic, detoxifying, and hypotensive effects.
The main ones to look for are the antidepressant, sedative, and analgesic properties. These can take your anxiety, depression, and sleep problems head-on and provide significant relief.
If you have a humidifier, place it next to your bed with a few drops of lavender inside for a good night’s sleep. And for daily use, you can either place the humidifier on your desk, massage it into your skin, or, as an alternative, get some lavender tea.
Capsaicin Oil
Capsaicin is an interesting oil. It’s a chemical compound isolated from chili peppers. So how the heck can a chili pepper essential oil help your fibromyalgia?
Well, capsaicin has potent anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial effects that can provide instant pain relief. Many people use it to fight off the pain caused by joint infection and even infections on small to medium cuts.
So rubbing some of it to an area affected by fibromyalgia may help ease the pain and even remove it altogether. Try it out! And just a side note, it’s not actually spicy, so don’t worry about that.
Explore our handpicked selection in The Ultimate Guide To Oils For After Shaving: Achieve a Smooth and Nourished Skin for a post-shave experience that leaves your skin refreshed and revitalized.
Ginger Oil
You may know ginger as the all-around healthy spice from India. It truly is a remarkable spice/root, and we’ve actually written an article about the incredible health benefits of ginger. As an essential oil, it doesn’t lose its magic.
The ginger essential oil has strong anti-inflammatory properties that can help ease pain. In fact, one study found it to be effective in relieving acute bone fracture pain.
So imagine the power of it! For the best effects, apply a few drops to a warm bath and soak in it for 10-20 minutes. And if you don’t have a bath, you can massage it directly into the affected area for 5-10 minutes.
Rosemary Oil
We consider rosemary as one of the best essential oils for fibromyalgia. Well, all of these oils are. But rosemary tackles two of the most irritating symptoms. Headaches and sleep problems, it also provides some pain relief.
Rosemary has been used in folk medicine for centuries as a stress reducer and pain reliever. It was also often used to improve blood circulation. All of these can provide relief to both of these irritating symptoms.
So next time you have a headache and can’t fall asleep, try adding some rosemary to your diffuser or applying a few drops to your hot bath. For the best effects, use a few drops of rosemary oil as well as lavender oil in your diffuser. You’ll be sleeping tight with no headache in no time!
Eucalyptus Oil
The all-around great eucalyptus oil is also a useful essential oil for fibromyalgia. While it’s most popularly used as a decongestant, one study found significant painkiller-like effects, as well as reduced inflammation and blood pressure.
The best way to use it is by adding it to a hot bath. As opposed to other oils, you shouldn’t apply eucalyptus directly to your skin as it can cause irritation.
Nutmeg Oil
If you cook a lot, you’ve probably used nutmeg in the past. It’s a popular spice typically used with meats or baking. It also has a ton of health benefits. It relieves pain, soothes indigestion, improves cognitive function, detoxifies, aids skin health, and more.
As an essential oil, it retains most of these benefits. And in the case of fibromyalgia, it makes a great pain reliever and cognitive function booster. To use it as a pain reliever, dilute it with a carrier oil and apply it directly to your skin. And for a cognitive boost, just add a few drops to your diffuser.
Conclusion
So these are the best essential oils for fibromyalgia, according to our research. We recommend you pick a few according to your symptoms and test them to see which one fits you best. We hope you’ll find the one for you and that you’ll get quick relief, good luck!