Essential Oil for Joint Pain

A few months after I completed my certification in Aromatherapy, my mother came to me with a request. She was tired of trying many over-the-counter (OTC) creams to treat her arthritic knees to no relief. Olivia was just 3 months old at the time, and being a first-time grandma, she wanted to spend more time holding and walking her first grandchild. Unfortunately, chronic pain was preventing her from doing just that. I was thrilled to work on my first formulation and set out to create the best product you can find on the market.

My mother wanted a product that relieves her arthritis symptoms, with these specific requests –

· Reduce joint pain, stiffness, and swelling
· Organic and plant-based: she is opposed to most over the counter pain medication
· Naturally scented. She is allergic to artificial fragrances. Even short-term exposure can set her off in a migraine attack

Aromatherapy is a holistic healing treatment that uses natural plant extracts to promote health and well-being, one of them is essential oil. These oils are highly concentrated and rich in nutrients and minerals, and have been used in many indigenous cultures before making their way to mainstream US markets.

The active ingredient in my formulation is a blend of essential oil. It has powerful anti-inflammatory properties and is said to alleviate these symptoms –

Arthritis Pain
Back Pain
Poor blood circulation
Chronic inflammation
Joint inflammation
Joint swelling
Muscle pain
Muscle spasms
Sore muscles

There are several ways to use Aromatherapy: inhaled, ingested, and topical application. For people suffering from pain and stiffness, topical application is the best way.

The best essential oils to use are said to have anti-inflammatory effects. Therefore, we choose a blend with Lemon, Geranium, Frankincense, Eucalyptus, Nutmeg and Vetiver. Each of those essential oils and the anti-inflammatory benefits is explained in detail below. The key ingredients in this rich and soothing balm are coconut oil, hemp oil, beeswax, and menthol.

What is Geranium Essential Oil Used for?

Geranium is a perennial plant believed to have originated from South Africa, Reunion, Madagascar, Egypt, and Morocco. This oil has an herbal, rosy, and lemony aroma. We use this in our formulation to promote circulation and relieve muscle aches. In addition, it has a talent for dissolving stagnation and blocked energy. A study published in 2014 provided evidence that Geranium shows anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects and supported its use in treating pain in traditional medicine in indigenous cultures around the world.

A double-blind, randomized, placebo, controlled study evaluated the safety and efficacy of the naturally-derived topical formulation with Geranium Essential oil. The results were astonishing! There was an overall pain reduction for both treatments from pre to post-application. Compared to the placebo, this formulation led to significantly greater pain reduction. 93% receiving the treatment reported pain reduction within 30 minutes.

Frankincense Essential Oil Benefits

Frankincense is an essential oil derived from the resin of the bark of Boswellia, a tree that is native to India. Frankincense is thought to have anti-inflammatory and analgesic (pain-relieving) properties. In 2003, a randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover clinical trial evaluated the safety, effectiveness, and tolerability of Frankincense in 30 knee osteoarthritis patients. Those given the treatment all reported a decrease in knee pain, increased knee flexion, and increased walking distance. Joint swelling also decreased. In a 2007 study, similar findings were reported. A 6-month randomized, prospective, open-label, comparative study revealed a significant improvement in patients treated with a product with Frankincense even after one month after the treatment had stopped. However, the beneficial effect did not continue after treatment was stopped. Frankincense is on our sustainability watch list. Our distiller is a leading advocate for strict harvesting regulations. He produces this certified organic Frankincense Essential Oil from the resin of wild Boswellia carterii trees in the rural landscape of Somaliland.

Does Eucalyptus Oil Ease Joint Pain?

Eucalyptus is most famous for its breath support. It also contains compounds that act as anti-inflammatories to help reduce swelling and pain, ideal for rheumatoid arthritis. A 2013 study found that inhaling eucalyptus oil following knee replacement surgery helped lower pain levels in osteoarthritis patients. Our organic Eucalyptus is extracted from the leaves and twigs of the tough long and narrow blue-green leaves, creamy-white flowers, and smooth pale bark of the Eucalyptus Globulus.

How Does Menthol Work?

Menthol is an organic compound with a minty smell with analgesic properties (pain relief). Our menthol is natural and derived from peppermint oil. Menthol has pain relief properties. It is said to be particularly beneficial in alleviating pain associated with arthritis, sprains, or muscle cramps. In my formulation, it is used as a topical pain reliever. While you feel relief immediately, the blend of essential oil and Organic Hemp Extract works to reduce inflammation for long-term pain management.

After months of research, formulation, and testing, Magic Hemp Salve was born. It has effectively alleviated my mother’s symptoms of arthritis. It’s most effective after a warm shower or bath when your pores are open. Use a small amount and massage gently into the affected area and feel the pain melt away.

Can I make my own Muscle Rub using essential oils that I already own?

Yes! Many pure essential oils are potent anti-inflammatory. Such as ginger oil, Rosemary oil, basil oil, chamomile oil, and lavender oil. If you have some of this oil on hand, you can even create your own blends. Make sure you use organic essential oils and dilute them in a carrier oil such as sweet almond oil. The standard way to make a therapeutic product is 5-10% of essential oil. A basic formulation will look like this –

1oz of carrier oil such as sweet almond oil or olive oil

45-90 drops of essential oil blend (or 0.05oz. If you are using a standard essential oil dropper bottle, there are 900 drops per 30ml of essential oil. So 0.05oz is roughly 45 drops)