Quick Answer: Best Essential Oils for Nerve Pain
- Geranium Essential Oil
- Bergamot Essential Oil
- Roman Chamomile essential oil
- Hyssop Essential oil
- Juniper (berry) Essential Oil
- Rosemary Essential oil
- Lemon Essential oil
- Ylang Ylang Essential oil
- Lavender Essential oil
Nerve pain is a stabbing feeling in the nerves. It is a debilitating and exhaustive condition also known as Neuralgia.
Nerves in our body are responsible to send signals to the brain of sensations such as pain, fear, anger, anxiety and various other emotions.
This is called reflex action.
Damage to nerves sends pain signals to the brain causing nerve pain. It is called Neuropathic pain. [1]
Other activities like prolonged standing, sitting in one position walking for long, toxins or metabolic factors can lead to pain.
Diabetes [2], shingles and cancer to pose the risk to nerve pain. [3] [4]
Some of the common symptoms include tingling, chronic pricks, burning sensation, and lack of coordination. [5]
Sometimes it leads to loss of sensation of touch and difficulty performing tasks due to muscle weakness, which is often felt as wearing gloves.
What are Essential Oils?
Essential oils are odorous and volatile compounds found in secretary structures such as glands, secretary hair, duct, cavities or resin ducts in gums, roots, leaves, flowers, stem, grass, bark and twigs of a plant.
These oils are termed natural because they are available from nature without chemical modification or intermediate synthesis.
They are lipophilic and constitute saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons, alcohol, aldehydes, esters, ethers, ketones, oxides phenols, and terpenes.
They are utilized in cosmetics and toiletries, therapeutic remedies, flavor and fragrance, food, perfumery, and pharmaceutical industries and for alleviating medical ailments.
Essential oils have good skin permeability, therefore these oils used in aromatherapy using various methods like inhalation, baths, topically through local application and orally.
Therapeutic uses of Essential Oils to relax and Relieve Nerve Pain
Essential oils are a good choice for releasing nervous tension, nervous pain.
Neuropathic pain has a burning, numbing sensation originating from stimulation or compression of nerves [6].
The oils have specific action of reducing nerve pain and showing anti-neuralgic and analgesic action.
Clove and bay essential oil have anti-neuralgic effects on the body.
They reduce tension and calm nerves by calmative characteristics and are enriching tonic for nerves.
The nervine characteristic of oil slows the activity of overactive stimulating nerves by inducing lassitude in them.
Clove basil [7], Ylang Ylang, peppermint (effective oil for neuralgia) [8] [9], coriander (remedial for neuralgia pain) [10] [11]and lavender are great choices to be used in nerve pain.
Thyme oil alleviates the pain of sciatica. [12]
The oil produces euphoric and sedative effects when used in therapies.
Pain associated with shingles is a risk factor for nerve pain, Eucalyptus essential oil is highly recommended for local pain relief in shingles.
Geranium and Eucalyptus cream blend eases the discomfort.
Bitter orange oil treats and calms nerves. [13]
Oil massage therapy using the effleurage technique does wonder in soothing nerve endings and relaxing muscular tissues.
Yes, this therapy can solve the problem, all you have to follow is do gentle but firm massage strokes, directing and pushing them towards the heart. [14]
Tansy blue essential oil is an effective remedy for nerve and sciatica pain. The oil is nervine, sedative and antihistamine. [15]
Saint John’s wort is very useful in curing nerve and spinal pain. The topical application also heals damaged nerves. [16] It is used for sharp shooting pain and old injuries of nerves.
Best Essential Oils to Calm and Comfort Nerve Ache
Essential oils are rich in properties and bio-active compounds that relieve pain and soothe inflammation.
These oils work on both body and mind.
They lower nerve stimulation to pain by their sedative action on them. These oils also relax your brain.
So read out in the next section and find out amazing blends and oils to calm down your twitching nerve.
Geranium Essential Oil
The geranium essential oil has a floral sweet scent. The leaves and stalks of the plant are steam distilled to extract the oil. It has an amber greenish tinge.
The oil has a property in releasing neuralgia [17] and conditions such as shingles.
The oil has analgesic characteristics for alleviating nerve pain [18] and is a powerful tool for anti-anxiety action on the body. [19]
It is wonderful for healing purposes in a short period. It uplifts your nervous tension and relieves you from depressive menopausal states.
Best way to use: Emotional relief and nerve nourishing blend:
- The requirements are frankincense oil [20] 2 drops, geranium oil 3 drops, lavender oil 5 drops, peppermint oil 2 drops and 60 ml of grape seed oil.
- Add all the oils to a dark-colored glass bottle, now add the base oil.
- Massage: In 30 ml of unscented body lotion, add 6-8 drops and massage well over the body.
Bergamot Essential Oil
Bergamot essential oil has a fresh citrus scent. It has a golden greenish tinge with a thin consistency. The oil is cold-pressed or hydro distilled from the fruit peel.
The oil induces hormone production in the body and lowers the sensitivity of nerves that create pain.
So the oil's analgesic and calming properties can mitigate nerve pain. It shows antinociceptive action on the body. [21]
Study on mice model showed antiallodynic effects (allodynia meaning pain sensation from no pain generating stimulus) in the partial sciatic nerve ligation model. [22] [23]
Tetanus can cause nerve illness, caused by Clostridium tetani. [24] Bergamot has disinfectant and antiseptic properties and its synergist action kill bacteria.
Best way to use: For wounds simply take 5 drops on a cotton pad and gently rub on the wound. [25]
Roman Chamomile essential oil
Roman chamomile essential oil is steam distilled from the flowers. It has a fresh, fruity, herbaceous aroma. The oil has a deep blue color.
The oil is rich in micronutrients such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium all good for the exhausted and tired nervous system. It relaxes and tones the nervous system and restores it. [26]
The oil has strong anti-neuralgic properties and effective in releasing nerve pain.
Best way to use:
Massage Blend for restless leg Syndrome [27]: In this DIY blend you will require only 3 ingredients. Firstly a base oil – take 15 ml of any of the three, grape seed, olive or almond sweet carrier oil. Next take 4 drops of each oil, roman chamomile essential oil and lavender essential oil.
Steps:
- In a glass bowl add your favorite base oil.
- To this add all the mentioned essential oils.
- Combine all the blends and during bedtime administer into the skin of the legs.
- Use your fingertips for the application. Repeat once daily.
Hyssop Essential oil
Hyssop essential oil is distilled from the flowering tops and leaves of a perennial woody-stemmed plant. It has a spice herb-like aroma and pale yellow-green tinge.
The oil relaxes and uplifts nerves. It helps in releasing nervous exhaustion. [28]
The oil is strictly contraindicated during pregnancy, lactation phase, in seizure disorders and for children below five years.
Best way to use: Used in a massage blend and water soaking oil.
Juniper (berry) Essential Oil
Juniper essential oil has a distinctive aroma. The oil is extracted from two sources. It is distilled from the needles and twigs; secondly, sweet oil is extracted from seed cones called berries [29]
A blend of Juniper, Rose, and Bay essential oil has amazing results in reducing pain and aches of body. [30]
The oil promotes regeneration of nerves after an injury. [31]
The oil stimulates and strengthens nerves. It is known for its soothing and warming action on the body. It relieves aches in muscles. Juniper oil is great for easing cramps.
When used in dilution this oil is non-toxic and nonirritant.
The oral consumption of oil in person with kidney disease is strictly contraindicated.
Best way to use:
Neuropathy relief blend (this condition is prone in peripheral nerves of hands and feet):
For this, you require juniper berry oil 4 drops, lavender oil 6 drops, and marjoram oil 4 drops, peppermint oil 4 drops in 30 ml of sweet almond base oil. Note: in case of nut allergies you can use grapeseed base oil
Steps:
- In a glass bottle having a dark color, add all the essential oils, now add almond or grapeseed oil. Mix this potion well.
- Now add 4-6 drops of the blend in the water bath and ½ cup of Epsom salt and soak your feet for 15 minutes for relaxation.
- Note: use warm water for relaxation and circulation. The use of cold water is to relieve inflammation. [32]
- For massage: take 6-8 drops for massaging the whole body while for hands or feet 3-4 drops are optimum. It is advisable to do a gentle massage.
Rosemary Essential oil
The shrubby bush of rosemary has pale blue flowers which are steam distilled for the extraction of essential oil.
The complete plant is aromatic. The oil has fresh, minty, and woody balsamic undertone, it has a colorless or pale yellow tinge.
Leaves and stem of this plant have been traditionally in use for calming nerves and strengthening the mind consumed in the form of tea. [33]
The oil has shown to be boosting nerve growth factors and also healing the neurological tissue. [34]
The oil is a remedial nervine and produces relaxation and calm to them. The oil enhances the functioning of the central nervous system.
Best way to use: mostly used in bath blends, massage therapy, and compress.
For vertigo (a condition where the vestibular nerve of the inner ear gets unbalanced)
in this, you need to add a few drops in boiling water.
Inhale the steam by covering your head with a towel. Make sure your eyes are closed during the therapy. [35]
Lemon Essential oil
Lemon essential oil is pressed from the lemon peel. It has a fresh citrus fragrance and clear colorless tinged.
The oil has shown to repair damage to the sciatic nerve (sciatica is the pain in nerve starting from lower back and extending to every leg) and therefore a reduction in nerve pain. [36]
The use of lemon oil has improved levels of norepinephrine in the body. This is a neurotransmitter that has an inevitable role in the fight - or - flight mechanism. [37]
The main bioactive ingredient in lemon oil to relieve pain is geraniol.
The oil shows beneficial action on neuro-arthritic condition [38] which includes nervous irritability as one of important clinical symptom. [39]
The oil can cause irritation and photosensitivity, always use the oil at least 6 hours before going out in sunlight.
Best way to use: Administered in topical creams and lotions.
- Nerve nourishment blend: in this blend mix 30 ml base grape seed oil with 3 drops lemon oil, 6 drops lavender oil, and 3 drops frankincense oil.From this take 3-6 drops mixing with unscented body lotion and massage over your body for the relief. [40]
- Shingles Synergy blend: (It is a viral infection of the nerve roots) [41] for this you need 30 ml fractionated coconut oil or grapeseed oil, 4 drops of lemon oil, 4 drops of eucalyptus oil, 4 drops of tea tree oil and 4 drops of lavender oil. Apply the blend directly on the affected area every 2-3 hours. Continue using until pain and blisters have subsided.
Ylang Ylang Essential oil
Ylang Ylang essential oil has an exotic floral aroma. The flower petals have been used in medicines and skin creams for ages. It is distilled from fresh flowers; the pale yellow tinged oil has a fresh fragrance.
The oil contains uplifting, sedative and balancing actions on the body.
The oil has innumerable properties related to the nervous system such as being an antidepressant, anti-diabetic, euphoric, and nervine. [42]
It is advisable to avoid the oil in a person having low blood pressure (due to the hypotensive effect of oil) and if overused can cause dizziness and headache.
Best way to use:
- Bath soak blend: add 1- 2 drops of the oil to base oil or in 30 ml of milk. Now blend well and add to the bathwater.
- Restless leg syndrome correcting blend [43]: For this easy and quick blend you need 1 ounce of milk and 3 drops of Ylang Ylang essential oil.
Steps:
- Pour the milk in a measuring cup.
- Before the warm bath, add Ylang Ylang oil to the milk. Pour this blend to the bathwater.
- Soak into the bath for 15- 20 minutes daily.
- Repeat the treatment before going to bed.
Lavender Essential oil
Lavender oil is one of the most reliable and benefiting oils for therapeutic use, no wonder it is so popular!
The oil has a sweet aroma with a pale yellow tinge. It is extracted from flowering tops using steam distillation method [44].
The oil has a strong potential for promoting relaxation and inducing sleep. [45]
It has mild analgesic properties [46] which makes it a good choice for treating nerve and muscular pain [47]. The cramps are subsided by its antispasmodic action on the body.
The oil is anti-inflammatory and cures pain for neuritis, neuralgia. [48]
Best way to use:
- Soothing frayed nerves blend: Take mandarin essential oil, lavender essential oil, German chamomile essential oil, and mix it in almond oil. [49]
- Sciatic pain relief blend [50]: for this compress blend take 15 ml almond oil, Lavender essential oil 5 drops, coriander essential oil 2 drops, Black pepper [51] essential oil 5 drops, and mix all.
Steps:
- Firstly add essential oil to base almond oil and then add to bowl full of warm water.
- Soak and get enough water in a cloth or small towel.
- Wrap this cloth piece in a cloth or plastic for insulation.
- Keep this compress on the pain area till it cools down and repeat this process thrice.
A simple and quick method is by adding 2-3 drops in your body lotion and massage all over your body. [52]
- Nerve pain relief blend [53]: For this amazing blend just mix 3 drops of Helichrysum oil, 5 drops of frankincense oil, 5 drops of lavender oil, and 5 drops of peppermint oil and add to 30 ml of grape seed oil.
Massage: massage in the area of intense pain.
Warm bath: In warm water add 6 drops of the blend and relax for 15 – 20 minutes.
Base oil for nerve pain: Saint John’s Wort Macerated oil
This carrier oil infuses earthy fragrance to the massage oil and enhances the relaxing effect of essential oil.
This oil has sedative action on the body. The base oil provides anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects on the body. [54]
It has high potential and powerful analgesic, anti-anxiety, nervine actions on the body. The oil can also treat nerve pain from sciatica and rheumatoid arthritis well.
It is known to calm nerve pain, muscular pain and soothes inflammation in joints. [55]
It is advisable to use it 4-6 hours before stepping out in the sun as it can cause photosensitivity.
Best way to use: The oil is best administered in massage blends.
Preventive measures to be Followed While Using Essential Oils
Do not use essential oils near eyes, inner ears, genitals or mucous membranes due to the risk of allergy or sensitivity.
It is advisable to always consult your doctors, before taking up any essential oil, so that it does not interfere with the medications or NSAIDs.
Always dilute these oils in a carrier/ vegetable/ base oil before use.
Avoid sun exposure for 4-6 hours after the application of essential oil, as they can cause photosensitivity.
The oils should be strictly used under supervision for pregnant women and avoided for children below five years of age.
Essential oils should be stored in tightly closed bottles and stored in a cool location away from light to maintain their potency for years.
Summary
Neuralgia or Nerve pain can be a debilitating and exhaustive condition for a human.
The pain will not only affect overall well being but will hamper with the basic function of nerves which is the signal transduction or commonly known electrical signal or nerve impulses transportation to and from the brain to the body.
But, worry not! Essential oils can help. They are enriched with natural pain-relieving, nerve-calming, relaxing and pacifying properties.
The interaction of these volatile oils in the body has prophylactic action.
So in case any of your nerves go haywire, just leave the issue to be solved by these listed essential oils.