Back pain and backaches are an all too common complaint about people in the modern age. we’ve always dealt with back issues, but it’s a challenge we humans face that gets exacerbated by today's lifestyles.
There’s a wide variety of conditions associated with back pain complaints, including:
- Lumbago (lower back pain)
- Sciatica (buttocks, spreading to the thighs and legs)
- Fibrositis
- Arthritis
- Spondylosis
- Curvature of the spine (scoliosis)
- Slipped discs
- Pain from weak muscles (abdominal, back)
- Depleted kidney energy
- General tension/weakness
Millions of working days are lost each year due to a variety of pains and disorders of the back. Back pain comes along uninvited, but it does not have to stay; regardless of what you have been told.
Whether your back pain comes from a specific misalignment of the spine – like a slipped disc, or simply from prolonged strain – there are ways to find a resolution to your pain and discomfort.
The spine is one of the most important parts of the body and needs to be cared for. Luckily, essential oils can help your back pain feel better.
Here we will share a great deal about how you can apply essential oils to improve your back pain, however, you might find that the most important takeaway will come from the additional recommendations about changing your lifestyle to support your spine.
It’s important to remember that you’ll need to fix what brought about the pain in the first place to really stop the pain at the root to feel lasting relief from back issues.
What Are Essential Oils?
If you’ve been asking yourself “What are essential oils, let me give you a brief overview and introduction of essential oils.
Essential oils are the highly concentrated version of the natural oils in plants.
Getting essential oils from plants is done with a process called distillation, most commonly distillation by steam or water, where many parts of the plants are being used, including the plant roots, leaves, stems, flowers, or bark.
After distillation, the outcome is a highly concentrated portion of essential oil, which will have the characteristic fragrance and properties of the plant from which it was extracted, and contain the true essence of the plant it came from. This includes the smell, but also the plant’s healing properties and other plant characteristics.
You can see how this highly potent extract of a plant or herb can be extremely useful for many purposes.
Do essential oils have therapeutic benefits?
Essential oils have been used throughout history in many cultures for their medicinal and therapeutic benefits.
While the oils are still in the plant, they provide the plants with protection against predators and disease and also play a role in plant pollination. As these properties carry forward into the essential oils, folk medicine since ancient times has made use of essential oils in medicinal practices.
This knowledge is also still widely used today. Modern scientific studies and trends lean again towards more holistic approaches to wellness and a revival of essential oils for physical and psychological health and well-being applications.
The most common therapeutic application of essential oils is that of aromatherapy, where healing effects are achieved through the aromas of the essential oils. Many essential oils are believed to have an uplifting effect on the human’s mind; and many essential oils also have antiseptic properties, which means they reduce the possibility of infection when applied to the human skin.
For general purposes, three essential oils for therapeutic benefits have been identified as:
- Lavender– helps to alleviate stress, anxiety, irritability mental fatigue, panic attacks and depression, but also good for bruises and stretch marks.
- Peppermint– helps with nausea, vertigo, and exhaustion and also good for headaches.
- Frankincense –used for immune system stimulation and to help with asthma, coughing, and bronchitis.
This little example list is by no means exhaustive and the therapeutic uses and applications for essential oils go on and on, which is well beyond the scope of this initial introduction.
What makes an essential oil a “therapeutic grade” oil?
Essential oils are the highly concentrated version of the natural oils in plants.
In fact, there is no official grading system in place that makes anyone oil a “therapeutic grade oil”, and another one not. Any company can technically call their oils “therapeutic grade” as the term is simply used solely for marketing purposes. No 3rd party certification office or institution exists to stamp or ensure that these terms are used properly and really only for situations where in fact the oils are pure, complete and unadulterated. If the oils are sourced and distilled properly, all aromatherapy oils should still contain all of their therapeutic benefits that come inherently with the source of that plant.
Some essential oil companies even go as far as creating their own, internally certified standard, to further get around this fact. doTerra is one of those companies that came up with their own, trademarked name, “Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade®”, which is really only certified by their own internal standards – not an industry-wide one or one that you could cross-compare from one company to another. This is not to say that their oils aren’t good, it just goes to show that smart marketing and good trademarking can really confuse the facts of the matter here.
Don’t get hung up looking for this label, or any other marketing term, as it actually doesn’t properly distinguish a quality brand from a lower-quality product – it’s just marketing.
7 Essential Oils for Sciatic & Back Pain
I have compiled a list of 7 essential oils that are tried and true aids to relieving bodily discomfort. If you use even just a few of these oils for sciatic pain you will be in better shape
Marjoram is a great oil for back pain because it is warming, soothing and eases the joints and muscles. It’s also emotionally calming, stress easing and generally soothing. It reduces inflammation as well (great for arthritis).
Basil is an ideal oil for tight muscles. It helps relax and loosen up any muscular tension wherever applied. Basil is also a great oil for the nerves / mental fatigue. In cases of neuritis, it’s a highly recommended oil to rub into the spine, lower back and up into the neck area.
Eucalyptus is a warming, soothing oil that contains some strong anti-inflammatory qualities. These anti-inflammatory properties, paired with its strong analgesic effect make it effective at relieving aches, pains, and stiffness.
Another warming oil, ginger essential oil is perfectly fit for application on sore, tired, and painful back muscles. It’s quite effective for tightness, rheumatism, and arthritic conditions. If you experience discomfort and/or any spasms make sure to have ginger on hand.
Lavender is a wonderful all-around oil. This oil is particularly indicated for use in cases of stress, restlessness, hyperactivity, fatigue, and anxiety. While not as warming or hot as some of the other oils listed above, lavender still contains some powerful anti-inflammatory and analgesic qualities that are great for backaches.
Peppermint is a refreshing and uplifting oil that contains analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties (notice a theme here?). You’re probably familiar with peppermint oil and have some on hand. It’s great stuff!
Rosemary, like lavender, is another great all-around oil. It’s effective for aches, pains, arthritis, among many other things. Its analgesic and tonic qualities make it a top-rated oil for backaches.
The best way to apply essential oils for back aches and pains is via massage. It’s best if you can get a massage from a friend or done professionally, but if it’s not possible, you could still do a good job of massaging your lower back.
The upper back is a bit more challenging for massaging yourself, but it’s good to at least apply the oils onto your skin – even if you can’t reach to give yourself a thorough massage.
TIP #1: You can use a help to more thoroughly massage your back (especially the upper back). I recommend absorbing your massage blend into a back a massage loofah and using the pressure it provides to get the oils absorbed deeply into your skin.
TIP #2: Another great massage aid is to use ice. This is especially helpful for those with upper back complaints, especially those afflicted with lumbago, sciatica, and fibrositis. For an ice massage simply freeze water in wax paper cups or styrofoam cups. Once your water freezes simply cut the tops of the cup down so that the ice is left protruding. Apply your massage oil and rub with ice over the sore areas in circular movements.
Other Ways to use your Essential Oils
- In the bath
- Fill your tub with warm water
- While the tub is filling combine 1 tsp milk and 4-6 drops of your essential oils in a bowl
- Add the milk and oils to your tub once it’s filled
- Agitate the water to disperse the oil/milk mix
- Soak in the tub for 20 minutes (or more, if desired).
- Rub any floating droplets of oil into your skin
- Roller Ball Bottle
Put the ingredients in a 10 ml rollerball bottle and fill to top with the carrier oil of your choice. Rollerballs work extremely well when the nerve is sensitive and can’t take a lot of pressure.
Word of Caution- It should be noted here that anytime one is using oils they should be properly diluted. While essential oils can provide great health benefits, truly pure oils can be very strong and have been known to cause topical rashes in those with sensitive skin.
Conclusion
No treatment regarding the use of essential oils for pain relief would be complete without some mention of copaiba oil. Copaiba is a companion oil. It enhances the pain-relieving effects of other oils. Copaiba has traditionally been used to help in digestion and aid the body in natural response to injury or irritation. Once you have applied any of the essential oils, you can also massage in copaiba to enhance the relief you’re feeling. NOTE: Copaiba and clove oil can be combined to relieve sciatic pain. Mix 1 oz carrier oil of your choice, twelve drops of copaiba and two drops of clove. Then massage the lower back to the knees to combat sciatica.