The Best Essential Oils for Neuropathy and Nerve Pain

Essential oils have a wide range of uses and applications. Some of these I’ve written about previously, such as weight loss and treating eczema, as well as for allergies and issues such as arthritis and hemorrhoids. One application that you may not be aware of is using essential oils for neuropathy and nerve pain treatment.

What is Neuropathy?

Neuropathy is the name given to a variety of nerve problems including nerve pain, tingling, weakness and numbness.

The nerves in your body are broken down into two groups by health professionals.

The first group is the central nervous system which includes your spinal cord and your brain.

The second group is the peripheral nerves which is basically everything else.

What does neuropathy feel like?

Peripheral neuropathy, i.e. problems with the peripheral nerves, is very common and can affect the motor nerves, the sensory nerves and the autonomic nerves. The neuropathy symptoms you experience depend on which nerves are affected in your particular case. For example, if your sensory nerves are affected your symptoms may include pain and tingling or numbness in your hands and feet.

What causes neuropathy?

Peripheral neuropathy can be caused by a range of health problems and also by some medication. The root cause of neuropathy is nerve damage although sometimes there is no obvious cause. This is called idiopathic neuropathy.

The majority of cases of neuropathy are caused by diabetes, which is a growing health problem, particularly in the U.S. Indeed, according to 2012 statistics from the U.S. Department Of Health And Human Services, 20 million people in America had diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

Another common cause of neuropathy is drugs such as those used for HIV and also some chemotherapy drugs. Other causes include alcohol abuse and liver and kidney disease.

Can neuropathy be reversed or cured?

Neuropathy can’t be reversed and unfortunately there’s no known cure for neuropathy. It can be managed though, through suitable treatment. You should always discuss your treatment options with a medical professional.

Neuropathy treatment

There are a variety of different treatments for neuropathy that can slow down its progress and treat the symptoms. Traditional pain relievers such as paracetamol don’t normally work for neuropathy and so other drugs are often prescribed.

For example, neurontin (gabapentin) is a medication that’s used to help ease nerve pain. And capsaicin is a cream that’s often used to treat neuropathy. Strong painkillers such as tramadol may also be used.

And surprisingly, anti-depressants are also used to treat neuropathy and nerve pain. This is the case even when depression isn’t considered a cause of the neuropathy.

Natural remedies for neuropathy

The underlying causes of the neuropathy may also be addressed through natural remedies.

For example, with diabetic neuropathy your symptoms can be improved by making changes to your lifestyle such as:

Cutting back on the amount of alcohol you drink.
Cutting out alcohol altogether.
Giving up smoking.
Getting more exercise.
Changing your diet.

And if your feet are one of the areas affected by your neuropathy, then you can treat the neuropathy by starting to take better care of them. For example, you can wear more comfortable shoes and/or visit a podiatrist.

There are a variety of other different natural remedies that can be used to treat neuropathy; really anything that provides pain relief. Examples are acupuncture, hypnosis and also meditation.

Warm water is great for blood flow to your legs, so taking a warm bath can also help alleviate symptoms of neuropathy. This works even better when you add some of the best essential oils for neuropathy to your bath water, as we’ll see in a moment.

And one of the causes of neuropathy is a lack of B vitamins, so these vitamins are often used to treat it too.

Natural herbs can also be used to treat the symptoms too. In particular, St John’s Wort can be effective in halting the progress of neuropathy and in pain relief.

And, of course, you can also use certain essential oils for neuropathy and nerve pain treatment. So let’s take a look now at what essentials oils are good for neuropathy.