Essential Oils for Sciatica & Back Pain?
There’s a famous saying that if you’re not ‘up on something’ then you tend to be down on it. The use of essential oils (aromatherapy) is one of those things that some people can be quite dismissive of. I know that until quite recently I was guilty of this. However, after I recently listened to a compelling account by an American chiropractor who described how he recovered from some serious long-term spinal injuries by using essential oils, it piqued my interest and I decided to look at the evidence.
The definitive place to see if there is any scientific evidence about something is a website called PubMed. Basically, PubMed is a free searchable database of all published scientific research papers going back to the 1940s. If you do some research and it is good enough to get published in a scientific journal, it will get indexed on PubMed. However, it’s worth pointing out that finding something on Pubmed isn’t the be all and end all of the matter. Often published research studies can still be deeply flawed and even fraudulent, and equally certain things just aren’t studied at all because there’s no money in finding out the result! That being said, I decided to take a quick look at essential oils on Pubmed.
The first thing I found was that there were nearly 30,000 studies that mentioned essential oils! I then decided to focus on a smaller specific area of research relevant to my work, namely studies in relation to helping with damaged nerves, like sciatica and other neuropathic pain. The result was that I was genuinely shocked at the number of published studies (probably hundreds) that had looked at the role of different essential oils in treating neuropathic (nerve) pain.
I then looked online to see which essential oils were commonly recommended for treating pain, and in particular nerve pain, and did a quick scan of how strong the evidence for each of them was on Pubmed. It was a quick and dirty search, so apologies if I missed anything.
The essential oils with the strongest evidence supporting their use for neuropathic pain are shown below.
Basil, Majoram, Lavender, Frankincense, Sandalwood, Rose, St John’s Wort, Bergamot, Geranium, Ginger, Eucalyptus, Rosemary, Holy Basil (Tulsi), Clove Bud, Sweet Flag, and Turmeric.
If anyone is interested in seeing some of the scientific research , a summary of the evidence with hyperlinks can be found here. Please note, some well known oils didn’t make this list, but still had some strong evidence for other beneficial effects, usually anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial ; they just weren’t so specific to neuropathic pain.
Most of the evidence supporting the use of the essential oils relates to studies on animals, usually rats and mice, although certain oils have also been studied in humans. In the animal studies the oils have usually been looked at for their ability to protect or heal nerves damaged by mechanical compression or chemicals. Some studies also investigated how oils could resist damage similar to that seen in diabetes (diabetic neuropathy).
Whilst all of the oils listed above have shown some potential benefit, the stand-out oils for me in terms of their potential neuro-protective and neuro-regenerative qualities are;
Turmeric - Pain relief and helps damaged nerves regenerate.
Ginger - Extensive evidence of + effect on nerves/spinal cord injury.
Bergamot - Pain relief and helps damaged nerves regenerate.
St John's Wort - Pain relief and helps damaged nerves regenerate.
Lavender - One of most studied oils - extensive evidence of benefit.
Frankincense - One of most studied oils - extensive evidence of benefit.
Are essential oils worth trying for back pain or sciatica?
In my experience, people who have nerve pain from sciatica or neck issues (cervical radiculopathies) usually benefit from a proactive multi-faceted approach to their problem, as nerves are notoriously slow to heal. This usually means regular osteopathic treatment, tailored exercises, and taking specific nutritional supplements to promote healing and reduce inflammation. Whilst essential oils haven’t yet reached the point where your GP or the NHS is recommending them, based on the research I’ve seen and their traditional use over many centuries, I think they could have a positive role to play in recovering from back pain and sciatica.
Remember, even if something only contributes a few percent to your overall recovery, that might be enough to tip you in the right direction.
If you’re thinking of trying some essential oils, here are a few things to consider.
Whilst they are widely regarded as safe, certain people have to be careful when using them, including and not limited to; people with allergies and sensitive skin, children, pregnant or breastfeeding women. If you’re not sure, speak to your doctor or a health professional before doing anything.
Some research has shown that essential oils are better absorbed through the skin when they are not diluted with carrier oils like coconut or almond oil. However, more concentrated oils may be more likely to irritate the skin.
If you can afford it, always opt for organic essential oils which will have lower traces of contaminants like pesticides, which you don’t want carried across your skin with the oil. One study showed that non-organic essential oils contained traces of an average of 17 different pesticides and overall had about 60 times the total amount of pesticides as organic oils.
If you are in the East Grinstead Area and have a back pain or sciatica problem then don’t suffer, book an appointment for your problem with me at Osteo Studio.
Cliff Russell, Registered Osteopath
Osteo Studio serving the areas of East Grinstead, Forest Row, Lingfield and the wider West Sussex area.
