14 Best Essential Oils for Gout and How to Use Them

263 Shares

Gout is a form of arthritis. It causes pain, swelling and stiffness in the joints, usually in the big toe [1].

It can make walking and moving around quite hard.

Luckily, some essential oils for gout may help you to get rid of the pain and swelling naturally. The potent therapeutic compounds of these oils may prove to be effective in treating the symptoms of gout.

Gout affects more men than women, but women can also develop this condition after menopause [2].

Those who consume plenty of red meat, alcohol or have a family history are at an increased risk of this disease [3].

Like other forms of arthritis, gout is also a result of an increase of uric acid in the blood that forms into crystals [3].

This article reviews the efficacy and uses of some essential oils for gout.

Best Essential Oils for Gout Pain Home Remedy

1. Basil Oil

There’s more to basil than only being a favorite herb and spice.

It boasts of many health benefits, treating a wide range of ailments and disorders.

Basil oil contains many potent chemicals that contribute to its pharmacological effects.

In 2013, researchers investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of basil oil. They conducted the experiment in rats with arthritis [4].

Basil can tone down inflammation and prevent cartilage destruction in the joints [4].

Not only does it ease the discomfort and pain, but it also prevents injury and damage to the bones. It’s something that you should take advantage of.

It’s no wonder many people rely on this essential oil for relief of gout and arthritic pain.

How to use basil essential oil for gout pain:

Soak your foot in a basin filled with cold water for 15 minutes. Pat dry with a clean towel. Add 8 drops of basil oil to a hot towel. Wrap towel around your foot and massage. Keep it on for two minutes. Repeat three times a day for one to two weeks.

2. Chamomile Oil

One of the world’s oldest remedies is chamomile.

This famous medicinal plant can cure many ailments. These include colic, diarrhea, insomnia, anxiety, and respiratory infections.

You can also rely on this if you’re suffering from gout pain.

You can ease gout pain with the use of oil extract from this herb.

That’s because chamomile oil contains many active compounds. These components can reduce inflammation caused by arthritis. These include apigenin, luteolin, and quercetin, [5].

That’s not all; this oil is also a proven analgesic that provides immediate pain relief [6, 7].

All these properties make this natural approach effective for gout condition.

How to use chamomile oil for gout:

Mix 15 drops of chamomile oil, 15 drops of frankincense oil, 6 drops of peppermint oil, and 4 tsp of coconut oil. Transfer it to a glass jar. Pour 15 drops of a mixture on your foot and massage. Repeat this procedure three times a day for one week.

3. Frankincense Oil

Frankincense has religious and traditional values in some parts of the world.

Centuries ago, it was famous for its remarkable therapeutic benefits.

It healed many kinds of ailments, and prevented various infectious diseases. besides, it was popular for improving one’s mental capacity.

Frankincense has the contribution to better mental development in children.

That’s one of its many benefits.

A study published in The International Journal of Immunopharmacology published a study. It reported that boswellic acids in frankincense oil have potent anti-arthritic effects [8].

It could protect against gout caused by the formation of sodium urate crystals [8].

The study involved rats and mice with histamine-, carrageenan- and dextran-induced inflammation [8].

Frankincense also produced protective effects in dogs with gout caused by sodium urate. The findings also included rabbits with serum-albumin induced arthritis [8].

It also works well for osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. These are other types of arthritis [9, 10].

Indian researchers conducted a clinical trial. 30 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee participated in that trial. They took either frankincense or a placebo for eight weeks [9].

The patients who received frankincense reported less knee pain, and improved walking distance. They also had better knee flexion [9].

Researchers also evaluated the effects of a formulation made with frankincense extract. They designed it to treat rheumatoid arthritis [10].

260 patients sttended the trial. Those who used the formulation reported less pain, inflammation, and stiffness [10].

There were no adverse reactions following the use of the formulation. Patients with arthritis tolerated it well [10].

Simple frankincense essential oil recipe for gout:

Put 10 drops of frankincense oil and 2 ounces of argan oil in a glass jar. Shake well to blend. Rub the mixture to the affected foot. Repeat remedy twice a day for one to two weeks.

4. Thyme Oil

Thyme is a “grassy annual plant” known for its pungent flavor and aromatic smell [11].

People have recognized its therapeutic purposes since the ancient times.

Thyme oil is a popular treatment for dyspepsia, cough, cold, oral infections and many more [11].

It works as an antiseptic and antibacterial, among others [11].

The oil is beneficial because of its active compounds. These include thymol, carvacrol, phenols, rosmarinic acid, caffeic acid, flavonoids, terpenes, etc. [11]

For gout, thyme oil works by reducing inflammation. Several studies have proved this mechanism [12, 13].

Research has found it can inhibit the production of nitric oxide. The chemical triggers the inflammatory process in the body [13].

How to use thyme essential oil for gout treatment:

Combine 2 tsp of milk, 6 drops of thyme oil and 5 drops of frankincense oil in a bowl. Put half of the mixture in the bowl of warm water. Put the other half in the bowl of cold water. Soak your foot in warm water first for 10 minutes. Then soak it in cold water for another 10 minutes. Massage your foot. Pat it dry. Use this remedy once a day for two weeks.

5. Fennel Oil

Fennel oil has been famous for treating respiratory, and digestive disorders. It’s also great for your endocrine systems [14].

It is one of the most famous medicinal plants in the world [14].

Fennel comes with flavonoids, phenolic compounds, amino acids, and fatty acids. It also has many pharmacological effects. These include antimicrobial, antiviral, antinociceptive, antipyretic, and hypoglycemic, among many others [14].

It has an essential role in the treatment of gout and other inflammatory diseases.

Fennel oil has anti-inflammatory and analgesic components. These properties can reduce symptoms of gout [15].

It reduces swelling in the joint, and at the same time, relieves the pain that comes with it.

Learn how you can use fennel essential oil for gout pain:

Add 3 drops of fennel oil to the hot towel. Wrap towel around affected foot. Massage for two to three minutes. Repeat every day for one to two weeks.

6. Rosemary Oil

If you want to get rid of the pain and discomfort caused by gout, you should also try using rosemary oil.

Not only this oil has anti-inflammatory properties, but it also has antinociceptive effects. It means it can block pain signals in the brain [16, 17].

Even if you’re in pain, you’re not going to feel it. Because rosemary’s active compounds will block the messages that usually inform your brain.

These activities make rosemary oil a suitable treatment for gout.

This oil can also relieve various kinds of arthritis and inflammatory diseases [18, 19, 20].

It also shows that rosemary has relaxation effects.

Painful conditions like gout can shoot up your stress levels. And, you’ll enjoy rosemary oil’s anxiolytic properties.

Home remedy for gout pain using rosemary oil:

Mix 3 drops of rosemary oil and 2 drops of chamomile oil. Pour them into the cold towel. Wrap affected joint with a cold towel. Do this for five minutes. Repeat once a day for one week.

7. Peppermint Oil

Peppermint oil is a favorite ingredient in culinary, cosmetics and medicine. The oil is famous for its antiviral, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties [21, 22].

There’s a long list of issues that you can treat with the use of peppermint oil. On top of that is irritable bowel syndrome.

Scientific research established that peppermint oil could soothe the inflammation caused by gout.

It is one of the many inflammatory conditions that you can relieve with peppermint oil.

Another one is gout.

Gout patients may also make use of this essential oil to relieve pain and inflammation. Because it has analgesic, anesthetic, anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects [22, 23].

Do you know how it works?

This oil is capable of inhibiting the enzyme in charge of the biosynthesis of uric acid [24].

Direction of using peppermint oil for gout pain:

Add 3 drops of each of peppermint oil, juniper oil, and a handful of Epsom salt to your bath water. Mix with your fingers. Soak in the bath water for 30 minutes. Repeat once a day for one to three weeks.

8. Wintergreen Oil

It’s not so often that you’ll find wintergreen oil in the list of home remedies.

But this does not mean to say that it’s not a potent natural treatment.

It may not be as popular as lavender, tea tree oil or peppermint oil, but it can be as powerful as these oils.

For one, wintergreen oil can be a good source of bioactive compounds like phenols. The components show robust anti-inflammatory mechanism [25].

It also contains methyl salicylate glycoside. The component is famous for its anti-rheumatic properties [26].

All these properties make wintergreen oil an efficient remedy for gout.

How you may use wintergreen oil for gout:

Combine 8 drops of wintergreen oil with 1 tablespoon of jojoba oil. Massage with this oil mixture to the affected area. Follow this remedy two times a day for one to two weeks.

9. Ginger Oil

Ginger has been popular as a spice among the Indians and Chinese for more than 4,000 years [27].

The essential oil is famous for its strong spicy flavor and aroma. besides, it has earned its place as a traditional medicine [27].

It has been the prescribed treatment for nausea, migraine, and nervous diseases [27].

The oil can also treat rheumatoid arthritis and gout [27, 28, 29].

It has alleviated these inflammatory conditions without producing any side effects [28, 29].

Try this easy way to use ginger oil for gout relief:

Pour 5 drops of ginger oil and a tsp of olive oil into a bowl. Mix well. Spread a thin layer on the affected joint. Massage for a few minutes. Use this remedy several times a day until you feel better.

10. Geranium Oil

Geranium oil is also a practical and effective solution for gout. Clinical data has proven that.

Researchers conducted a study that involved animal subjects. It confirmed that active compounds in this oil could inhibit inflammation [30].

They used carrageenan-induced paw and ear edema tests to arrive at this conclusion [30].

Plus, geranium oil has antinociceptive mechanisms. It means it can tone down the pain that comes with this inflammatory condition [30].

How to use geranium oil to soothe gout pain:

Pour 5 drops of geranium oil, 3 drops of lavender oil, and 1 tablespoon of jojoba oil into a mixing bowl. Blend well. Pour a few drops on a hot towel. Wrap towel around the affected joint. Let it sit for a few minutes before removing. Do this remedy twice a day for one to two weeks.

11. Turmeric Oil

Like ginger, turmeric oil also comes from a rhizome. It has become famous worldwide for its intense flavor and medicinal benefits.

Turmeric oil can also come to your rescue when you can no longer bear the pain and anguish caused by gout.

Turmeric contains an active compound named curcumin. Researchers have verified it as an active anti-inflammatory agent [31].

It also has analgesic properties that help give you pain-free days that you can enjoy more [32].

Learn how to use turmeric oil for gout:

Add 6 drops of turmeric oil to 1 tablespoon of jojoba oil. Apply a thin layer to the affected joint. Massage for a few minutes. Do this procedure two to three times a day for two weeks.

12. Tea tree Oil

You can use the miraculous tea tree essential oil for gout. Tea tree oil is also known as the miracle oil. Because it has incredible contribution to treating and solving many health issues. [33]

Melaleuca Alternifolia is the mother tree of tea tree oil. The oil contains antifungal and antimicrobial properties. These components are what make it a must-have at home for many severe conditions as gout.

Besides, tea tree oil treats inflammation of the nerve endings and relieves pain.

How you may use tea tree oil to relieve gout pain:

Combine 4 drops of tea tree oil and a tsp of coconut oil. Make a patch test on a little part of your skin first. If you feel no irritation, then apply a thin layer of it to the affected area of your body. Massage it for a few minutes. Repeat twice daily till you get relief.

13. Lemon Essential Oil

Lemon essential oil is excellent both for treating gout and rejuvenating skin. [34]

The fresh citrus scent of lemon oil can boost your concentration. It makes you feel energized and fresh.

It can reduce the painful uric acid and give you relief by neutralizing the body’s pH.

You can blend lemon oil with other essential oils such as frankincense or peppermint oil. Then it can be an excellent choice for topical use.

You can also drink food grade lemon oil with water to boost the healing process.

Try this simple way of using lemon oil for gout:

Blend 4 drops of lemon oil, 4 drops of peppermint oil, and 1 tablespoon of carrier oil of your choice. Apply the oil to your affected area. Cover the area with a heating pad. Also, you can mix some food grade lemon oil with a glass of water and drink every day.

14. Juniper Berry Oil

Another great essential oil to treat the pain of gout. [35]

Juniper berry essential oil contains a significant amount of medicinal properties. These can treat upset stomach, heartburn, bloating, diabetes, arthritis, gout and many more.

Topical use of juniper berry oil can reduce the pain by clearing up the uric acid from the affected area.

It can also reduce inflammation and tenderness you might feel because of gout.

Try juniper berry oil to reduce inflammation due to gout:

Take a glass dropper bottle. Put 12 drops of juniper berry oil, 6 drops of fennel oil, 12 drops of lemon oil, and 2 tablespoons of grapeseed oil in it. Store the oil mix in a cool, dry place. Take 5-7 drops of the oil mix on your palm, and massage the oil to your affected area for at least three minutes. Let the oil sit for 15 minutes or leave it overnight.

When to See a Doctor

You can soothe the pain and inflammation due to a gout attack using essential oils. But, you may also have a high fever or deterioration of symptoms over forty-eight hours. Consult a doctor immediately in this situation.

For most people, the first gout attack comes without warning. In that case, you should seek medical attention to prevent further aggression.

Conclusion

Gout, one of the many kinds of arthritis, won’t only interfere with your work but also with your daily life.

Sometimes, the pain could be excruciating.

The home remedies for gout discussed here may work as complementary remedies for the condition. You should also give your affected joint enough rest for quick healing.

You can try using ice packs when you feel a sharp pain in the joints.

Pin238

Share25