What Essential Oils Work Best for Neuropathy and Nerve Pain?
Essential oils for neuropathy have become very popular lately. They’re natural, have rare or mild side effects, and are sold over the counter. Peripheral neuropathy affects more than 20 million Americans. Despite medical treatment, symptoms get unbearable and chronic pain, many turn to alternative solutions.
Aromatherapy is a potent alternative medicine that should be used with caution and reason. Whether you’re seeking valuable information to create your nerve pain recipe or looking for ready-to-use essential oils blends specially formulated for nerve pain, dig in! This in-depth article is all about essential oils and neuropathy!
Neuropathy is serious and can lead to severe complications. Never substitute your medical treatment. Always seek your doctor’s advice first. Take extra care of your feet, and don’t forget to get a yearly diabetic foot exam performed by a health professional.
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Essential Oils for Neuropathy Pain-relief Alternative
Aromatherapy and essential oils are centuries-old traditional medicines that effectively reduce nerve pain, inflammation, and swelling and soothe the nervous system (among many other effects). Despite massive popularity, modern scientific research on using essential oils for neuropathy is still limited.
Aromatherapy for peripheral neuropathy
A 2017 Turkish study reported a 66% drop in diabetic nerve pain in patients who got their feet massaged with essential oils, compared to a 9% drop for those who received medical care without aromatherapy massage. An older 2010 American study showed similar results with a homeopathic essential oils blend. That’s pretty much all we’ve got on the subject so far.
Now, if you read patients’ testimonials, learn about aromatherapy, and think out of the box, essential oils are definitely worth the try if you’re looking for alternative ways to ease chronic neuropathy pain.
How to use essential oils for nerve pain?
The best way to use essential oils for neuropathy is by topical application. Massaging the affected areas with 2-3% essential oils diluted into a carrier oil is the most recommended use. Choose your essential oils carefully. Some essential oils help decrease nerve pain; others boost nerve repair and blood circulation. A blend of essential oils that complement each other is always better than one oil only.
I prefer organic, pure, and clean products. Avoid cheap essential oils: they’re extracted with chemicals, are more irritative, and often lose their natural properties during the process. If you don’t know where to buy quality essential oils, I recommend looking at Rocky Mountain Oils and Plant Therapy. Both are reliable and sustainable USA-based aromatherapy companies offering top-quality products.
If you’re beginning with aromatherapy, you may want to try one of the ready-to-use essential oil blends for neuropathy.
Essential oils and FDA
Essential oils and aromatherapy are not regulated by the USA Food and Drug Administration (FDA). They are natural solid products that can have undesirable side effects. They should be used carefully and with the supervision of a professional. Neuropathy is a serious condition and can lead to severe complications. Never substitute your medical treatment without asking for your doctor’s advice first. This article does not represent medical advice and should not be interpreted as such.
What Essential Oils work Best for Neuropathy and Chronic Nerve Pain?
Not one essential oil works best for neuropathy, and good essential oil recipes for neuropathy combine several essential oils. Some essential oils soothe the pain, while others help repair damaged nerves or stimulate the nervous system. Aromatherapy professionals recommend six crucial oils for neuropathy and nerve pain, whether caused by diabetes, chemotherapy, or other conditions.
The following oils are for topical use and must be diluted into a carrier oil first. Never apply pure essential oils to your skin.
Peppermint essential oil to relieve nerve pain
Peppermint (Mentha Piperita) is a hybrid plant of spearmint and watermint. You find its essential oil in almost every aromatherapy topical blend for pain. With more than 40 compounds, including menthol, it’s a robust natural analgesic and anti-inflammatory. It also helps boost blood circulation, which is immensely valuable for people with diabetes and neuropathy.
Helichrysum Italicum to repair damaged nerves
Helichrysum italicum, also known as the curry plant because of its strong smell, comes from the Mediterranean region. It has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries, mainly for its anti-inflammatory properties. It’s believed to help heal and regenerate nerves and repair connective tissue cells. Alternative medicines swear by their capacity to ease peripheral neuropathy symptoms. Thus it’s present in most essential oils blends targeting nerve pain and damage. Due to its rarity, Helichrysum is one of the most expensive essential oils. You can buy pure Helichrysum essential oil from Rocky Mountain Oils.
Frankincense to sedate neuropathy pain
Frankincense essential oil is extracted from the resin of the Boswellia sacra tree found in the Arabian Peninsula. Apart from having anti-stress, muscle relaxing, and sedative properties, it contains excellent quantities of terpenes and boswellic acid, both potent anti-inflammatory compounds. Frankincense essential oil is believed to improve message transmission from the nerves to the brain, which can ultimately help reduce nerve pain.
Finally, Frankincense is said to help control blood sugars in patients with diabetes, but no scientific study has been conducted on that topic yet. It smells amazing! When buying, choose the Frankincense Boswelia Sacra (the Frereana, Serata, and Carteri kinds have much less powerful properties).
Myrrh essential oil for diabetes and swollen feet
Myrrh is another resin oil often associated with Frankincense. It has been used for centuries in traditional Chinese and ayurvedic medicines. Myrrh essential oil’s natural compounds interact with our opioid receptors to decrease our brain’s perception of pain. It also inhibits the production of inflammatory chemicals, considerably reducing swelling and pain. Due to poor blood circulation, people with diabetes often suffer from swollen feet. When applied on the skin, it provides a slight cooling effect that’s beneficial against peripheral neuropathy discomforts like tingling.
Basil essential oil nerve tonic and repair
Basil plant has been used for centuries in Ayurveda traditional medicine to treat nerve pain. A 2015 scientific study by the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Research of Punjabi University, India, confirmed that Basil plant extract considerably decreased sciatic nerve pain in rats. Another study from the Journal of Ethnopharmacology showed that Basil helps reduce nerve damage and increases nerve receptivity. A great ingredient to add to your neuropathy pain relief recipe!
Chamomille to soothe and calm pain
Roman Chamomile essential oil contains Borneol, which reduces pain and inflammation. A 2015 study from the Nanjing, China, Department of Pharmacology found that “Borneol alleviates mechanical hyperalgesia in chronic inflammatory and neuropathic pain in mice.” There’s no similar study on humans, yet this is quite promising and worth the try!
German Camomile is also often used in topical blends for peripheral neuropathy. While the German kind is more potent as an anti-inflammatory, the Roman one is better at soothing pain.
More essential oils chronic nerve damage
Aromatherapy is a big world, and there are more than 130 different essential oils available. You have just read about six essential oils that potentially significantly affect peripheral neuropathy and nerve pain. But many others also show intense pain relief, anti-inflammatory, soothing, and nerve-boosting impact and would be valuable additions to your essential oil recipes for neuropathy: Lavender, Clove, Tea tree, Turmeric, Sweet Marjoram, Thyme, Lemon, Copaiba, Ginger, etc.
The Best Essential Oil Blends for Neuropathy and Nerve Pain
Creating your essential oil recipe for neuropathy can be intimidating. Essential oils must be chosen knowledgeably, diluted precisely, and applied adequately. Moreover, making your blend does require a higher investment. Buying pure essential oils is quite expensive, and you’ll use only a few drops of each kind. Some delicious ready-to-use essential oil blends are specially formulated for neuropathy and nerve pain. Here are the best ones I’ve found:
1. Vibrant Blue Oils' Nerve Repair oil blend
- Ingredients
Essential Oils: Basil (Ocimum basilicum), Helichrysum italicum, Peppermint (Mentha piperita), Sweet Marjoram (Origanum marjorana L.)
Carrier Oil: Coconut oil.
Vibrant Blue Oils’ Nerve Repair blend has been specially formulated for people suffering from nerve damage and peripheral neuropathy. It combines 4 of the most potent essential oils to fight neuropathy into a natural coconut carrier oil.
This essential oil blend has proven to repair damaged nerves, relieve nerve pain, ease inflammation, stimulate blood flow, reduce swelling, and help regenerate new cells. The perfect aromatherapy combo for neuropathy and diabetic nerve pain!
Use 2-3 drops of the Nerve Repair blend to gently massage the affected area (usually the feet or hands in case of neuropathy). You can also apply it on a cold compress and let it rest for about 15 minutes. Apply 2-3 times a day, depending on your needs.
2. Zatural Quick Relief CBD Roll-on CBD with 12 Essential Oils
- Ingredients
12 Essential Oils: Peppermint, Clove Bud, Laurel Leaf, Black Pepper, Cinnamon Cassia, Ginger Root C02, Chamomile German, Juniper Berry, Thyme Thymol, Wintergreen, Camphor, Pine Scots.
CBD Extracts: Hemp Oil, C02 Extracted Broad Spectrum* CBD Oil 200mg,
Zatural is one of the leading US-based companies in the CBD market. Its products are doctor-formulated, lab-tested, locally grown, and GMO-free. There has not yet been any detailed study about the effects of CBD on neuropathy. Still, CBD’s proven pain-relief and anti-inflammatory properties can only be great additions to any topical blend targeting peripheral neuropathy pain, symptoms, and discomforts. Besides, CBD is promising for people with diabetes as it may help reduce blood sugars and improve overall diabetes management.
This Quick Relief roll-on combines CBD with 12 essential oils, including the most efficient ones for nerve pain and damage. I like the roll-on format, as it’s super easy to apply, and you can carry it everywhere.
Related article: The Best Sugar-Free Edibles & CBD Gummies for Diabetics
3. Rocky Mountain Oils Nerve Support Essential Oil Blend
- Ingredients
Essential oils: Basil, Helichrysum italicum, Peppermint, Marjoram
Carrier Oil: Fractionated coconut oil
Rocky Mountain Oils is a US family-owned company selling top-quality essential oils worldwide. Phoenix and Michael carefully source their products from sustainable farms and sell only 100% pure, natural, and clean essential oils and blends.
Their Nerve Support Blend combines four essential oils with distinct effects on nerves: pain relief, nerve tonic, anti-inflammatory, nerve repair, tissue regeneration, blood circulation booster, and soothing. That’s a complete combo for neuropathy patients! It’s diluted in natural coconut oil and ready to apply to your skin. The small format allows you to carry it everywhere and use it several times a day. Plenty of customers have reported strong relief effects on neuropathy foot pain (read the reviews on the product page!)
4. CBDFX Essentials Oils foot masks and cream for neuropathy
- Ingredients
Essential Oils used in products: Lavender, Peppermint, Tea Tree, Oregano, Camphor.
CBD Extracts: broad-spectrum hemp extract
I’m sorry if you’re not a fan of CBD. I am, and I can only recommend you try it if you have nerve pain. Remember, CBD comes from the Cannabis plant but does not provoke any “high.” Its use in foot care products is justified by its intense pain relief and anti-inflammatory properties.
CBDFX is a reliable and clean USA-made CBD company whose products have proven high efficiency. The foot care set is just great! The foot cream alone is worth the try as customers report pain-relief substantial effects. In addition, foot masks are an excellent treat for your feet! The products are available separately too. They combine CBD oil, lavender, peppermint, and tea tree essential oil for pain relief and soothing effects, as well as shea butter, coconut, and sweet almond oil to moisturize, soften and nourish your skin. Living with peripheral neuropathy requires keeping your feet wet and healthy.
5. Organixx Anti-inflammatory Essential Oil Blend with Frankincense and Myrrh
- Ingredients
Essential Oils (organic): Frankincense, Myrrh, Turmeric
This simple yet compelling composition targets neuropathy pain and symptoms with aromatherapy. Frankincense oil is thought to improve message transmission from the nerves to the brain, which can ultimately help reduce nerve pain. Myrrh’s natural compounds interact with our opioid system to block our brain’s perception of pain. It also helps reduce swelling and provides a slight cooling effect on the skin. Turmeric is a potent anti-inflammatory and relaxant agent that helps soothe pinched nerve pain.
So, Organixx’s blend is a great Essential Oils Combo to try if you’re suffering from nerve pain. Plus, it smells lovely! These are 100% pure essential oils: you will need to dilute a few drops into a carrier oil before applying them to your skin.
6. Plant Therapy CBD + Essential Oils rubbing oil for Neuropathy
- Ingredients
Essential Oils (2%): Basil (Ocimum basilicum), Thyme Thymol (Thymus vulgaris), Himalayan Cedarwood (Cedrus deodora), Australian Sandalwood (Santalum spicata).
CBD Products: Cannabis Sativa (Hemp) Flower, Leaf and Stem Extract, Cannabichromene (CBC) Isolate.
Carrier Oils: Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Abies Sibirica (Fir) Oil, Kunzea Ambigua (Kunzea) Oil.
The CBD + Iso Nerve Body Oil is a unique product you won’t find anywhere else (yet!). Plant Therapy, a renowned and reliable aromatherapy USA company, has recently launched a new and innovative product line combining essential oils with CBD extracts.
This one is specially formulated for nerve damage and is a great product to try if you’re looking for alternative neuropathy pain relief. CBD is proven to considerably decrease the perceived sensations of pain without provoking the “high” effect we often attribute to Cannabis. The additional essential oils have been carefully selected to ease and reduce nerve pain, pinched nerves, sharps, and tingly discomfort patients with neuropathy often suffer.
The Nerve Relief Body Oil is ready to use. Apply a generous amount to your palm and gently massage your feet. If you’re not a fan of CBD, Plant Therapy offers a 100% pure organic essential oils synergy for pain relief that works excellently on neuropathy pain.
7. Frankincense and Myrrh Neuropathy Rubbing Oil
- Ingredients
Essential Oils: Boswellia Carterii (Frankincense), Cinnamomum Zeylanicum (Cinnamon, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot), Citrus Limon (Lemon), Commiphora Myrrha (Myrrh), Eucalyptus Globulus.
Oils: Aconitum Napellus, Bryonia Alba, Hypericum Perforatum, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Myristica Fragrans
The Frankincense and Myrrh neuropathy oil is specially formulated to fight neuropathic pain, whether from diabetes, chemotherapy, or other conditions. It provides temporary relief from chronic neuropathy symptoms such as soothing pain, burning sensation, prickling, tingling, and numbness.
Made with 11 oils and essential oils with analgesic, pain relief, and anti-inflammatory properties, it’s a 100% all-natural homeopathic composition. It can apply up to 4 times daily in adults and children over 12. Frankincense and Myrrh Neuropathy Rubbing Oil is available on Amazon, Walmart, CVS, Walgreens, etc.
8. Young Living Deep Relief Essential Oil blend for nerve pain
- Ingredients
Essential Oils: Peppermint, Lemon, Balsam Fir, Clove, Balsam Copaiba, Wintergreen, Helichrysum Italicum, Vetiver
Oils: Coconut oil
Featuring eight essential oils, including Peppermint, Helichrysum italicum, Clove, Balsam Fir, and more, Young Living Deep Relief Roll-on has a strong cooling effect that works great on some neuropathy patients. It’s an all-natural composition from a leading aromatherapy USA company. Portable and lightweight, take your roll-on everywhere and apply it several times a day if needed.
What are the best carrier oils for neuropathy essential oils blends?
Essential oils should never be applied purely to your skin. They are so concentrated and potent that they could burn or irritate your skin. When applied topically, you must dilute them into a carrier oil first. To make a neuropathy rubbing oil, count about 2-3% of essential oils. You could use any carrier oil, but some specific ones bring additional value against nerve pain.
Castor oil for the pain
Castor oil contains Ricinoleic acid, which is known to have potent anti-inflammatory and pain relief properties. It helps boost healing if you have minor foot or hand wounds. It’s also an excellent skin moisturizer. Kind of the perfect carrier oil for your neuropathy blend. And it was cheap! I like the one from Sky Organics on Amazon.
Coconut oil to boost circulation
Coconut oil also has natural pain relief properties and would be an excellent choice for nerve pain. Most ready-to-use neuropathy essential oil blends are made with coconut as a carrier oil. Coconut oil is also believed to help boost blood circulation, which is valuable for people with diabetic neuropathy. It does have anti-inflammatory effects, but only if taken orally (you can cook with coconut oil, by the way!). Last but not least, coconut oil is an excellent moisturizer and helps prevent infections. Living with diabetic neuropathy makes you more prone to developing foot infections than the general population.
Emu oil to heal wounds
Emu oil is less common and expensive, but it has proven to have considerable pain relief effects. It comes from the deposits below the skin of an Australian bird, scientifically named Dromaius novaehallandiae. Emu oil is becoming very popular because of its recently discovered numerous health benefits. When applied topically, it’s a potent anti-inflammatory, helps heal wounds, nourishes the skin, and may even help treat ulcers, a common complication of diabetic peripheral neuropathy. You can buy pure Emu oil or check the Original Blue-Emu Pain Relief Cream.
Can essential oils treat neuropathy?
No. Essential oils and aromatherapy are no treatments for neuropathy. Neuropathy is a severe medical condition that can lead to serious complications. Do not substitute your medical treatment without your doctor’s advice.
What essential oils can do is alleviate neuropathy symptoms: pain, tingling, numbness, discomfort, etc. Essential oils have different effects on different people. They can work great on some while having no impact on others. You’ll have to try it for yourself!
What are the best essential oils for nerve pain in the feet?
Neuropathy can affect various parts of the body. All the essential oils presented in this article potentially jeopardize any kind of peripheral neuropathy and nerve damage, whether caused by diabetes, chemotherapy, or any medical conditions. The most common neuropathy is peripheral neuropathy caused by diabetes and high blood sugar. It mainly affects the feet and hands. The best essential oils for neuropathy in the feet are the same as for any neuropathy.
What are the best essential oils for neuropathy from chemo?
Chemotherapy treatments for cancer can damage the nerves and cause severe nerve pain. Essential oils can help reduce chemo-induced neuropathy pain. The same essential oils and oil blends can help neuropathy pain, whether it’s caused by diabetes or chemotherapy. Always ask for your doctor’s advice first.
What are the best essential oils for pinched nerves?
A pinched nerve is different from nerves damaged by neuropathy. Pinched nerves are temporary, and the pain usually goes away with rest and painkillers within a few days or weeks. You would not need the same essential oils as for damaged neuropathic nerves. Any essential oil known for its pain relief, analgesic, or sedative effects should ease the pain from a pinched nerve.
Neuropathy is serious and can lead to severe complications. Never substitute your medical treatment. Always ask for your doctor’s advice.
