If you are suffering from a nerve pain in your back, using essential oils for sciatica as a pain killer is the best natural method for pain relief. Before explaing about how to use essential oils for pain relief, I will tell you a bit more about sciatica.
Sciatica is a pain that goes along your sciatic nerve which starts from your lower back through your hips, buttocks and then along your legs. There are two sciatic nerves starting from your lower back. One ends in the left leg while the other ends in the right leg.
Causes for sciatica
- Herniated disks – there are cartilage disks in between your vertebrae. They can herniate and compress your nerves due to abnormal posture and heavy weight lifting
- Narrowing of the spine- This also compresses your nerve and causes inflammation and pain in the site where you experience a current like numbness going along your affected leg.
The pain associated with sciatica is intolerable but doctors may not go for surgery if you don’t have leg muscle weakness, bladder and bowel symptoms. In western medicine you will be given pain killer medicines.
Essential oils play a main role when it comes to pain relief.
Massage therapy using essential oils for sciatica
Topical application works by allowing chemicals of essential oils to get absorbed into your circulation through skin. It support you with pain relief and anti inflammatory properties reduces the nerve irritation.
Traditional ayurvedic medicine practitioners calim that massage therapy using essential oils for sciatica pain is a very effective method for pain relief.
You can add 20 drops of essential oil of your choice into 350ml of carrier oil- coconut oil/ avocado oil/ olive oil. Essential oils are only for external use, so do not apply it around your eyes, mouth and other sensitive areas.
Cold or warm therapy using essential oils for sciatica
First you have to gently massage the essential oil into your back area and keep a warm towel or ice packs into the areas. Lie on the floor with a correct posture for immediate pain relief.
Aromatherapy using essential oils
Aromatherapy is one of the effective ways to use essential oils for sciatica pain relief. You can use either a diffuser or a steamer to fill your room with luxurious aroma. This is a good treatment option for people who don’t like to apply greasy oil into their skin.
Aromatherapy helps to calm and soothe you and provide immediate pain relief if you inhale the essential oil for 1h. Do not exceed the maximum drops of essential oil as they are highly concentrated.
Now we will look at different essential oils for sciatica that help to relieve the terrible pain. Always remember to mix these essential oils with a carrier oil such as coconut essential oil, olive oil or almond oil.
You can purchase an essential oil diffuser on this link.
what essential oils are good for sciatica nerve pain?
Helichrysum essential oil
Helichrysum essential oil has an immediate acting pain relief action compared to other essential oils for sciatica. Though it’s a bit expensive compared to other essential oils, patients claim it’s the best essential oil to massage into your back for immediate pain relief.
According to scientific evidence, helichrysum essential oil has anti- inflammatory, sedative and muscle relaxing properties.
Inhalation is also a good method as it helps to relax your mind and reduce the threshold of your pain.
Helichrysum Essential oil blend recipe for sciatica nerve pain relief
- 5 drops of helichrysum essential oil
- 5 drops of lavender essential oil
Mix these two essential oils with 100ml of carrier oil and apply it gently over your back using fingertips. Massage for 15 minutes and lay on the floor without a mattress for 30minutes. This recipe is one of the best essential oils for sciatica. You will be amazed with the results.
You can purchase helichrysum essential oil from this link.
You can purchase lavender essential oil from this link.
Lavender essential oil
Lavender essential is the commonly used essential oil for many things including pain relief. Lavender aroma is always a stress reliever which decreases stress that triggers your sciatica pain.
Added benefits of lavender essential oil are antibacterial and anti inflammatory properties.
If you are in the menopausal age group you are always getting anxious due to the hormonal imbalance. Menopausal women are more prone to get sciatica nerve pain. If your anxiety aggravates your sciatica, lavender essential oil is the best therapy for you.
Always try the massage and inhalation methods together for immediate pain relief.
Lavender essential oil blend recipe for sciatica nerve pain
- 6 drops of lavender essential oil
- 5 drops of peppermint essential oil
- 5 drops of rosemary essential oil
Mix these 3 essential oils with a carrier oil(150ml) and spray around the room for aromatherapy and apply it over your skin. Rub it gently for 15 minutes and cover the area with a warm towel so that ingredients get absorbed into your cells and circulation quickly.
Ginger essential oil
This warming essential oil provides you with instant warm and muscle relaxation into your back area. Pain receptor stimulation becomes less with warmth and muscle relaxation. Ginger essential oil is ideal for people who like the spicy yet sweet flavor. Do not take it orally unless it’s mentioned safe to use on food in the label.
Ginger essential oil is a good essential oil to mix with any other essential oils of your choice. You can mix and match and make your own aroma to calm your nerves.
You can purchase lavender essential oil from this link.
Rosemary essential oil
Do you know your favourite kitchen spice is also capable of relieving mild to moderate nerve pains? According to scientific research it has analgesic effects against sciatica nerve pain. You can experience amazing results by using rosemary essential oils for sciatica.
Peppermint essential oil
Peppermint essential oil is widely used for muscle and joint pains. As its active ingredients have anti- inflammatory properties you can soothe your nerves by using peppermint essential oils for sciatica.
Peppermint essential oil blend recipe for sciatica nerve pain
You need,
- 300ml of ice water
- 1 tablespoon of coconut oil or olive oil
- 8 drops of peppermint essential oil
- 5 drops of wintergreen essential oil
- 5 drops of cypress essential oil
Mix all ingredients together and soak a towel in that mixture. Squeeze out the towel and keep it on your back for 1h. If you like you can keep ice cubes on top of the towel from time to time.
The coldness helps to reduce the inflammation around the nerve and release the nerve from excessive compression.
Wintergreen essential oil
Methyl salicylate in aspirin is also found in wintergreen essential oil making it a good solution for immediate pain relief. It reduces the muscle spasms you experience around the back, hip and legs.
Bonus tip- Sweet almond oil is a good carrier oil that gives a good fragrance. Try sweet almond oil once in a while instead of coconut oil or olive oil.
Juniper berry essential oil, geranium oil and cypress essential oil are also good for sciatica nerve pain when combined with the essential oils mentioned above.
Say “No” to troublesome pain with the use of essential oils for sciatica. This is the best treatment modality according to western medicine as surgery is done only if you have severe pain, bladder and bowel symptoms.
Always make sure to lie down and relax your back area as sitting can aggravate your pain.