Can Aromatherapy Ease the Pain of Fibromyalgia?

Essential oils have been used to treat medical conditions for hundreds and even thousands of years.  Recently, there seems to have been a huge resurgence in the use of essential oils to treat the symptoms of certain disorders, and people are quickly discovering the many benefits of using them for both medicinal and cosmetic purposes.

Individuals who suffer from chronic conditions such as fibromyalgia can benefit from essentials oils in many different ways. While the oils will not cure the condition or completely erase the many negative effects that the disease has on the body, they will most certainly ease them and hopefully make life just a little easier.

What is fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia, or fibro as it’s commonly referred to, is in fact not one disease but a number of disorders that all cause a multitude of issues for its sufferers. Despite having a number of symptoms that could be classified as autoimmune, fibromyalgia is not considered to be an autoimmune disease. Fibromyalgia is considered as a syndrome, where most of its symptoms mimic the symptoms of other diseases, so it is easily misdiagnosed as something else. Researchers also still do not understand the origins of fibromyalgia, so the cause of this widespread and chronic pain is unknown. Some of the symptoms of fibromyalgia include:

• Extreme fatigue caused by the disease itself, as well as restless sleep and insomnia that patients can suffer from
• Chronic pain and inflammation around the joints and pressure points
• Depression and anxiety
• Cognitive issues, commonly referred to as fibro fog, which can impact short-term memory and can affect a patient's ability to make decisions.

What kind of essential oils actually help those suffering from fibromyalgia?

There are so many different kinds of essential oils out there that have a variety of different scents and uses. It really can be overwhelming to sort through and often times, it’s tempting to grab ‘whatever’ just to see if it will work on your symptoms.

Well, guess what? That probably will not work. The key to ensuring that essential oils will work is to do a bit of research. In other words, find out what oils are commonly used to treat what ailment, especially since each essential oil has its own unique set of properties. 

For example, peppermint oil is popular because not only does it smell great, but it’s also known for its pain reducing properties, as well as a great way to deal with the 3:00 p.m. slump without reaching for another cup of coffee. Another popular essential oil is lavender, which is used to relax the body and reduce feelings of anxiety. It can also be used to help someone sleep properly.

Read on to learn more about the different essential oils, their benefits, and how they can reduce some of the symptoms that come with fibromyalgia. Who knows, you may be a little bit surprised about what the wonders these oils have on those who have chronic and widespread pain.