Chers Santies,
Aromatherapy, the art of using essential oils for medicinal purposes, has been practiced since 1964. It's a relatively recent phenomenon, and its use has become increasingly popular in recent years. Even the most reluctant are beginning to use them, either to treat themselves naturally, or to complement a drug treatment that has its limits. Essential oils have many virtues, which we have already detailed in a previous article. Here, we're going to take a closer look at neuropathic pain, its origins and consequences, and which essential oils to use to relieve it.
What is neuropathic pain?
Neuropathic pain results from injury or dysfunction of the central and/or peripheral nervous system. They can be characterized in different ways, from quasi-permanent to intermittent sensations of burning, electric discharges, tingling, numbness or temperature variations: hot or cold.
These pains can occur following accidents or illnesses such as stroke, Lyme disease, surgical wounds, cancer therapies, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, etc.
Beyond the daily physical suffering, people also suffer from a lack of recognition due to the invisibility of their disability. This can be very difficult to bear. It is important that neuropathic pain is properly understood and accepted by those around them, so that the sufferer can feel confident and fully available for his or her care and recovery. Invisible handicaps are a source of extreme suffering for sufferers, who would sometimes prefer to "have one arm missing" in order to be understood and taken seriously.
In fact, diagnosis can take a long time, as the pain is not "palpable" or visible on imaging, for example. Diagnosis is made mainly by neurologists, algologists, rheumatologists and general practitioners. To date, there is no specific treatment for neuropathic pain. Each case is studied individually, in order to provide the best possible response to the pain. Sensitivity to pain is highly subjective and depends on a number of factors, which is why your doctor will suggest different treatments, with or without medication. Be patient (and yes, it's aptly named), you won't necessarily find the most suitable treatment for you the first time around. But, through perseverance and communication with your doctor, together you'll find what's best for you. As a result, your quality of life will finally be improved and your pain reduced.
6 essential oils for effective relief of neuropathic pain
If your medical team agrees and you'd like to try natural methods, essential oils can be a great help in this type of pathology. There are many oils with analgesic and pain-relieving properties. Let's take a closer look at what these oils are and how to use them.
First and foremost, all these oils are contraindicated for people on anti-coagulant/blood-thinning medication, pregnant or breast-feeding women, epileptics or asthmatics.
Wintergreen
Gaultheria procumbens is composed of over 95% methyl salicylate, with anti-inflammatory properties. Its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties help relieve pain, whether muscular, tendinous, articular or neuropathic.
It's perfect if warmth soothes you, but not if cold soothes you. In fact, a sensation of heat is diffused after application.
Peppermint essential oil
Thanks to its high L-Menthol content, Mentha piperita produces cryo-analgesia. Its "icicle" effect numbs pain and its perception threshold. This makes it the oil of choice if cold brings you relief.
Be careful, however, not to use this essential oil over too large an area of the body, as its "cooling" effect could lower your body temperature too sharply.
True lavender to calm the nervous system
Lavandula angustifolia's calming effect on the nervous system makes it an excellent oil for combating neuropathic pain.
By calming the nervous system, it helps to reduce the intensity of nerve impulses and thus the pain felt by the sufferer.
Italian helichrysum to promote blood circulation
Helichrysum italicum promotes blood circulation throughout the body, also activating peripheral microcirculation. In this way, it can have a significant effect on neuropathic pain.
It's also the oil of first choice for blows, bruises and bumps: the anti-hematoma essential oil par excellence.
Lemon eucalyptus for neuropathic pain
Eucalyptus citriodora has an analgesic action on the central and peripheral nervous system, making it the essential oil of choice for neuropathic pain.
It is also said to have soothing and sedative properties, making it a great ally for pain that prevents sleep or wakes you up at night.
Frankincense essential oil
Boswellia carteri, traditionally used for its calming and harmonizing properties for the nervous system, its high sesquiterpene content also gives it a significant anti-inflammatory action.
A calmer mind means a body that is less receptive to pain signals.
These essential oils should not be used undiluted. We recommend diluting them up to 15% in vegetable oil, such as St. John's wort oil, which is anti-inflammatory and analgesic, calophylla oil, which is also anti-inflammatory and circulatory, or the best-known, arnica vegetable oil, which is indispensable for aches and pains.
Suggested blend if your neuropathic pain prevents you from sleeping:
- True lavender essential oil: 3 ml
- Frankincense essential oil: 2 ml
- Lemon eucalyptus essential oil: 3 ml
- St. John's wort vegetable oil: 50 ml
Apply a few drops of this blend at bedtime, and remember to soap the massaged area well the next day, as St. John's Wort vegetable oil is photosensitizing. Finally, be sure to close your bottles tightly after use, as essential oils are volatile, and keep them out of the reach of children.
We hope this article has helped you and that it will benefit your pain. If you try a blend that doesn't work or doesn't work well enough, don't hesitate to try others. We're all different, so it's up to you to find the oils that help and suit you best. Finally, never use more than three essential oils at a time. We wish you all the best as you face your condition.
PS: The liver is one of the most important organs in your body. But don't neglect the other essential engines of your digestion, notably your intestine. Considered by scientists to be our second brain, our intestine influences both our physical and psychological health.