Top 5 Best Essential Oils for Pain Relief 2020 – Reviewed and Compared!

Thanks to modern science, medications for easing all kinds of pain are readily available. However, some people find these medications to be ineffective while others dread the different side effects that come with it.

But what if I tell you that there is a natural and healthier way to relieve pain?

I have been dealing with all types of pain—muscle pain, headaches, inflammations—you name it, I had it. Just recently, I have discovered the wonderful ways on how essential oils can bring relief to of these pains.

If you are suffering from the same types of pain that I dealt with, then let me help you find the best essential oils for pain relief.

How Essential Oils Can Relieve Pain

Did you know that 1.5 billion people all over the world suffer from chronic pain? And while there are plenty of medications that can be used to address pain, the sad part is some of these may cause stroke, heart attack, liver damage, nausea, and vomiting eventually when used for a prolonged period.

Because of this, it is a must for us to find a more natural and healthier way to relive our pain.

But how do essential oils work? Here’s the thing:

Essential oils are highly fragrant substances that are extracted from different parts (stem, leaves, roots) of various plants. These oils can be inhaled or applied topically. According to experts, the oils enter the bloodstream upon application and will eventually send messages to your brains.

The messages that these oils send may vary depending on the chemical composition of the oils. It may range from sedative to anti-inflammatory to pain relieving.

Dr. Axe claims that these oils contain chemical compounds that helps the plants survive in the wild. When we take advantage of these oils, we can receive the same healing properties that these oils can provide.

You can find a particular type of essential oil or oil blends that can give you freedom from the pain that you are feeling. These oils can address different types of pain with minimal risk as compared to pain relief medications.

However, choosing the right essential oils for pain relief can be a bit challenging. This is most especially true since hundreds of impure, counterfeit products have been introduced in the market.

Because of this, I have decided to create an in-depth review of the different essential oil blends for pain that are available in the market today. If you want to have a sneak peek of the differences between these products, please check out the comparison table I have below!

Best Essential Oils for Pain Relief – Comparison Table

Essential Oil	Active Ingredients	Recommended for	Organic	Container	Application
Plant Guru Deep Muscle Synergy Essential Oil Blend	Wintergreen, Peppermint, Eucalyptus and Camphor	Muscle and Joint Pain	No	Amber glass bottle with orifice reducer	Inhalation/   Topical
Eden’s Garden Muscle Relief Synergy Blend Essential Oil	Peppermint, Clove, Helichrysum, and Wintergreen	Tight muscles, Swelling, and Inflammation	No	Amber glass bottle with orifice reducer	Through a cold compress
Plant Therapy Rapid Relief Synergy	Peppermint, Clove Bud,  Black Pepper,   Laurel Leaf, Cinnamon Cassia,  German Chamomile, Thyme, Ginger Root, and Juniper Berry	Arthritis and Back Pain	Yes	Amber glass bottle with orifice reducer /     Amber Glass Tube with Roll on	Topical (blended with massage oils, lotions, or applied to compresses)
Prime Natural Muscle Relief Essential Oil Blend	Wintergreen, Peppermint, Camphor, Eucalyptus,  and German Chamomile	Muscle Spasms and Stiffness	Yes	Amber glass bottle with euro style dropper	Topical
Healing Solutions Deep Muscle Relief Essential Oil	Clove, Helichrysum, Peppermint and Wintergreen	Muscle Aches	No	Amber glass bottle with euro style dropper	Topical

Essential Oils for Pain Relief Reviews: My Top 5 Recommendations

The essential oils for pain relief that you would most commonly find in the market contain not just one essential oil. What you can see are blends of essential oils that work together to relieve pain. With that in mind, here are the five best essential oils for pain relief that you can find in the market:

1. Plant Guru Deep Muscle Synergy Essential Oil Blend – Your Muscles and Joints’ Best Friend

 

Why It’s Good for Pain:

From its name, we can already say that it is formulated to deliver pain relief deep into the muscles. This essential oil blend is made up of analgesic oils that are used in mitigating pain and addressing discomfort associated with joint and muscle pain.

The blend is made up of four essential oils. The first one is wintergreen oil which works as a counterirritant which irritates the underlying tissue, reducing the pain and swelling in the process.

Another oil is Eucalyptus which can reduce muscle swelling, pain and soreness when applied topically while it can have a positive effect on inflammatory and pain responses when inhaled.

The last two oils that you can find in this blend is camphor and peppermint which are actually my two favorite oils. These oils deliver cooling effects to the muscles, allowing them to relax properly.

Other Benefits:

In addition to its pain-relieving properties, this essential oil blend also offers a deep and cooling sensation which can help the muscles relax.

How Is It Applied:

The good thing about this oil is it can be used in two different ways. First, you can diffuse it. But if you want to achieve a faster effect, you can apply it topically. Just make sure that you dilute it with a carrier oil before applying it to the affected area.

The recommended dilution for this oil is around 3 to 5%.

The Brand:

Plant Guru is a family-run business that is located in Plainfield, New Jersey. As per their claims, they source their essential oils from USDA certified suppliers form different parts of the world.

The company takes pride in delivering full transparency about the purity of their oils. In fact, you would find the certification form along with the third-party GC/MS test results of each essential oil they offer.

Price:

I cannot classify this essential oil as low priced nor would I claim that it is priced high. This oil is mid-priced and will undoubtedly give you an excellent value for your money.

2. Eden’s Garden Muscle Relief Synergy Blend Essential Oil – Cooling and Comforting

 

Why It’s Good for Pain:

According to the company, this blend has been specially formulated for loosening tight muscles that may be caused by stress and sleepless nights. Thanks to the cooling sensation brought about by Peppermint oil, the muscle relaxes and smoothens.

Moreover, the blend contains a few more other oils that have been proven to be useful for pain relief. It has Clove Bud oil which contains eugenol, an anesthetic agent that can address inflammation.

Another oil that you can take advantage of is Wintergreen Oil which is an energizing oil that reduces pain. The fourth oil in the blend is Helichrysum oil which acts both as an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory agent that protects and heals the skin.

Other Benefits:

Aside from being a pain reliever, this oil can also act as an energizing, moisturizing, infection-fighting essential oil due to the blend of oils that it contains.

How It is Applied:

Place five drops of this essential oil blend on a cold compress and let it stay on the affected area for a few minutes.

The Brand:

Effective, Dedicated, Educated, Natural and Safe—these are the cornerstones of Eden’s Garden. To uphold their company’s standards, they claim to source essential oils from all around the globe.

As per the company’s claims, their oils are free of synthetic ingredients and are harvested through sustainable and eco-conscious practices. To prove the quality of their oils to their clients, they offer the oils’ certificate of analysis, MSDS and specifications upon request.

Price:

This is another medium-priced essential oil that you can include in your first aid kit!

3. Plant Therapy Rapid Relief Synergy – Warming and Soothing

 

Why It’s Good for Pain:

The essential oil blend from Plant Therapy contains the most number of essential oils among all the other pain relief blend in this list because it is a blend of nine essential oils.

It has the usual Peppermint and Clove Bud oil that you can find in other products. But on top of that, it also has Laurel Leaf oil which is known to be effective in treating pain associated with rheumatism.

In addition to that, it also contains Black Pepper Oil which is effective for tendonitis and muscle injuries. Another essential oil that you can find is Cinnamon Oil which works best on joint stiffness while the Ginger root oil can reduce inflammation.

The blend also contains German Chamomile Oil that can reduce muscle spasms, Juniper Berry Oil and thyme that are useful for gout and arthritis.

Other Benefits:

In addition to being a pain reliever, this oil can also provide the muscles with a warm and soothing sensation that can help them relax.

How It Is Applied:

The oil is best blended with oil, liniments, and lotions and applied topically. You can also place a few drops of this oil to a compress.

The Brand:

Plant Therapy is a family owned and managed business that aims to educate people about the use and safety of essential oils through their team of professional aromatherapists.

The company prioritizes their products’ quality above all and to ensure that their oils will meet rigorous standards, they work with Robert Tisserand (a professional oil expert) and other analytical laboratories. Their oils have undergone Organoleptic testing, Gas Chromatography, Mass Spectrometry, and Chiral analysis.

Moreover, the oils from this company are certified organic (ECOCERT ICO) by the National Organic Program.

Price:

As compared to the first two products in the list, this essential oil blend is a bit pricier, but since it is certified organic, I believe that it is worth the price!

4. Prime Natural Muscle Relief Essential Oil Blend – Deep and Penetrating

 

Why It’s Good for Pain:

In this essential oil blend, you can enjoy the benefits of five different essential oils that contain analgesic properties.

It has Camphor and Peppermint Oil, both of which deliver cooling effect to tired and aching muscles. In addition to being analgesics, these oils are also antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory agents.

It also has Eucalyptus oil which can soothe inflammation and pain associated with arthritis and muscle injury. Another oil that this has is the Wintergreen Oil which is effective in treating headache, menstrual cramps and nerve pain.

Lastly, it has German Chamomile oil which has the ability to minimize muscle spasms.

Other Benefits:

The peppermint oil content of this blend can also be useful in relieving abdominal pain and distension.

How It Is Applied:

You need to dilute this oil with a carrier oil first before applying or massaging to the affected area. The best carrier oil is coconut oil.

The Brand:

Prime Natural that claims to deliver essential oils that are pure by nature. According to them, this oil blend is all-natural and pure. It does not contain any fillers, synthetic chemicals, additives, scents and GMO’s.

The company tests the purity of their oils through Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry. They promise to provide detailed analysis reports to their customers who would ask for it. All of their oils are blended in a USA-based and registered facility.

Price:

For its price and quality, I can say that this is one of the essential oils in the market that will give you value for your money.

5. Healing Solutions Deep Muscle Relief Essential Oil – Best Smelling Blend

 

Why It’s Good for Pain:

This is a proprietary blend formulated to deliver relief deep into the muscles. According to the company, this is a powerful and good smelling mixture of six essential oils namely Eucalyptus, Camphor, Peppermint, Wintergreen, Rosemary and Lavender Oil.

You are already familiar with some of the other oils as you can already find those in the other blends that I included in this list. But what makes this essential oil extremely special and good smelling is the addition of Lavender oil which is an analgesic and anti-inflammatory agent.

Other Benefits:

More than its pain-relieving properties, Lavender oil is also good for mental health as it can encourage relaxation.

How It Is Applied:

Massage the oil directly to the affected area. If you have sensitive skin, you can dilute it with either jojoba or coconut oil.

The Brand:

Healing Solutions is a company committed to delivering premium essential oils to their clients, and they do this by working with some of the most reliable oil suppliers all over the world.

The company guarantees their products’ purity through GCMS testing which is conducted by their in-house Chief Essential Oils Scientist.

Price:

The price of this blend is comparable with the first two products in this list, so that means it is affordable!

Choosing the Best Essential Oils for Pain Relief: The Buying Guide to Read

Now that you know how essential oils can help relieve pain, then let us proceed to finding out how to choose the best essential oils for your needs!

Important Factors You Need to Consider When Buying Essential Oils for Pain Relief

Below are some of the things that you should take into consideration when choosing your pain-relieving essential oil blend:

• Purity

The first thing that you should ask yourself is—is it pure? These days, you can find plenty of essentials oils that are labeled therapeutic grade. Sadly though, there are no government regulations that categorize essential oils as therapeutic grade.   

There are many ways on how to tell if an essential oil is pure or not. One great option is to test it. You can do this by placing a drop of the oil on a paper and let it dry. If it stains, chances are the essential oils are diluted with a few drops of vegetable oil.  

• Organic

If the plants used in making these oils are not grown organically, they may contain pesticides and since these oils are highly concentrated, the results of any trace of pesticide in the oil can be magnified.  

To avoid unwanted effects, it is best that you look for essential oils that have been obtained from certified organically grown crops.  

• Active Ingredients

Most of the essential oils for pain relief that you can find in the market are blends that are made up of different types of oils. With that in mind, it is best that you familiarize yourself with the essential oils that have pain-relieving properties. 

For tension, swelling, and pain, the essential oils to look for are Peppermint oil, Marjoram oil, and Helichrysum oil. 

For pain relief, the active ingredients that you should use are Ginger oil, Clove oil, and black pepper oil.  

For swelling relief, go for a blend containing Juniper or Clary sage oil.  

• Company Reputation

When it comes to determining the company’s reputation, there are some things that you should look into. Buy from the most reputable Essential Oil Companies that delivers full transparency with regards to their products.

The first thing to look for is the harvesting methods of the company. A reputable company must have sustainable and responsible harvesting methods. It is crucial that the company does not violate the Lacey Act and the Endangered Species Act. 

Another thing that you should research on is the company’s oil source. The climate, location, altitude and time of harvest can affect the quality of the oil. With that in mind, it is vital that you buy from a company that sources their oils from local farmers from different parts of the world.  

The length of experience of the company in delivering essential oils would be another thing to consider.  

• Container

The type of container can affect the quality and effectiveness of essential oils With that in mind, the best container for essential oils would be an amber glass bottle with an orifice reducer.  

However, large bottles of essential oils do not come with an orifice reducer. For these bottles, it is important that you use a pipette to dispense the oils.  

Avoid bottles that have rubber dropper bulbs as its cover because the oils may dissolve the rubber which in turn, would contaminate the oil. 

How to Use Essential Oils for Pain Relief 

There are many ways to use and apply essential oils for pain relief. Here are some of them: 

• Topically 

If you want to target a certain part of your body or you want your skin to easily and quickly absorb the oil, you can apply the blend topically. 

However, it is important that you dilute the blend with a carrier oil. The addition of carrier oil can prevent skin irritation and allow you to cover a larger surface area using just a small amount of the blend. 

You can apply the diluted blend directly to the affected area and massage it in. 

• Inhaled 

If you do not like to apply the oil topically, you can simply place a few drops of your chosen blend to your diffuser. Close the door and inhale the steam that comes out from the diffuser.  

If you do not have a diffuser at home, you can simply fill up a bowl with hot water and add a few drops of the oil blend to it. Lean over the bowl and cover your head with a towel then inhale the steam that the bowl gives off.  

• Hot Bath 

This is not a popular way to relieve pain using essential oil but a lot of people claim it works. I actually have tried this a few times and I simply loved how relaxing it is. 

To prepare your hot bath, add 5 drops of essential oil to one ounce of carrier oil. Afterwards, pour the resulting mixture to your hot bath. 

If you do not like to bathe in water with oil, you can try mixing the oil with a milk bath. The fats in the milk will mix with the oil and your skin won’t feel greasy.  

However, please avoid baths that are too hot as it may cause weakness or dizziness. 

Potential Side Effects You May Experience 

To give you a fair warning, you should know that essential oils may also come with a few potential side effects. If you are allergic to one or two oils found in the blend, you may experience the following symptoms: 

• Inflammation 
• Skin sensitivity 
• Rashes 
• Skin itchiness 
• Sun sensitivity 

To avoid these unwanted reactions, it is recommended that you perform a patch test before applying the oil. You can do this by mixing 3 to 5 drops of the blend in a carrier oil of your choice. Afterwards, apply a small amount of the resulting mixture to your forearm. 

Let it stay for 24 to 48 hours. If no allergic reaction occurs, proceed on applying the essential oil blend as instructed.  

When to Avoid Using Essential Oils for Pain Relief 

Essential oils are relatively safe to use but please do keep in mind that it comes with a few risks. Aside from people with allergy, you should also exercise proper precaution if you:

• Are pregnant 
• Have an existing medical condition 
• Are nursing a baby 
• Have broken skin or open wounds 

It is important that you seek professional medical advice first before you use essential oils. You should also never apply essential oil to kids or older adults without the consent of their doctors.  

Final Verdict: Which of These Best Essential Oils is For You?

Now, we get to the most important part of the buyer’s journey—the decision-making time! To be honest, all these essential oils for pain relief are amazing! I had a hard time choosing the best one but of course, I have to decide.

After contemplating and weighing the pros and cons of each essential oil blend, I ultimately decided to go with Plant Therapy Rapid Relief Synergy. I have chosen this product mainly because it contains the most number of essential oils,– all of which are certified organic and pure. Yes, it may be a bit expensive but its purity makes it worth the investment!

But I know that the more the essential oils a blend contains, the higher the risk of allergic reaction. If your skin is sensitive or you are prone to allergy, you may want to go for the Prime Natural Muscle Relief Essential Oil Blend which contains lesser ingredients.

However, I am fully aware that the best essential oils for pain relief may vary from one person to another. If you have other recommendations, I would love to hear from you in the comments section!