Do Essential oils Work for Fibromyalgia?

Image: Flickr

One of the worst things about living with fibromyalgia is that there doesn’t seem to be much that you can do to treat it. Of course, there are a number of medications that doctors prescribe. But many people with fibromyalgia find that the antidepressants that are approved for treating fibromyalgia don’t seem to be very effective.

So with the only medicine approved for fibromyalgia being ineffective for a lot of people, it makes sense that sufferers would turn to some alternative methods of treating their fibromyalgia. That’s why so many people with fibromyalgia will hear someone suggest they try homeopathic medicine. And one of the most commonly suggested treatments is essential oils.

But what are essential oils, and do essential oils for fibromyalgia really work?

What Are Essential Oils?

You see, many naturally occurring plants have chemicals in them that can be beneficial for your health. And essential oils are preparations of plant material that are meant to concentrate these natural compounds so that they can be used for medicinal purposes. Most commonly, people who use essential oils do so through aromatherapy.

Aromatherapy works by vaporizing those essential oils in the belief that someone will then be able to breathe beneficial compounds into the lungs. They then can cross the barrier into the blood stream. And regardless of how well it works as medicine, it certainly does make your house smell nice.

But if inhaling vaporized oils isn’t your thing, you can also rub essential oil directly onto your skin. Again, the idea is that the compounds in the oil will be absorbed through the skin and into the bloodstream where they can do their work.

Which Essential Oils For Fibromayglia Do People Use?

There isn’t much in the way of rigourous scientific study about using essential oils for fibromyalgia, so it’s tought to say which oils specifically would be best for treating fibromyalgia. But there are a few things that people who focus on this kind of homeopathic treatment reccommend:

• Lemongrass. Lemongrass is an aromatic grass that is supposed to be revitalizing and help give you more energy.
• Orange. Orange is described by aromatherapy practitioners as being a natural antidepressant, which is useful for fibromyalgia.
• Frankencense. Frankencense is a naturally occuring tree sap that is supposed to be calming.
• Rosemary. Rosemary is a common kitchen spice, but may also help you manage fibromyalgia pain according to aromotherapy proponents.

Do Essential Oils For Fibromyalgia Work?

So do essential oils for fibromyalgia actually work? Well, this is where things get a bit tricky. Again, the research for whether or not essential oils are effective in treating fibromyalgia is pertty sparse. But studies have been done on the claims of essential oil proponents for many other conditions, from cancer to IBS. And the results are not good. Most studies found no difference whatsoever for people using essential oils for these conditions.

And while the guy selling you essential oils might swear by them for treating these conditions, most controlled studies would disagree. Again, it doesn’t mean that using essential oils for fibromyalgia is useless, since they didn’t test for fibro specifically, but it suggest that the medical value of essential oils for treating serious conditions is very limited.

With that being said, essential oils for fibromyalgia do have their place. It has been demonstrated that using aromatherapy for people with multiple sclerosis (a painful autoimmune disorder) helped the patients feel more relaxed and at ease, as well as helping with sleep.

And being more at ease is a very valuable thing when it comes to fibromyalgia. Not to mention that anything which can help you get to sleep is great.

Finally, there are many people who will swear by the use of essential oils for fibromyalgia. And if you are one of those people, that’s great. Anything that helps you deal with your condition is something you should keep using. If essential oils work for you, then they work for you and you should feel free to keep using them.

Meanwhile, if you are curious about using essential oils for fibromyalgia, why not give it a try? You might find they help you feel more at ease and there is no real risk in using them. And a sense of taking charge of your condition, trying new things, and maintaining a positive attitude is the best thing you can develop when it comes to managing life with fibromyalgia. Just don’t count on essential oils specifically to significantly change the way you cope with fibromyalgia.

With that being said, let us know. Do essential oils for fibromyalgia work for you? Which ones should people try? Tell us in the comments.