Back pain is a common condition among people all over the world. In the United States alone, it is estimated that as many as 85% of the population is affected by back pain at some point in their lifetime. However, back pain is not a disease. Rather, it is a symptom of other diseases or an unhealthy lifestyle.
Some of the causes of pack pain are as follows:
- The major causes of back pain are sprains and strains in the muscles, bones, and spinal cord.
- Abnormalities or deformities of organs within the pelvis, abdomen, or chest can also cause pain in the back. This is called referred pain.
- Irritation in the nerve roots supplying the bones and muscles also causes back pain.
- Pregnancy leads to back pain in women.
There are various back pain remedies, one of which is the usage of essential oils. The specifics of aromatherapy for back pain treatment are as follows:
- Chamomile essential oil is known for its anti-inflammatory properties and as such, can be used to relieve backache.
- You can use a blend of rosemary, peppermint, and lavender essential oils to relieve back pain. You can use this blend of oils to massage your back to reduce inflammation and pain. You can use safflower oil as a carrier oil.
- You can mix blue chamomile essential oil, birch essential oil, rosemary essential oil, ginger essential oil, and lavender essential oil to relieve back pain.
- Eucalyptus oil is also useful to cure pain in back on account of its anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties.
- You can also use basil and marjoram essential oils to massage your back and relieve pain.
- Peppermint essential oil serves to relieve muscle and nerve tensions. As such, massage with peppermint essential oil can be used to relieve back pain.
- Massage with wintergreen essential oil provides warmth to the muscles, thereby assisting pain relief. It can be used to cure pain in back.
- Other essential oils that can be used to relieve back pain are black pepper essential oil, coriander essential oil, and clary sage essential oils.
These essential oils can be used for massaging the back or can be inhaled as an infusion. However, you must consult an aromatherapy specialist before you employ aromatherapy for back pain treatment. You must first test the essential oil to check if it suits your skin and body. Also, you must not use essential oils without dilution with a carrier oil like coconut or mustard oils as essential oils are highly concentrated and may cause adverse reactions if used without dilution.