Plantar Fasciitis can be so painful! This condition gets its name from the ligaments that run through your heel area – the plantar fascia. It occurs when they stop doing their job of cushioning your steps as you walk.
The plantar fascia actually run from the heels to the toes on the underside of your foot. These important ligaments can get damaged in a variety of ways. One of the most common ways is simple overuse. If you are on your feet a lot, whether for work or sports or some other reason, this condition can occur.
Plantar Fasciitis may be a common foot injury, but it is far from easy to cope with when it occurs. After all, you need your feet for practically everything you do! If you are experiencing pain from Plantar Fasciitis, you may feel desperate for some relief. Discomfort can arise every time you take a step.
In this article, find out about the seven best essential oils for Plantar Fasciitis along with recommendations for how to use them to ease discomfort and help your feet heal.
1. Lavender Essential Oil
Lavender essential oil is not just calming for your mind. It is also soothing for your body, including stressed or damaged muscles and ligaments.
Lavender contains natural analgesic (pain-relieving) and anti-inflammatory properties. In one research study , lavender essential oil provided essentially the same degree of pain relief as a popular opioid prescription pain medication.
Lavender is also a potent source of natural antioxidants, which help your cells recover after they have been damaged.
2. Bergamot Essential Oil
Bergamot essential oil has received quite a bit of interest of late after a 2015 research study. This study highlights its potential as a chronic pain reliever.
Several beneficial compounds thought to be responsible for its analgesic (pain-relieving) impact is present in bergamot contains s. Among them is a compound called linalool . This compund has been tested in several clinical trials using animal models and has performed well for pain reduction.
3. Peppermint Essential Oil
Peppermint essential oil has developed a world-wide following for its usefulness in treating many medical and health conditions. This compound oil is actually a cross between two different mint varietals: water mint and spearmint.
Containing known analgesic (pain-relieving) properties, peppermint essential oil has been used for literally thousands of years. It’s been used to treat everything from muscle pain to stomach distress.
Because peppermint essential oil is quite strong, it is best to dilute it with your favorite carrier oil. You can add a drop or two of peppermint essential oil to warm water and either use it as a foot soak or drink it as a tea. You can also simply inhale the soothing scent.
4. Eucalyptus Essential Oil
Eucalyptus in many forms is a popular over-the-counter remedy for aching muscles. Using eucalyptus in essential oil form is one of the more potent methods to ease muscle and ligament pain. Eucalyptus gets is pain-relieving powers from a chemical compound called eucalyptol .
Like peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil is a known analgesic that can be applied topically for pain relief.
In another study , patients who had undergone a total knee replacement inhaled eucalyptus essential oil and experienced pain and inflammation relief.
5. Ginger Essential Oil
One of the most painful aspects of plantar fasciitis is the inflammation. This is what causes the ligament to swell and hurt whenever you put pressure on it. Ginger essential oil is an excellent choice for reducing inflammation and relieving pain.
Ginger essential oil also has well-known anti-oxidant and antinociceptive (pain blocking) properties. These properties can maximize its ability to ease your foot and heel pain.
You can use ginger essential oil in a diffuser or diffused into a cup of steaming water and inhale it. You can also apply it topically during massage after diluting it with your favorite carrier oil.
6. Frankincense Essential Oil
Frankincense may be most famous from its albeit minor yet compelling role in a certain Biblical story. Its appeal and usefulness actually ranges much farther back in time. Unlike most other essential oils, Frankincense actually doesn’t come from the leaves or roots of a plant. Rather it comes from its resin, or sap .
Frankincense offers a number of health and medicinal benefits , including easing pain and inflammation, speeding up healing, improving circulation and boosting immune system function.
You may want to use Frankincense essential oil in multiple ways to get its many benefits. For example, diffusing some Frankincense in a home diffuser or in a cup of tea will give you instant calming properties while you massage some carrier oil-diluted Frankincense oil into your sore heels.
7. Basil Essential Oil
Basil is perhaps best known as a delicious addition to salad, soup, sandwiches, sauces, pizza and more. What many people do not realize, however, is that basil essential oil is also a powerful natural healing agent.
For example, basil essential oil has been tested for its effectiveness at reducing the pain, swelling and inflammation associated with RA, or rheumatoid arthritis.
Basil is a natural anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial essential oil, which means it can help your body’s immune system with reducing swelling and infection while improving healing. Basil essential oil also reduces muscle stress and tension, which helps ease the burden on the muscles and ligaments surrounding the plantar fascia.
Stress and tension-release is provided quickest when basil is inhaled. You can use a diffuser, draw a warm bath and add a drop or two of basil essential oil or add a couple of drops to a warm cup of water.
You can also dilute basil essential oil in your favorite carrier oil and use it as a topical massage directly on the affected areas.
How to Use Essential Oils for Plantar Fasciitis
You can use any of these essential oils for Plantar Fasciitis on their own or create a custom blend with a carrier oil such as almond oil, jojoba oil, olive oil and others.
For foot massage, add five drops of essential oil(s) of your choice diluted into one tablespoon of your favorite carrier oil (room temperature) – this is to guard against any skin irritation. Massage this mixture directly onto the affected areas.
You can also add any of these essential oils to a diffuser if you have one. Otherwise, simply drop the oils into a cup of steaming water and inhale the fragrant steam.
Yet another option is to add a few drops of essential oil to a warm water foot bath and do a healing soak for five to 10 minutes.
We hope that learning about these seven essential oils to ease Plantar Fasciitis pain has given you new hope to ease the pain and discomfort you are feeling while your plantar fascia ligaments heal.
Remember, you don’t have to go out and try all of these essential oils all at once. If you happen to have any of these at home, just start there. Otherwise, you can pick out one or two that you would like to try.
If you have never used essential oils before, you might want to try a few methods of application for pain relief – diffusion, soaking and topical massage are all popular delivery methods.
NOTE: As always, if you are under a doctor’s care and are taking any required medications to manage Plantar Fasciitis pain or another chronic health condition, it is always smart to talk with your provider before adding something new to your daily healthcare regimen.
