Using Essential Oils for Back Pain Relief

Back pain has many possible causes, which will affect whether and which essential oils for back pain might bring relief for you. Explore the options!

Essential Oils for Back Pain

Aromatherapy: A Holistic Guide to Natural Healing With Essential Oils recommends the following oils for low back pain:

• Bergamot
• Clary sage
• Cypress
• Eucalyptus
• Fennel
• German or roman chamomile
• Hyssop
• Juniper
• Lavender
• Neroli
• Peppermint
• Rosemary
• Sandalwood

The book suggests these two blends for simple low backache:

Aromatic Soak

• 4 drops lavender essential oil
• 2 drops juniper essential oil
• 2 drops rosemary essential oil
• 2 drops peppermint essential oil
• 1/2 teaspoon carrier oil
• 1 cup Epsom salt

Blend the oils. Stir the blend into the salt. Stir the salts into a warm bath.

Massage Oil

You can use this oil when you have a backache or before strenuous activity that may cause an aching back.

• 2 tablespoons carrier oil
• 10 drops lavender essential oil
• 6 drops rosemary essential oil
• 6 drops sandalwood essential oil
• 3 drops geranium essential oil

Apply the massage oil to as much of your back, hips, and upper legs as you can reach, or have someone else give you a back massage.

More Essential Oils for Back Pain

Additional essential oils suggested by The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy:

• Basil
• Black pepper
• Camphor
• Cardamom
• Eucalyptus radiata
• Ginger
• Helichrysum
• Marjoram
• Plai
• Thyme linalol

The book offers these two blends for back massage:

• 10 drops rosemary essential oil
• 10 drops marjoram essential oil
• 10 drops helichrysum essential oil
• 2 tablespoons carrier oil

or

• 10 drops ginger essential oil
• 5 drops eucalyptus essential oil
• 3 drops black pepper essential oil
• 3 drops juniper berry essential oil
• 2 tablespoons carrier oil

Back Pain Relief Baths

Blend oils. Run a warm bath. Stir in the blend. Soak for 20 to 30 minutes.

Bath #1

• 2 drops geranium or lavender essential oil
• 1 drop peppermint essential oil
• 1 drop eucalyptus or cypress essential oil
• 1 drop ginger or nutmeg essential oil
• 1 teaspoon carrier oil

Adapted from The Complete Aromatherapy & Essential Oils Handbook for Everyday Wellness.

Bath #2

• 1 teaspoon carrier oil
• 6 drops lavender essential oil
• 6 drops rosemary essential oil

Source: Essential Oils Natural Remedies

More Back Massage Oils

Blend #1

• 4 drops sweet marjoram essential oil
• 4 drops black pepper essential oil
• 4 drops neroli essential oil
• 3 drops rosemary essential oil
• 3 drops bergamot essential oil
• 2 tablespoons jojoba oil

Blend #2

• 5 drops rosemary essential oil
• 5 drops peppermint essential oil
• 3 drops lavender essential oil
• 3 drops sweet orange essential oil
• 2 tablespoons jojoba oil

Source: Aromasense Essential Oil Ebook

Blend #3

• 2 tablespoons hemp seed (Cannabis sativa) oil
• 2 tablespoons borage oil
• 3 drops lavender essential oil
• 1 drop clary sage essential oil
• 1 drop spikenard essential oil

Mix the hemp seed oil with the borage oil. Blend in the essential oils.

Apply liberally twice a day to the affected area. (Not recommended in the first four months of pregnancy.)

Source: Elizabeth Ashley. "Hemp Seed Oil: Cannabis sativa." Summer 2017.2, NAHA Aromatherapy Journal, p. 57.

Back Pain Balm

• 1 tablespoon carrier oil
• 1/2 teaspoon beeswax
• 3 drops peppermint essential oil
• 3 drops frankincense essential oil
• 3 drops vetiver essential oil
• 3 drops thyme essential oil
• 4 drops vitamin E oil

1. Set a glass cup in a pan of water over low-medium heat.
2. Add the beeswax and carrier oil. Stir until just melted. Remove from heat.
3. Drip a drop of the mixture onto the counter. After one minute, check for consistency. If it's too thin, add beeswax to the mixture. If too thick, add carrier oil. Be careful and add only a tiny amount until you have the right consistency.
4. Add the essential oils and vitamin E oil to the mixture. Whisk lightly.
5. Pour immediately into a glass or tin container. Let cool.

Use this balm as needed on painful areas.

Source: Essential Oils for Emotional Wellbeing

I also recommend exploring somatic practices to help relieve chronic back pain. Hanna Somatics and Feldenkrais have been the two best practices for helping me.

ShareFacebookXPinterestReddit