Essential oils take on arthritis pain and stiffness – evidence review

Published June 6, 2023

When essential oils are applied topically – ie gently massaged into the skin – they appear to be helpful as an add-on treatment in reducing pain and stiffness in musculoskeletal disorders says new research.

Despite their widespread use whether via massage or aromatherapy, it is generally unclear if essential oils make a definite positive difference to various aspects of health. So a group of scientists looked into the evidence around lavender, peppermint, rosemary, eucalyptus and chamomile essential oils and their use in knee osteoarthritis, hand osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, low back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome and neck pain.

Three key findings were reported in a leading academic journal:

The most pain relief was experienced immediately after the intervention;
One week (and four weeks) after the intervention, essential oil therapy still reduced pain intensity more than placebo;
Essential oil therapy had a beneficial effect on stiffness compared to the no intervention group.

The research group concludes that “topical essential oil therapy should be applied repeatedly to reach the most effective pain-relieving effect of essential oils.”

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