The following list includes essential oils are considered analgesic.  Many individuals around the world have reported that these oils have been beneficial in relieving pain.

Analgesic: reduces pain sensation, Relieving or deadening pain.  

Essential Oil General Safety Information:  Essential Oils (EOs) are highly concentrated extractions of plants and can be harmful if not used carefully.  Incorporating EOs into your lifestyle should not cause unnecessary work, but it is important to heed all safety precautions. Never take EOs internally, even if a label say it is safe for consumption by mouth.  Never put undiluted EOs directly onto your skin (NEAT) to avoid sensitization of skin, and never apply NEAT to broken skin.  Some EOs can cause irritation, sensitization or allergic reactions in some individuals.  When using a new oil topically for the first time, perform a skin patch test on a small area of the skin.  Some EOs are phototoxic and can cause irritation, inflammation, blistering, redness and/or burning when exposed to UVA rays of the sun.  Discontinue using EOs immediately if you encounter any irritation, redness or reaction. Take care when adding EOs directly to bathwater.  EOs do not stayed mixed in water, and can, therefore “pool” causing the EO to touch body areas in full strength with the potential for irritation. Some EOs should be avoided during pregnancy or by those with asthma, epilepsy, or other health conditions.  Avoid using EOs near the genitals, mouth, nose, eyes and ears. Extreme caution should be used with children and elderly (due to medication mix). Care should be taken when using EOs near animals as not all EOs are safe to use on dogs, cats, birds, horses or other pets. EOs are flammable; keep them away from fire hazards. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These oils are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Analgesic Essential Oils include:

• Star Anise aka, star aniseed, or Chinese star anise –  Illicium verum (from China) –  contains anethole; is analgesic-antinociceptive (inhibits nociception, i.e., the sensation of pain for conditions like rheumatism, chest pain, muscular pains) and is also sedative. Star Anise is anti-inflammatory and spasmolytic-antispasmodic especially with smooth tissue (coughs, cramps, diarrhea, aches, convulsions and nervous afflictions); DO NOT CONFUSE CHINESE STAR ANISE WITH JAPANESE STAR ANISE.  JAPANESE STAR ANISE IS TOXIC.  Japanese Star Anise (Illicium Anisatum) = neurotoxin – DO NOT USE
• *** Basil – Ocimum basilicum – (strong spasmolytic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, large range of acute spasmodic and inflammatory conditions with pain, especially of smooth muscles; acute and chronic pain conditions, tension headaches)
• Bay Laurel or Laurel – laurus nobilis – (spasmolytic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, spasm and pain conditions in general, of smooth and striped muscles; local pain conditions, including sciatica, tendinitis, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS); paralysis, Raynaud’s disease)
• *** Black Pepper – Piper nigrum (strong musculoskeletal stimulant and sedative, antirheumatic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic:rheumatic-arthritic conditions with aches, pains, stiffness, including fibromyalgia; neurological pain, including neuralgia, sciatica, toothache; colic pain, lumbar pain, temporary limb paralysis)
• *** Blue Tansy – Tanacetum annuum – (strong anti-inflammatory and analgesic: inflammatory conditions with pain, especially acute; especially of the nervous, dermal, digestive, respiratory and musculoskeletal systems; headaches (all types); acute dermatitis; gastritis, enteritis, stomatitis; arthritis, fibromyalgia, neuritis, neuralgia, tendinitis, plantar fasciitis, bursitis)
• Cajeput– Melaleuca cajuputi-Melaleuca leucadendra – (musculoskeletal stimulant and sedative: antirheumatic, mild analgesic, antiinflammatory: chronic rheumatic-arthritic conditions with pain; neuralgia, menstrual/ovarian pain)
• Cardamom – Elettaria cardamomum- (neuromuscular analgesic, anti-inflammatory:muscle spasms, cramps)
• *** Clove Bud – Syzygium aromaticum – (strong spasmolytic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic:acute spasmodic and inflammatory conditions, including intestinal colic, spasmodic Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), asthma, spasmodic dysphonia, pleurisy, neuralgia, arthritis)
• Coipaba (Copal) – Copaifera officinalis – (mild analgesic, powerful anti-inflammatory)
• Coriander – Coriandrum sativum –(analgesic, spasmolytic, anti-inflammatory, antirheumatic, antiarthritic: neuromuscular pain and swelling, including muscle cramps, neuralgia, intestinal colic, cystalgia; rheumatoid arthritis with joint swelling; migraine headaches; dysuria)
• Eucalyptus globulus & Eucalyptus radiata –  (antirheumatic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory:chronic rheumatic and arthritic conditions; neuralgia, headache, migraine; cystitis)
• *** Fennel – Foeniculum vulgare – (1) systemic nervous relaxant, Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS) inhibitor, spasmolytic, analgesic, moderate hypnotic: (2) neuromuscular relaxant-analgesic-anti-inflammatory; (3) neurocardiac relaxant-analgesic; (4) digestive relaxant-spasmolytic-analgesic-carminative. Wide range of hypertonic (tense) conditions with spasms and pain, including: menstrual pain, labor pain, precordial pain, lumbar pain, dysuria, muscle spasms, myalgia, neuralgia, including sciatica; cardia palpitations with precordial pain, tachycardia, mild anxiety and other neurogenic heart conditions; neurogenic-Prinzmetal’s angina; PMS from electrolyte imbalance; spasmodic intestinal conditions, including colic, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), colitis, diarrhoea, gastrocardiac syndrome, aerophagia)
• Fir, aka Fir Needle aka Silver Fir – Abies alba – (Analgesic, antiarthritic)
• Fir, Balsam – Abies balsamea – could find no analgesic properties
• Fir, Giant Fir aka White Fir – Abies grandis – (neuromuscular analgesic, anti-inflammatory: chronic painful arthritic and rheumatic conditions, including fibromyalgia)
• Fir, Siberian Fir – Abies sibirica – (muscle relaxant, analgesic: muscle aches, pains and cramps; rheumatic-arthritic conditions with cramps, stiffness; fibromyalgia)
• Galbanum – Ferula gummosa or Ferula galbaniflua – (Analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic: muscular aches and pains, rheumatism)
• Geranium – Pelargonium graveolens – anti-inflammatory, mild analgesic: rheumatic and arthritic conditions, neuralgia, tonsillitis, colitis, gastritis, phlebitis
• German Chamomile – Matricaria recutita – (Analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic: burns, inflamed joints, tooth pain, teething pain, migraine headaches)
• Ginger – Zingiber officinalis – (moderate analgesic, anti-inflammatory and spasmolytic: spasmodic, painful and inflammatory conditions in general, including spasmodic dysmenorrhoea, intestinal colic, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS))
• Helichrysum – Helichrysum angustifolium – (analgesic: spasmodic and pain conditions of all types, incl. tension and vascular) headaches, including migraine; rheumatic and arthritic pain, neuralgia, fibromyalgia, injury pain; dermal pruritis
• Juniper Berry – Juniperus communis – (neuromuscular stimulant, analgesic, spasmolytic antirheumatic:chronic painful rheumatic-arthritic conditions, fibromyalgia, muscle spasms/cramps/pain, neuralgia, low-back pain)
• Lavender – Lavandula angustifolia – (anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipruritic: burns, scalds, sunburn, ulcers, bruises, sprains, acute dermatitis, pruritus, acne, insect stings, arthritic and rheumatic conditions)
• Lemongrass – Cymbopogon citratus – (gastrointestinal relaxant: analgesic, spasmolytic, anti-inflammatory: gastric pain and colic, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease, colitis. muscle relaxant: analgesic, spasmolytic, anti-inflammatory: muscle tension and pain, acute arthritic and rheumatic pain and inflammation, tendinitis, headache)
• Manuka – Leptospermum scoparium – (This analgesic oil has a long history of use by the Maori people of New Zealand. It has been used rheumatism and similar conditions. Leaves and bark were boiled together, and the warm liquid was rubbed on stiff backs and rheumatic joints. The leaves and young branches were put into vapor baths)
• *** Marjoram – Origanum maiorana – (strong analgesic, spasmolytic: a large range of acute spasmodic and pain conditions of all types, of both smooth and striated muscles; including tension and vascular headaches, including migraine; acute and chronic pain conditions. Strong neuromuscular relaxant: muscle spasms and pain, arthralgia, neuralgia, myalgia, sciatica, plantar fasciitis, toothache, headache; paralysis, dizziness, vertigo)
• Niaouli – Melaleuca quinquenervia – (anti-inflammatory, analgesic: prostatitis and cystitis with dysuria, tonsillitis; rheumatic pain, myalgia, rheumatoid arthritis; labor pains)
• Peppermint – Mentha pepperita – (analgesic: vascular and tension headaches, all pain of inflammation or spasm, including neuralgia (including facial, dental, and sciatic), toothache, laryngitis, tendinitis, neuritis, plantar fasciitis, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS), cholecystitis)
• Rosemary ct. cineol – Rosmarinus officinalis – analgesic, spasmolytic (muscle relaxant), antirheumatic:muscle spasms/cramps, pain and stiffness, tendinitis, rheumatic and arthritic conditions, fibromyalgia, muscle sprains, strains; neuralgic pain, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS), plantar fasciitis)
• Sage Lavender (Spanish Sage) – Salvia lavandulafolia – (analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic: muscle aches and pains, arthritis, neuralgia, rheumatism)
• Tea Tree – Melaleuca alternifolia – (antirheumatic, analgesic, detoxicant: rheumatic and arthritic conditions)
• *** Wintergreen – Gaultheria procumbens –(strong anti-inflammatory, analgesic, spasmolytic: a wide range of acute inflammatory conditions with pain and spasm, especially. musculoskeletal, urinary, reproductive, intestinal and cardiovascular; including rheumatic, arthritic and neuralgic conditions with acute pain and cramping, including tendinitis, epicondylitis, sciatica, fibromyalgia, arthritis, low back pain; acute cystitis, interstitial cystitis, urethritis, prostatitis, nephritis; spasmodic dysuria; acute spasmodic and congestive dysmenorrhea; colic, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). cardiovascular relaxant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, spasmolytic, vasodilator, hypotensive: acute spasmodic coronaritis, arteritis, angina pectoris (all types), Raynaud’s disease; headache, hypertension.) AROMATHERAPY/HOME USE: None. ‘Avoid both internally and externally.’110 Toxic, irritant and sensitizing – an environmental hazard or marine pollutant. The true oil is almost obsolete, having been replaced by synthetic methyl salicylate. See also sweet birch oil.

References:

• Aromatica: A Clinical Guide to Essential Oil Therapeutics (Vol. 1 & 2) by Peter Holmes LAc, MH
• Reference Guide for Essential Oils by Connie and Alan Higley
• The Encyclopedia of Essential Oils by Julia Lawless
• British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, 1983 p.233.

“He [Lord Jesus Christ] will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelations 21: 4 “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.’  Philippians 1:2

Til next time,