Essential oils are usually inhaled or massaged into the skin.
A person can:
- Place a few drops into hot water and inhale the steam.
- Use a diffuser, which dilutes essential oils in hot water and releases a scented mist.
- Mix the oils into bath salts or add them directly to a warm bath.
- Dilute them in carrier oils and massage the mixture into sore, stiff, or painful joints.
- Add a few drops to bandages or wound coverings.
Coconut cut in half on tabletop with jar of coconut oil and spoon.
Essential oils must be mixed with carrier oils before being applied to the skin. Some carrier oils include:
- coconut oil
- olive oil
- amla oil
- jojoba oil
- grape-seed oil
- almond oil
- argan-oil
Speak with a doctor before using essential oils to reduce symptoms of RA. While these oils have been used medicinally for thousands of years, some can be dangerous when misused. They can also have dangerous interactions with RA medications.
A person should never replace the prescribed medication for RA with complementary therapies. The disease-modifying antirheumatic medications used to treat RA have been shown to reduce inflammation in the fluid that lines the joints.
Without proper treatment, RA can lead to serious, permanent complications, such as bone and cartilage damage.
A majority of the essentials oils used to treat chronic inflammation and pain are not known to cause adverse reactions. However, potential risks include:
- headaches, rashes, or gastrointestinal problems
- sun sensitivity when essential oils, particularly those derived from citrus fruits, are used on the skin
- enhanced activity of the female sex hormone and decreased activity of the male, with lavender and tea tree oils
Essential oils have not been shown to slow the progression of RA. But early research suggests that compounds in certain oils may reduce major symptoms, such as pain, stiffness, inflammation, and anxiety.