6 Proven Anti-Inflammatory Essential Oils You Should Be Using

Ancient healers have been using pure essential oils derived from plants and trees to treat a wide range of inflammatory diseases for thousands of years.

Now, scientists have finally proven the anti-inflammatory properties of six essential oils which work the same way as NSAIDs in inhibiting enzymes called cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) that promote inflammation, swelling, and pain in the body. Here, we turn the spotlight on these six anti-inflammatory herbs and how we can use them in our fight against chronic inflammation.

1. Thyme

Suggested Uses

Thyme Essential Oil Inhale the aroma of pure thyme oil placed in hot water, or blend it with carrier oil for a healing massage. Buy Thyme Essential Oil

Thyme Tea Get the anti-inflammatory benefits of thyme by drinking it as tea, or using it as a culinary herb in your cooking. Buy Thyme Leaves

Thyme is a popular herb commonly used to add aromatic flavor to meats, soups and stews. Sprigs of fresh thyme also serve as great garnishes. In studies, thyme also exhibited strong anti-oxidative property which explains its ability to keep foods fresh longer.

Medicinally, the antimicrobial activity of thyme makes it useful in the treatment of respiratory conditions such as sore throat, cough and bronchitis. Studies also found that the essential oil of thyme exhibited a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity against microorganisms that had developed resistance to antibiotics.

Among the six essential oils studied, thyme’s anti-inflammatory action is found to be the most potent. Its oil is capable of reducing levels of COX-2 enzymes by as much as 75 percent. Carvacrol, a compound found in thyme oil, is believed to be the active agent responsible for the inflammation-inhibiting behavior of thyme. In tests, pure extracts of carvacrol decreased COX-2 levels by more than 80 percent.

2. Rose

Suggested Uses

Rose Absolute Oil Fill the air, or your bath water, with love instantly with just a few drops of this premium oil! Buy Rose Absolute Oil

Rose Tea Steep rose petals in hot water for a few minutes and enjoy a calming and relaxing tea with your loved ones. Buy Rose Petals

Rose Hydrosol This versatile rose water makes a perfect facial toner, refreshing body splash, anti-anxiety spray, deodorant as well as air freshener. Buy Rose Hydrosol

Rose essential oil is well-known for its antidepressant and sedative effects that work especially well for people who suffer from depression, insomnia, nervousness, grief, despair and low self-esteem. The unique scent of rose promotes loving of oneself as well as others, making it an ideal choice for invoking romantic feelings too. It’s no wonder that rose is the symbol for love! And now researchers have added another virtue to this remarkable floral oil — anti-inflammation.

Rose otto or absolute, however, is not cheap as it takes some 50,000 roses to produce just 1 oz of pure rose oil. Having said that, most people usually buy it in small quantity and used rose oil in diluted form, making the cost of owning this love scent less prohibitive. Sharing the cost of a bottle of rose essence with a friend is also another way to make this useful oil more affordable.

3. Clove

Suggested Uses

Clove Essential Oil Add a drop of clove oil to your toothpaste or mouthwash to keep your breath fresh naturally. Buy Clove Essential Oil

Clove Powder Powered clove is not just for curries. A paste made out of clove powder can also relieve pain caused by an aching tooth, and reduce acne break out. Buy Clove Powder

Clove is a spice that is commonly seen in Indian and Mexican cuisines. Due to its strong taste and aroma, a pinch is all you need to give your dish a warm, sweet and aromatic taste. Clove is also an essential element in the Chinese five-spice powder mix.

Medicinally, clove is used in Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine to warm the digestive system and address digestive complaints such as indigestion, nausea, vomiting, flatulence and abdominal pain. The anti-inflammatory and anesthetic properties of clove oil also come in handy for relieving pain caused by sore gums or aching tooth.

4. Eucalyptus

Suggested Uses

Eucalyptus Essential Oil Blend a few drops of eucalyptus oil with jojoba oil and apply it as an insect-repellent, or use it as a massaging oil for aching muscles. During the flu season, diffuse eucalyptus oil regularly to cut the spread of airborne viruses and bacteria, and give your rooms a refreshing fragrant. Buy Eucalyptus Essential Oil

Eucalyptus Leaves Besides using the leaves of eucalyptus to make tea, the skillful ones can also use the leaves to stuff pillows and toys to ward off bugs and diseases alike. Buy Eucalyptus Leaves

Eucalyptus, a genus of fast growing trees native to Australia, is one of the most well-known pure essential oils. Its medicinal healing scent reminds some of Vicks VapoRub or medicated oils that soothe headache, stuffy nose, tummy aches and chest congestion. So it comes as a no surprise that eucalyptus is also anti-inflammatory. If someone is down with a cold or flu, diffusing eucalyptus oil can also help to purify and clear the air of harmful microorganisms.

Eucalyptus oil has also been found to be antiseptic, making its diluted oil ideal for cleaning and deodorizing purposes. Traditionally, eucalyptus oil has been used as an insect repellent and an antidote to insect bites and stings.

5. Bergamot

Suggested Uses

Bergamot Essential Oil Need a quick pick-me-up? Carry a handkerchief scented by a drop or two of bergamot oil. Whenever you need to feel alert, just bring the handkerchief close (but don’t touch) your nose and take a few deep breaths. Buy Bergamot Essential Oil

Earl Grey Tea While away a few hours with a cup of antioxidant-rich black tea, fermented to perfection with a hint of bergamot oil. Buy Earl Grey Tea

Bergamot is better known as the fruit that gives Earl Grey tea its distinctive smell and flavor. It is a citrus fruit that resembles a lemon. Though the fruit is inedible, the oil from its rind has a light, fresh and invigorating fragrance that lifts not just physical fatigue, but also emotional distress.

Essential oil of bergamot is also a favorite ingredient used in many perfumes and colognes as its scent is suitable for both men and women. You can easily concoct your own cologne or refreshing face mist by mixing a few drops of bergamot oil with filtered or distilled water. But as with almost all pure essential oils, never apply bergamot oil directly on your skin as it can react with sunlight to produce some undesirable effects like darkening or irritation of skin.

6. Fennel

Suggested Uses

Fennel Essential Oil Add fennel oil to your favorite facial product to tone the skin, reduce water retention and keep wrinkles at bay. Buy Fennel Essential Oil

Fennel Seeds Tea Brew a cup of fennel seed tea when you’re experiencing discomforts due to overeating or incompatible food combination. Buy Fennel Seeds

Fennel is a familiar vegetable, herb as well as spice in the kitchen. Its bulb-like base is eaten as a crunchy root vegetable while its leaves, both fresh and dried, are used to add a mild anise-like flavor to foods. Seeds of fennel are used as spices and are an indispensable member of Indian’s panch phoron and Chinese’s five-spice powder blend. Fennel seeds are also brewed as tea to reduce bloating and flatulence caused by indigestion.

Anethole is the active component in fennel essential oil believed to be responsible for the anti-inflammatory activities of this versatile vegetable. In studies conducted on animals, anethole has been shown to reduce inflammation and prevent the occurrence of cancer.

Note: Pure essential oils are only meant for external use. Never take them orally, or use them undiluted.

Thanks to the following brilliant people for providing some of the photos for this article: John Morgan, Quinn Dombrowski, Ben Klocek, exceptinsects and Kelly Cookson