Essential Oil Joint Ointment Recipe

This Essential Oil Joint Ointment Recipe may be helpful for joint pain and mild strains and sprains.

Joint pain can include bursitis, tendinitis, arthritis, and sprains.

• For inflammation from an injury, apply ice as soon as possible, and rest, compress, and elevate, and try taking turmeric or ginger root to reduce inflammation.  With mild injuries, gently massage anti-inflammatory topical creams. Consult a Doctor with acute or ongoing pain.
• For osteoarthritis, which is a degenerative disease, consider a glucosmaine supplement, and eating more omega-3s.  Good herbs include comfrey, arnica, peppermint, ginger, and tumeric.  Osteoarthritis is caused by general wear and tear over time, resulting in joint pain and stiffness.
• Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which one’s antibodies attack the joint tissue, causing joint pain, inflammation, and deterioration.

Essential Oil Joint Ointment Recipe Ingredients

• 1/2 cup of bee’s wax
• 1/2 cup of shea butter
• 1 cup of castor oil
• 1 cup of coconut oil
• 1/4 tsp peppermint essential oil (Mentha piperita)
• 1/4 tsp of ginger essential oil (Zingiber officinale)
• 1/2 tsp of lavender essential oil (Lavendula angustifolia)

Instructions

Melt the shea butter and bee’s wax in a double boiler on low.  Add the castor and coconut oil.  Remove from heat and stir in the essential oils.  Pour into glass jars and allow to cool.  Then add lid.  Shelf life: about six months.  Discontinue use if irritation occurs.  Avoid during pregnancy, with small children, and with certain medical conditions.

Essential Oil Joint Ointment Recipe Research

• Menthol improved the analgesic efficacy of tetracaine gel, likely in related to enhanced percutaneous permeation.  From:  Liu, Y., Ye, X., Feng, X., Zhou, G., Rong, Z., Fang, C., & Chen, H. (2005). Menthol facilitates the skin analgesic effect of tetracaine gel. International journal of pharmaceutics, 305(1), 31-36.
• Topical application of menthol on humans affects nociceptors to reduce pain.  From;  Wasner, G., Schattschneider, J., Binder, A., & Baron, R. (2004). Topical menthol—a human model for cold pain by activation and sensitization of C nociceptors. Brain, 127(5), 1159-1171.
• Induced arthritic inflammation was reduced with the gingerol constituent of ginger essential oil in rats.  From: Funk, J. L., Frye, J. B., Oyarzo, J. N., Chen, J., Zhang, H., & Timmermann, B. N. (2016). Anti-inflammatory effects of the essential oils of ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) in experimental rheumatoid arthritis. PharmaNutrition, 4(3), 123-131.
• Arthritis patients experienced relief of pain and swelling with the use of ginger extract.  From:  Srivastava, K. C., & Mustafa, T. (1992). Ginger (Zingiber officinale) in rheumatism and musculoskeletal disorders. Medical hypotheses, 39(4), 342-348.
• In a randomized trial with 90 patients, an aromatherapy massage with lavender essential oil reduced pain in knee osteoarthritis.  From:  Nasiri, A., Mahmodi, M. A., & Nobakht, Z. (2016). Effect of aromatherapy massage with lavender essential oil on pain in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized controlled clinical trial. Complementary therapies in clinical practice, 25, 75-80.
• Acupressure using lavender, rosemary, and peppermint  was more effective than just acupressure alone in relieving shoulder pain in stroke patients.  From:  Shin, B. C., & Lee, M. S. (2007). Effects of aromatherapy acupressure on hemiplegic shoulder pain and motor power in stroke patients: a pilot study. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 13(2), 247-252.

By: Kathy Sadowski, MS in Aromatherapy, Registered Aromatherapist, LMT, RYT

3/22/18

The listings of research represent a compilation of scientific articles found on the species, with a very brief overview description of each article/study.  Research found is catalogued by therapeutic action.  This categorized compilation of research articles does not necessarily imply that there are adequate results to demonstrate safe and/or effective human use. These statements are not meant to diagnose, treat, or cure any diseases. The information at this page has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Consult a Doctor before using herbs and essential oils if you have medical conditions, are taking medications, or have questions.