7 Super Effective Essential Oils For Back Pain: A Versatile Guide

According to a recent survey, 3 out of 10 American adults, which is 72.3 million people in the country, suffer from chronic back pain. Out of the 72.3 million people, 48% of them suffer from moderate back pain and 36% of them suffer from severe back pain.

This new survey has shown that the number of people suffering from back pain has spiked to a large number during the last few years and has surpassed the number of American adults who have arthritis or diabetes.

Is Essential Oil Good For Back Pain?

This recent survey result is an indication that back pain is one thing that we should start considering seriously before it starts to meddle with our lifestyle and makes our body. Not giving the proper care to the condition might worsen it which will make things tough for you, even doing things like standing up from your bed or seat. 

When you consult a medical expert with back pain, they would recommend you some medications and exercises that will aid in easing the pain. These two things can be effective but might not give you permanent relief.

Additionally, taking the medications regularly might not be healthy for a person. So if you are someone or know someone who is among the 72.3 million people who suffer from back pain, then this article is for you.

In this article, we will be discussing a little bit about back pain and a few essential oils that will naturally aid you in treating back pain. So let’s get started!

Back Pain And Causes

Before we discuss the 7 essential oils that can help with back pain, let’s talk a little about back pain and some of its main causes. The human back consists of a structure of muscles, ligaments, disks, and bones that altogether support your body.

Any disturbance in this complex structure can lead to back pain which can range from moderate one to severe one that makes moving around difficult. This is a condition that is common with aging.

People start to experience moderate back pain once they have entered their 30s and 40s and this might become worse if you have poor overall health or have any health conditions. This doesn’t mean that people who are in their 20s aren’t affected by back pain. Having an unhealthy lifestyle can cause back pain in people who are in their early 20s. 

What Are Essential Oils?

Essential oils are liquid compound extracts of various beneficial plants that have many health properties. This oil is very different from normal oils and capture’s the plant’s essence more than the plant has.

Essential oils can be used for various purposes and have aromatic properties which will benefit you. These oils are created by using mechanical methods like cold pressing where the compound of the plant is extracted and combined with carrier oil to make the essential oil. 

Do Essential Oils Work For Back Pain? If So, How Does It Work?

Now let’s address the main question that you may have about essential oils which is whether it really works.

Essential oils are oils that have aromatic properties that will improve your overall health and there are a few essential oils that really do work for back pain. So now you must be thinking how does it work?

This is how. The aromatic properties that essential oils have are capable enough of providing back pain relief. Scientific studies carried out on many essential oils have found them to be having health properties that can ease back pain and improve your overall lower back functioning. 

Although we have said above that the aromatic properties that essentials have can aid in easing back pain, not all essentials can provide you back pain relief. There are a few that really work well for back pain and can assist in enhancing your lower back’s complex structure’s functioning.

In the succeeding sections, we will be taking a deeper look at a few of the super-effective essential oils for back pain that will benefit you a lot. 

7 Super Effective Essential Oils For Back Pain

Here are our top 7 picks of essential oils that can help you in relieving back pain: 

Peppermint oil

Peppermint is a herb belonging to the mint family and is a cross between spearmint and watermint. Peppermint oil is created by extracting the active compound from the leaves of the herb. Essential oil is used for various purposes.

Peppermint oil has menthol in it which is a substance that provides a cooling effect on your muscles and helps in easing back pain. The oil also has anti-inflammatory properties which aid in treating muscle inflammation. Peppermint oil also has many analgesic properties which will also help with back pain. 

Ginger oil

Ginger oil is extracted from Ginger Rhizome. Ginger is an ingredient that is used to treat various health conditions and has been used in many traditional medicines.

Ginger oil has many health properties which can provide you with multiple health benefits. The oil has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties which help in reducing pain associated with arthritis and chronic back pain.

Ginger oil can also improve your joint and bone health. Along with helping with back pain, ginger oil is also good for your overall wellness. 

Holy Basil oil

Holy basil oil commonly known as tulsi is an oil that is native to Southeast Asian countries. The oil is used for many medicinal benefits.

Holy basil is an adaptogen that has many anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties which can assist you in easing your back pain and also improves your body’s overall functioning.

Holy basil oil also helps with nerve pain, swelling, and sore muscles. Holy basil oil improves your brain’s functioning and bronchitis. 

Lavender oil

Lavender oil is an essential oil that is used in aromatherapy. The oil has many health properties such as healing properties which would help in relieving back pain. Lavender oil has analgesic properties that will work in easing joint pain.

The essential oil can also help with muscle tension and inflammation. Apart from relieving back pain and improving your muscle health, Lavender oil also reduces your stress and anxiety. 

Eucalyptus oil

Eucalyptus oil is a warming and calming essential oil that has anti-inflammatory properties. This property of ingredient along with its analgesic properties can provide back pain relief and improve your muscle and bone functioning.

Eucalyptus oil also can be used to treat muscle pain, sore muscles, and poor joint health. Studies have found that applying eucalyptus oil to regions where you have pain will give you instant relief from the pain. Inhaling the oil also works in improving your overall health. 

Marjoram Essential Oil

Marjoram essential oil is an oil that is extracted from fresh and dried leaves from the plant through the distillation process. This essential oil includes a few active components like sabinene, alpha-terpinene, gamma-terpinene, and cymene which will help in easing back pain.

Like every other essential that we discussed above, marjoram essential oil also has analgesic properties. Marjoram essential oil also has a positive influence on your nervous system and also enhances your cognitive functioning. 

Black pepper oil

Black pepper is an ingredient known as the king of spices and has a lot of health properties. Black pepper essential oil also possesses every health benefit that the spice has.

The oil has many active compounds and is enriched with antioxidants which will help in relieving back pain.

Black pepper essential oil can aid in treating chronic inflammation and will help in any disturbances or aches that you have in your spine or lower back. 

How To Use Essential Oils For Back Pain?

The first step in using essential oil for back pain is choosing the right one for you. The next thing is to find the right way of using the essential oil. There are many ways in which you can use essential oil and some of them are given below: 

1. Apply them directly

One way in which you can use an essential oil is to apply them directly to the region where you have your pain.

If you are applying them directly, you can make them as a lotion or cream and apply them. Usually, the most suggested way of applying the oil directly is to mix it with a carrier oil and pat it on the area that you want.

Applying oil on its own is not recommended because that might cause irritation or itching on the skin. You can massage the diluted oil to the area with your hands and then leave it for some time.

We recommend that you ensure that you wash your hands after applying it and never take it internally. 

2. Inhale them throughout the day

Another way in which you can attain all of the benefits of essential oil is through aromatherapy. You can add the essential oils to a water diffuser and then inhale it throughout your day.

Here the oil will be released into the air and you will be inhaling it which will aid you in relieving back pain. With a water diffuser, you can add as many drops of oils as you want and use them for the whole day or for a specific time that you want.

Aromatherapy of these essentials also aids in reducing your stress and anxiety. 

3. Take an essential oil-infused bath

There is also one other way in which you can use essential oil. You can use the essential oil by filling up your bathtub and adding a little oil to it.

Then soak yourself into the rub and stay in there for a few minutes. This will help you in relieving back pain.

For achieving maximum benefits, you can take an oil-infused bath to get instant relief from any aches in your body. 

Things To Consider Before Buying An Essential Oil

As we already mentioned, there are many essential oils that can help with relieving back pain. Essential oils are easily available right now and there are brands of them in the market.

With so many options, it can be quite confusing for you to identify the one that is really effective and safe to use.

So here are a few things that you need to consider before buying an essential oil: 

1. Bottle of the essential oil

One of the most important things that you need to look at while choosing an essential oil is the bottle in which the oil is sold.

So when you are selecting an essential oil, choose only the ones that are either in cobalt blue or brown glass bottles.

Essential oils should not be packed in plastic bottles because the oil will eventually break the plastic when exposed to light. So always go for essential oils that are sold in glass bottles. 

2. Check the label

While choosing an essential oil, look for the label of the oil and also the Latin name of the oil. You can check the label to understand how the oil has been formulated.

One another thing that you need to look at while selecting an essential oil which is the Latin name of the oil. The Latin name of the essential oil will give you an assurance that the oil that you are getting is the one that you really wanted. 

3. Know the difference between fragrance and essential oil

People often get confused between fragrances and essential oil. Since essential oil gives out fragrance when people see a fragrance people might assume that it is essential oil.

The fragrance is only one thing and it is not limited to a single benefit. Essential oils can help you in many ways and are very different from fragrance oils. 

4. Oxidation

The last thing that you need to consider before selecting an essential oil is to never buy one that is oxidized.

Most of the essential oils are unauthentic, are also oxidized and these oils go bad in little time. So while you are looking for essential oil, check the oil’s manufacturing date and see if it is 100% pure. 

Final Verdict

In this article, we have talked about a few of the most effective essential oils for back pain.

All of the essential oils that we have discussed have health properties that can aid you in relieving back pain and help with the condition.

Although all of them are effective, you need to confirm that they are good for you on your own before using them. If you are planning to apply the oil to the region, we suggest that you apply a patch of the oil on your skin before using it to ensure that they are safe for your skin.

If the back pain worse even after trying out the natural remedies, we recommend that you consult a medical expert.