Essential Oils are a Natural Anti-Inflammatory
If you want to use the same essential
oils we use in our home to heal sickness and relieve all kinds of pain,
contact me at: tonyastevens@icloud.com
or
read about Young Living Essential Oils
at their site (youngliving.com) where you can join and order some for
yourself! Use my member # 1922774 to complete your member sign-up.
(There is no fee to be a member...you just order your first set of oils
and information)
and then....contact me! I can help you use your new oils to address almost any problem in your home! (Not used to treat or prevent disease according to the FDA, of course, and I am not a doctor, just a mom who has successfully used essential oils to solve medical problems in our home.)
**There are links in this article to another website retailing Young Living oils. You could buy there, but if you will contact me instead, I am able to get them to you for a lower price. Contact me or see instructions above...**
Now, on to using essential oils as a natural anti-inflammatory treatment that really does work:
Essential oils have been documented to
reduce
inflammation for various conditions in the body. This includes
inflammation from physical injury, infection, burns, hormones, food and
so much more!
Today modern medicine believes that
chronic
inflammation is behind the nation's leading diseases including heart
disease and cancer. Arthritis, Alzheimer's, and diabetes are also now
linked to the inflammatory process gone wrong! (See Nitric oxide below).
So, it is becoming very obvious that we need to
start
minimizing and preventing inflammation in our body. And there is a
natural anti-inflammatory that we can use on a daily basis that can help
us tackle this.
But first, let us take a look at inflammation.
What is Inflammation? What creates It?
Inflammation is actually part of the body’s defense system. It is an
immune response to rid the body of harmful stimuli so the body can begin the healing process.
The
body increases blood to the injured tissues or affected area for
healing. This is why you see redness, and swelling, or feel pain and
heat. This is called
acute inflammation.
Inflammation
becomes chronic
inflammation when the system does not turn off and the immune system
response actually begins to damage the body. This chronic inflammation
leads to more progressive medical conditions such as heart disease.
How do Essential Oils reduce and prevent Inflammation?
Essential oils contain
many
different medicinal properties that are documented to help the physical
and emotional body. They easily penetrate the skin and can be carried
throughout the blood and tissues within minutes.
Oils
that are high in carvacrol, a phenol, can be very effective as a
natural anti-inflammatory. Examples are Oregano, Thyme and Mountain
Savory Essential Oils.
Did you know that a study published in the January 2010 in the Journal of Lipid Research found that
six essential oils
reduce inflammation very effectively?
In this Japanese study, it was found that the oils suppressed the COX-2 enzyme by as much as
75 percent!
Thyme
essential oil ranked number one out of six different oils tested. But
there are over 50 different oils that show natural anti-inflammatory
properties! Wow!
What are COX enzymes?
COX enzymes are responsible for the
inflammatory process in the body. COX inhibitors suppress this process and relieve pain and inflammation.
Sound familiar? It should.
Anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen work in this
exact same manner! Additionally, prescription drugs such as Celebrix (and the former Vioxx) are COX-2 inhibitors!
So, I must ask then,
why
are we so addicted to synthetic pain killers and anti-inflammatories,
when there is a natural anti-inflammatory and analgesic (pain relieving
substance) available?
How do Essential Oils work as a Natural Anti-Inflammatory?
Essential oils can help reduce inflammation in
several
different ways. We can use them to help us combat acute and chronic
inflammation. And help us on a daily basis reduce inflammation.
How do we reduce Inflammation on a Daily Basis?
Studies have shown that there are many
lifestyle choices that contribute to inflammation on a daily basis.
- Sleep
deprivation – reduced sleep and insomnia does not allow the body time
enough to repair and heal during the night. Essential oils can help us sleep better.
- Stress
and anxiety – reducing your stress or anxiety also helps reduce the
inflammatory response in your body. Essential oils help us manage anxiety.
- Diet
– eating a healthy diet with plenty of water, fruits, vegetables and
complex carbohydrates reduces inflammation. Adding healthy fats such as
omega 3s and olive oil to your diet will also help.
- Detoxification – detoxing the lymphatic system of pollutants and chemicals.
- Exercise – Exercise removes toxins from the lymph system and reduces inflammation.
- Supplements/Vitamins
– Choose a whole food vitamin and mineral supplement, not one that is
synthetically made. Folic acid, B vitamins, and vitamins C, D and E have
anti-inflammatory effects for the body.
- Immune system – support your immune system with probiotic and enzyme supplements for a healthy intestinal tract.
Essential oils can help us cope and make changes in these areas!
So, my advice is, in addition to using the oils, make sure you are making the lifestyle changes that will support your body.
What Essential Oils are documented to be COX inhibitors?
These are the
top COX inhibitors! Click on each oil to learn more about the oil and how to use it.
Note:
The study did not specify what eucalyptus oil was used. There are over
600 species of the genus and it is important to know what species was
used.
Eucalyptus polybractea and
Eucalyptus radiata have anti-inflammatory and anti-infectious properties, so that would be my guess.
What Essential Oils are Documented to reduce Inflammation created by Nitric Oxide?
Nitric oxide (NO) plays a role in
blood flow and is produced by numerous cells in the body. But when
abnormal production of NO occurs, it greatly affects blood flow and other vascular functions of the body.
And, you guessed it,
creates inflammation that is attributed to heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension.
Once more, essential oil, a natural anti-inflammatory comes to the rescue again!
Here are the essential oils documented to inhibit NO:
What Oils do I use for Muscles that have Inflammation?
Inflammation
usually indicates that there is some tissue damage. This may also occur
if we exercise to the point where we have strained or pulled a muscle.
Click on Essential Oils for
Muscles Section to learn what essential oils are best for this application.
Are there any other Essential Oils I can use as a Natural Anti-Inflammatory?
Yes,
there are over 50 different oils with anti-inflammatory properties. And
some oils may be better for certain types of inflammation or
conditions. Also, everyone’s body chemistry is different. So it is best
to
- Click on the individual oil and learn more about it
- Select one or two oils (or a blend) to use and find out what oils are right for you
- Write down your experiences so you can remember and recognize any changes
Here are some others that may help with an inflammatory condition in the body:
- Basil Essential Oil (anti-spasmodic and anti-inflammatory, muscle relaxant).
- Geranium Essential Oil (edema, menstrual, skin and viral infection).
- Wintergreen Essential Oil (heart inflammation, injuries, bursitis. A teaspoon of wintergreen is the equivalent of almost twenty-two adult aspirin).
- Balsam Fir, Helichrysum, White Fir and PanAway Essential Oils (injuries, bursitis, inflammation of joint and muscle conditions, tendon inflammation).
- Elemi Essential Oil (breast and uterus, bursitis, muscles).
- German Chamomile and Melaleuca alternifolia Essential Oils (bacterial infections; skin).
- Lavender and Myrrh Essential Oils (tissue and capillary damage and bruising, burns). ClaraDerm Spray for itchy skin has both for this reason!
- Ravensara, Hyssop and Thyme Essential Oils (viral infection and sinus inflammation).
- Copaiba Essential Oil (contains very high levels
of beta caryophyllene that inhibits the inflammatory process! Used for
internal and external inflammation. Referred to as Copal Oil).
- Ocotea Essential Oil (contains very high levels
of alpha-humulene that limits the body's response to irritation! For
best results use it along with Copaibla. Great for joints, injuries and
more!)
- Frankincense and Palo Santo essential oils(respiratory infections, cancer and immune stimulating).
- And more!
A note about German Chamomile,
Helichrysum, Yarrow and
Blue Tansy
Essential Oils. These oils contain chamazulene a deep blue compound
that is produced during the correct distillation process. These are
known as
artifacts.
Chamazulene has been extensively
researched
for its anti-allergy and anti-inflammatory properties. It is also very
beneficial to the skin and the cells of the body, as well as a natural
muscle relaxer.
The highest concentration of
chamazulene can be found in
German Chamomile.
There are others artifacts in the azulene family that are also
beneficial, but more often than not, artifacts are something we want to
keep to a minimum.
Want to try an Essential Oil Supplement for Inflammation?
Two essential oil supplements combat inflammation:
Omega Blue with fish oil and
BLM with MSM and Glucosamine.
Sulfurzyme also contains MSM, FOS and Ninxgia wolfberry.
I
hope you have enjoyed this section on how essential oil can be used as a
natural anti-inflammatory. And you will try some oils to help manage
inflammation from the start!
Contact me or go to youngliving.com to order. Become a member for a special gift and a great deal with the Premium Starter Kit! Sign up using my member number as your sponsor and enroller: Tonya Stevens, # 1922774