Do you wonder if essential oils really work? After all, their use has been documented for thousands of years. If they’re effective, then why didn’t you know about them until recently?
Do you have a friend, neighbor, acquaintance, or family member urging you to try essential oils for your fibromyalgia and chronic illness health concerns? Here’s what you need to ask yourself, FIRST.
Do Essential Oils #EO Work for #Fibromyalgia? Click To TweetDo Essential Oils Work?
Let’s not put the cart before the horse.
Before answering whether or not they work, the bigger question is — what’s YOUR definition of “work?”
Here are four ways you probably expect any type of healing treatment to work. And, I’m willing to bet you’ve never really considered category #4!
- Instantaneous Support
Only in the past few decades has the notion of “instantaneous relief” permeated our culture. Ads for pharmaceuticals and over-the-counter medications often boast fast-acting, immediate, or lightning-fast results. While some treatment results do happen fast, that isn’t always indicative of superior efficacy. Consider that treatments offering fast relief are often temporary.
- Timed-released Support
Some treatments take multiple doses and/or more time to become effective. I’m using this term to refer to either the layering of the treatment into a spaced-out dosage schedule or just allowing one dose or application the time to take effect.
- Adjunct Support
Many treatments work well when combined with other healthy practices. For example, adding healthier fiber-rich whole foods into your diet along with moving meditative practices (i.e. yoga, tai chi, qigong, etc.) can help to reduce whole-body inflammation. The two treatments work synergistically together.
- Root-level Healing Support
This method of treatment refers to actual healing, transforming, and recovery from a particular symptom or illness. All three types of relief mentioned above, generally speaking, provide temporary relief. This level of healing is mentioned to introduce the notion of long-term restoration.
Getting back to our original question. Do Essential Oils work?
If your “working” belief aligns with definition #1, then the answer is yes. Sometimes essential oils can bring fast relief of various symptoms such as fatigue, generalized head pain, concentration issues, mood issues, and more. They can also quickly clean and sanitize areas of the home.
If you believe that “working” aligns with definition #2, then the answer is also yes. Essential oils can work effectively when inhaled or applied topically over time to bring relief of sore muscles, tension in the body, and help consistently elevate moods, and much more.
As used in definition #3, the answer is also to this question is also yes. Essential oils work particularly well in tandem with other health remedies. For example, combining essential oil usage with warm baths, skincare regimens, natural cleaning methods, and using while practicing meditations or fitness routines can boost the effectiveness of both practices.
What’s Root-level Healing?
Definition #4, as I intend it, is about supporting your body to do what it already naturally wants to do – Restore Balance. The body has an innate desire to fight injury, infection, disease, and restore balance.
If you’re not sure what I mean, consider what happens after a papercut.
The injury site may bleed. It likely turns red and swells. Each of these reactions has a physiological reason and a purpose in the healing process. The wound likely becomes tender which reminds you to protect the injury while it’s healing. Soon enough, the body has done its thing. The redness diminishes, tenderness and swelling go away, and the cut knits together in a seamless function of repair.
This is how the body works. It’s constantly looking for ways to restore balance. And, it could use some help.
Treatments and remedies such as nutrition, fitness/detox, stress management, and restorative sleep are all examples of methods that fit well into definition #4.
And, yes, essential oils fit into this category, too.
Essential oils work in a “beneath the surface” way to help the body move toward healing. They support the proper function of various systems of the body.
Here are a few of the healing properties of essential oils:
Chemical components in essential oils support the body in several ways. They can keep infection at bay. Some constituents in essential oils are antimicrobial, antiviral, bactericide, and antibacterial. Some have anti-inflammatory properties and help to support the immune system. Others have antiseptic properties that help them to accelerate wound healing and antioxidants to combat oxidative stress.[1]
This shortlist only identifies a few key physical healing properties of essential oils. Many more studies have been done on the emotional healing aspects of essential oils. They’re known for long-lasting effectiveness for hormone regulation that leads to stabilized moods.
So, do essential oils work?
Do Essential Oils #EO work? #Fibromyalgia Click To TweetYes, they do. And, I believe one of the reasons they’re in the news more of late is that the needs of the general population are changing. Many of us are looking for remedies without harmful side effects. We’re looking for natural, safe, and effective remedies that actually work. I’ve found them to be very effective for my fibromyalgia muscle aches, occasional sleeplessness, focus concerns, and mood elevation. Deep relaxation has its own profound healing benefits and essential oils play a large role in my stress-management practices. I also love to use them for the care and cleaning of my home.
Of course, essentials oils aren’t completely risk-free nor should they be used for every malady known to man. For example, while they can be very effective in helping to open airways obstructed from colds, flu, and allergies, oils wouldn’t be a primary go-to for severe breathing difficulties due to an allergic reaction.
Applying any complementary treatment takes logic and common sense.
There’s much more to say, but for now, I’ll leave you with a few more questions.
Have you used essential oils?
What symptoms did you use them for? Did you use them for fibromyalgia symptoms?
What are your experiences?
If you’d like to discuss my favorite brands, uses, and ways to purchase high-quality essential oils with me, contact me HERE.
