Back Pain May be Resolved by Strengthening Stomach Muscles by Valerie Worwood
"One of the best preventative measures for back pain involves strengthening the stomach muscles so that compensatory action doesn’t need to be taken by the muscles that support the back. Exercise and stretching are especially important for those with poor posture and muscle tone.” The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy, page 79. For more information, see our Sciatica detail page.

Essential Oils for Back Pain by Valerie Worwood
Basil
Black Pepper
Cardamom
Chamomile, Roman and/or German
Clary Sage
Cypress
Eucalyptus radiata [or globulus]
Ginger
Helichrysum
Juniperberry
Lavender
Marjoram
Pine
Plai
Peppermint
Rosemary
Thyme ct linalool
Vetiver

Lumbago Bath and Massage Blend from The Complete Aromatherapy and Essential Oils Handbook for Everyday Wellness by Purchon/Cantele
10 parts Lavender
10 parts Ginger
5 drops Marjoram
5 drops Rosemary

Bath: Fill the tub with water. In a non-reactive bowl, combine 1 tsp milk and 4-6 drops of Lumbago blend. Add to the tub and agitate to disperse the oil, then soak as long as desired.

Cool Compress: In a small, non-reactive bowl, combine 2 cups of cool water and 12 drops of Lumbago blend. Stir well to disperse the oils. Soak a cloth and wring it out so that the cloth doesn't drip. Apply compress to the affected area every 2 hours until the pain subsides. Apply cold packs in between compresses.

5 Reasons Why Nearly Everyone (Even Vegetarians) Should Eat Gelatin by Chris Kesser

Egoscue Method for lower back pain

Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) as an anti-inflammatory: an alternative to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for discogenic pain PubMed Article
"Our results mirror other controlled studies that compared ibuprofen and omega-3 EFAs demonstrating equivalent effect in reducing arthritic pain. Omega-3 EFA fish oil supplements appear to be a safer alternative to NSAIDs for treatment of nonsurgical neck or back pain in this selective group."
[Discogenic: Anything arising from the intervertebral disc may be termed discogenic in particular when referring to associated pain as discogenic pain.]

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Some folks with back pain have asked about using essential oil if they have A-fib and are on anticoagulant medication. The following should help:
A-Fib and Anticoagulant Medication
The two single oils to avoid topically and orally are Peppermint (due to a-fib issues) and Birch (due to anticoagulant issues).

A-fib
Peppermint (all routes)

Anticoagulant Medication
Allspice (orally)
Anise (orally)
Basil (orally)
Birch - all routes
Cassia Bark (orally)
Cinnamon Bark (orally)
Cinnamon Leaf (orally)
Clove Bud (orally)
Fennel (orally)
Fleabane (orally)
Lavandin (orally)
Mountain Savory (orally)
Oregano (orally)
Star Anise (orally)
Thyme Moroccan (orally)
Thyme ct Thymol (orally)

Blends to avoid if you have A-fib or are taking anticoagulant medication in this Back, Joints, Injury section are:
Fire Power
Freedom
Muscle Relax
Nerv-Pang
Pain Repair
Pain-X
Regeneration
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Testimonies
1. I fell on ice one winter and suffered a soft tissue injury in my lower back and hip. Nothing I did helped with the pain until I tried PainX. It worked immediately, and after just a couple of applications, I was out of pain completely and hardly ever had to use it again.

2. The pain in my neck is what initially introduced me to using essential oils. I had sought chiropractic and osteopathic help for over 20 years to try to get relief. After the birth of our last child, I went to a new chiropractor who insisted on getting an x-ray of my neck. He said he'd never seen a neck in such bad condition on someone my age (I was 47 at the time). He said I had the neck of a 90-year-old woman. The muscles were very "angry," but due to the condition of the bones, he could not offer me an adjustment, thus no relief other than electrical stimulation for my muscles, which lasted about 1/2 hour after I left the office. A good friend of mine had started using essential oils and suggested a few for me to try. Peppermint was my favorite, and I carried it around in my pocket and used it liberally all throughout the day. I figured I'd have to live with the "damaged" neck for the rest of my life, but at least the Peppermint oil brought more relief and was far less expensive than the 3x/week chiropractor visits that seemed useless. After using the Peppermint oil like this for about six weeks, I realized I didn't even think to use it anymore. I have a full range of movement in my neck, and the "angry" muscles are "happy" again. The bulge that I had is gone. It felt like the Peppermint helped reduce inflammation yet increased blood circulation, which allowed my body to heal. I became "sold" on Peppermint oil. - Linda

3. I had seven discs that were pressing on my spinal cord due to an auto accident, and my neurosurgeon thought I’d need surgery in the future. This spurred me to do everything I could to improve my condition and try to allow my body to heal. I used a variety of oils for different reasons:
Cypress for inflammation
Muscle Relax for muscle spasms
Peppermint for pain
Pain-X for pain
Regeneration to help my body heal

4. I have read that two things can cause degenerative disks: inadequate water intake (the body will rob the synovial fluid cushioning sac from the disks) and stretched-out ligaments (they no longer hold the disks in place properly, resulting in the muscles tightening up on the nerves which may cause numbness/burning pain). Generally, the ligaments lose elasticity because of antibiotics usage, cortisone, and/or pain relievers such as ibuprofen or other so-called non-steroidal anti-inflammatories. Poor nutrition/hydration is damaging to the ligaments as well. Accidents/injuries are also related to ligament loss of elasticity. Lemongrass is the oil used for ligaments. Walking backward twenty minutes daily supports the body in healing any herniated discs. It oxygenates the spine and rotates the pelvis in the opposite direction, and many say it really works! I have found this to be true and recommend it to my patients. Other essential oils to consider are PainX, Helichrysum Blend, Douglas Fir, and Arctic Ice.

5. I fractured my 4th lower lumbar in a car accident, had nerve damage in my neck, and three bulging discs in the cervical and thoracic area of my back. I was in much pain most of the time. I developed frequent migraines and struggled with fibromyalgia and numbness in my arms and hands due to the neck injury. My neurosurgeon suggested surgery when the nerve block injections in my back didn’t work, so I practically ran to my friend, who had tried several times to get me to try her essential oils. She initially gave me Peppermint and Birch to try, and within a month, my pain was drastically reduced, and my migraines were gone. After six months, I had no pain at all. Now, I exercise daily and make sure I drink plenty of water to keep my joints hydrated and working like they should.

6. My husband had a cracked vertebrae in his spine from too much cortisone, which he took for almost 20 years to help him breathe (asthma). Cortisone depletes the body of calcium. Therefore, he suffered cracked vertebrae. He used Strength, Lemongrass, Birch and Cypress to help with pain and in hopes of rebuilding the spine. We also did much juicing. I learned that juicing zucchini would help mend bone faster than any calcium, so he drank a lot of zucchini juice mixed with V-8 juice to help make it more palatable. After 2 months, his doctor was amazed when he looked at the X-ray, which showed no crack.

7. Oh Bless the Lord!!! Let me tell you our testimony. My husband came home early 7. Oh, Bless the Lord!!! Let me tell you our testimony. My husband came home early because of the pain in his back. I have had to dress and undress him for two days. I bent down to take his shoe off, and he screamed in pain at the way I lifted his leg. About ten minutes later, I applied the Fire Power. I asked him if it burned, and he said, "No." I went about doing my things and left him to rest. He came briskly walking into the room just a little over an hour later with a smile on his face and said, "It worked!!" We are both thankful and impressed. He still has some pain, but now he can get up and move around.

8. I woke up with an extremely sore back completely out of the blue. I am in good shape and had done nothing to precipitate it. I felt like it was most likely a bone/vertebrae issue, so I ordered both Pain-X and Regeneration. I applied Pain-X on the night of the 5th day of pain and felt 60% relief the next morning. I applied Pain-X for 2 more nights, and the days were improving, though the pain was still with me in the night when I turned over. Then the pain turned into feeling like someone had kicked my back; it felt bruised. I applied the Regeneration at bedtime and in the morning, and on the 2nd day, the pain was hardly noticeable, plus it wasn't with me in the night anymore. The 13th day, since I started having the pain (the 8th day of treatment), was when I really noticed that I wasn't thinking about the pain. I think the combination of the 2 remedies was crucial for me. -G.M.

9. I wanted to write and tell you how thankful I am that I ordered the Fire Power. My husband hurt his back badly while trying to unload a cast iron wood stove. He has a history of scoliosis, neck and back injuries, frequent slipped discs and so on. I was out of town when it happened, so it was the next morning before I could apply the Fire Power all up and down his back. I probably applied too much, as he felt his back was on fire, but it did not burn his skin. I believe it helped his back enough to avert the muscle spasms and locked-up back that crunches his vertebrae and slips his disc. I was so praying that wouldn't happen because when he slips his disc, he literally can't move an inch without screaming in pain. He can't get up, sit, or do anything, let alone work. Normally, with an injury of this magnitude, the danger of a slipped disc would be huge. However, I think the oils really, really helped. I needed something really powerful, and I think Fire Power was certainly that! After the first application, he was paranoid about getting burned, so he only let me put it on every other day, and even so, I cut it with a carrier oil. He is much better, though not quite healed yet. Considering that he would normally not be at this same stage until possibly 4+ weeks after a back injury, WITH medications and muscle relaxers, I am really thrilled that it has been only 1 WEEK. I am so thankful! - J.H.

10. I have been using PainX faithfully, and I too thought it was just going to mask the pain in my hip and lower back, but it did so much more. After a time, my pain was gone for months, even after heavy workouts. Unless I do something to stress it, like too much taekwondo (I'm trying to get my black belt), then I do not have any pain at all. It's been like a miracle in a bottle. - Robin

11. I had lower back pain for well over 12 years, had a herniated disc and so on, but I wanted to get weaned off of anti-inflammatory meds, and the Pain Repair and Regeneration have been amazingly spectacular for me! I also used DMSO Gel. I did have to keep reapplying for it to keep working, but it certainly did work, praise God! - Sheri O.

12. I have had thigh pain following my hip replacement since 2004. Limping has just become part of who I am. X-ray last fall showed that it was a poorly healed stress fracture, and "live with the pain." Percocet has been taking the edge off but never giving me total relief. Trying oils was a step out of my comfort zone, but what did I have to lose? I mixed 40 drops each of Oregano, Peppermint and Birch in 60 drops of Emu oil. I have been totally pain FREE!! I had two people at church mention that I wasn't limping!! I apply it with a roll-on applicator directly at the source of pain every few hours. I could shout about these EOs from the rooftop; I am so delighted. I prayed for help with my pain, and the answer came from the Hopewell Essential Oils!! People, don't hesitate to try them! - Diane

13. I really appreciate how intuitive and user-friendly your site is. It is truly a blessing. My daughter and I have had wonderful results with the oils we have ordered and used thus far. My daughter was in a serious car accident last February. She was 6 months pregnant at the time. She was hospitalized for the first 5 days after the accident and could not walk for the 3 days after the accident. She suffered a laceration on her spleen and a partial placental abruption from the impact of the airbag during the accident. She was also suffering from severe muscle spasms, so the Dr. put her on Dilaudid (morphine's big brother) for pain and muscle relaxants. When we brought her home from the hospital, we ordered the oils recommended for a back injury (PainX, Muscle Relax, Cypress, and Helichrysum), weighed the “risks” you noted on each detail page, and applied them appropriately. By using these oils, we were able to wean her off all prescription medications within 5 days. After 3 weeks of continued use (along with continual prayer, massage, ice and heat, and a couple of chiropractic visits), God healed her completely - including the partial placental abruption. Her OB said he had never seen a placental abruption be healed and was so confident/impressed with her healing that he took her off the “high-risk” pregnancy list. The Chiropractor was also very impressed with the speed with which she healed from week to week. Thank you for all the hard work you have put into this site to make it comprehensive yet easy to understand. It is such a blessing! - Debra

14. For over two years, I’ve had bad lower back pain, especially when bending over a lot, and sciatic nerve pain down both legs. I have been using Strength, Muscle Relax, Peppermint and Cistus. It may be too soon to know, but I have hardly had any back pain and almost no sciatic pain for the past week or two! I dilute it and put it on my lower back once a day. Sometimes, I will put Strength on my knees, too. It's great! =) God Bless!  - Brenda

15. Several months ago, I had a nasty fall and landed on my shoulder on a cement floor. It was very painful for weeks! I finally tried Strength and Muscle Relax. I got immediate relief! The pain would return, but after applying these 2 blends daily, sometimes 3 or 4 times a day, for about a week, I realized that I was completely healed. Truly was amazing. - Susan

16. I have been going to a chiropractor for years but still struggle with a little lower back pain. Well, I just bought a house, so to save some money, I stopped going to the chiropractor (since it wasn't working all that great anyway). I've successfully applied Strength on my knees and Achilles tendons, so I started applying it on my spine, back, and lower left cheek. I didn't give it much thought until after last night’s school carnival (from which I always come home w/ an aching back!) I noticed. Wow! My back doesn't ache. I wondered why and then remembered I had been using Strength for the last 5 days since my last chiropractor appointment! I'm so thankful for such quick relief and such an easy solution. God is good! - Ann Marie

17. I have a spine that has stenosis and a plethora of other stuff. The only results I have gotten have been from chiropractors and acupuncture. I always had a 30% aching factor that was helped some by PainX. Praise the Lord! I just started using Regeneration and it is AMAZING!! Thank you, Hopewell, sooooooooo much.

18. I mixed equal amounts (3 drops each) of Solace and Valerian in my diffuser. I've been diagnosed with degenerative joint disease (DJD, that is, osteoarthritis.) Normally, I can't even sit up at 11 pm. With fibromyalgia, I've found it useful to use essential oils that calm the central nervous system (CNS.) May the good Lord guide you to the best oils for you. I'm praying for you if you're reading this! - Becca

19. I tweaked my back last night, and this morning, I could barely move without hurting. I put Pain-X with Copaiba on my back, and shortly afterward, most of the pain was gone. I cannot be more relieved! If you've never used Copaiba, it is a great magnifier of the oils you put with it! - Desiree
[HEO Recommends the ReachAll Bamboo Wand for areas that are difficult to reach.]

20. For back pain/pinched nerve, consider the Egoscue method. It can be done anywhere. We found this method, along with oils to help reduce inflammation, really helped. I mix Lavender and Spearmint for my neck and use Muscle Relax and Freedom for the lower back pain. - Serena

21. For many years, back pain has been constant due to having Lyme's Disease for over 25 years. I blended Jojoba oil, Cypress, Frankincense, Lavender, Rosemary, Marjoram and Myrrh. The oils made such a difference, and now, the pain so much better! I am so thankful for the Lord giving us such wonderful plants to heal! Susan

22. My husband had some severe neck pain after his back had been broken. I put Peppermint oil in a roll-on applicator, which he applied several times daily. Wow! What a help it has been! Slowly, the pain lessened, and now, he only has to put it on once in a while! We are very thankful for this help! Blessings to you, Linda, for your help and getting such a good product for such a great price, and for all of the part of you that is poured into the information and helps! - Susan

23. I have chronic sciatica pain and inflammation. I use several of HEO’s blends topically, but the game changer was to put a drop of Frankincense in my mouth and hold it there as long as possible before swallowing. I do this up to 3x daily. This has been amazing! I was not convinced this was helping, so I quit doing this for a few weeks, and my pain returned. I had an outing planned the next day that would really tax my back, so today I tried the Frankincense orally again, and the pain disappeared. It does not taste good, but the pain-relieving dividends are worth it! - Kacee

24. For bursitis-type pain, I put 20 drops of Ginger, 7 drops of Birch, 10 drops of Peppermint and 3 drops of Lavender in a roll-on applicator with Arnica-infused oil. I apply this liberally with good results. - Jill

25. I broke my arm just above my wrist, and at the hospital, the staff offered me pain medication right away. I didn’t want to take it because I was nursing my baby, and I didn’t want to have to stop nursing her, which I would have had to do to protect her from the harmful effects of the drug. The diligent staff kept offering me the medication, and I kept refusing. When the doctor arrived, he told me that he might be able to set the bone without surgery but that it would be very painful, and since I’d refused the pain medication, he was not hopeful that it would work. He told us that if he couldn’t get it set, I’d need surgery. I had applied Pain-X right after my accident and was not in as much pain as they assumed I must be in. We reapplied Pain-X, prayed for grace and opted for him to try it. He injected local numbing as they do for dental work, and I felt lots of pressure as he pulled on my arm, but not a drop of pain. The doctor was amazed. - Linda

26. My mom has had tremendous results using your oils for her crushed ankle. I mixed Regeneration, Arctic Ice and Helicrysium Substitute Blend together in coconut oil. Before using this blend, she was limited on standing and walking the next day due to pain. She has been using the blend for 2 years or more, and her pain has been greatly reduced! She can go about her normal life now without limping! She will not do anything before applying these every morning. It has been such a blessing for her! I tell so many, and so does she. God has given us so many things on this earth for healing; we have just lost so much through trusting modern medicine and not listening to those who have gone before us. - Maria

27. My husband has begun having pain in both thumbs, even waking up in the morning still hurting and not relieved through resting them during sleep. He doesn't tend to complain until things get bad. I made a blend of 2 drops of Strength, 3 drops of Pain Repair, 3 drops of Regeneration, 3 drops of Emu oil and 1 drop of Peppermint. I used this blend at 25% in a roll-on applicator and sent it with him. A few days later, he brought the empty bottle in the house and wanted more. That was a big compliment coming from him, as he’s been an essential oil skeptic until now. - Rhonda 

28. I injured both rotator cuffs while doing a back exercise. I could not raise my arms over my head, put my arms behind my back or extend either arm backward at all. If I attempted to do any of these things, the pain was nauseating. Over the next week, I tried all the pain oils Hopewell has. Part of the problem was that I could not even reach either shoulder with the other injured arm, so I depended on others to apply the oils for me. Thus, my applications lacked my usual consistency. One night, I went to the blending room and prayed for the Lord to lead me to create a blend that would help. One by one, I felt the Lord show me how to formulate Pain Repair. I put some in a roll-on applicator and asked my husband to apply it before bedtime. By the next morning, I could apply it myself, which was a major improvement. I applied the oil several times during the day, and by evening, I could put my arms behind my back and raise them to praise the Lord! It literally only took a few applications to resolve the issue. I was careful for a while so as not to re-injure myself, but I've not had any problems since. Bless the Lord! - Linda
[HEO's Comment: These exercises were shared with us: 10 Rotator Cuff Exercises for Pain Relief (Non-surgical Rehab) by Tim Fraticelli]

29. 5. I injured my rotator cuff over 20 years ago. I have had little strength in that arm and had to be careful raising my arm and doing things that affected it. I started using Palo Santo about 4 months ago. I apply it morning and night with the roll-on applicator, and I am getting my strength back and have had very little pain even doing things I have not done in many years. Wow!!! - F.J.

30. Bromelain: I totally wiped out my back by lifting something that was too heavy. I could hardly sit, walk, lie down or get up. Essential oils helped, but Twin Lab Mega Bromelain 300mg turned things around for me. A friend who had previously had a herniated disc suggested that I take 4 capsules every hour until I had relief. She said it greatly reduced inflammation and allowed my body to heal. About 5 hours (20 capsules later), I was much improved. I had more mobility and less pain with the mobility. I backed off to 2 caps every hour and continued that dose the next day. I also continued to apply PainX, Regeneration and Pain Repair every few hours. By the third day, I could hardly tell that I'd ever been in such pain. Another supplement to consider using for chronic inflammation issues is Turmeric (Curcumin). - Linda

31. Home Run has been particularly great for my knees as it relieves pain in both the soft tissues and the joint. Love it! - Fran

32. I was recently in Massachusetts with my grandboys. I was carrying the 19-month-old and slipped on the edge of a sidewalk and fell HARD on my knees.  After I got home, I went to my travel pack of essential oils and found BruisEase in there. I put some on my knee a couple of times each day. When I got home (4 days later) I went to the doctor to get an X-ray just to make sure there was nothing broken. The doctor asked me twice when I did it. I told her both times – 4 days ago. She said I am in shock because the coloring on your knee looks like it is 2 weeks old – not 4 days. I told her I had been putting BruisEase essential oil on it.  She said, "Well keep doing it because it is working." Nothing was broken – just a very bad bruise. Praise The Lord!!! - Cheryl

Reference
Purchon, Nerys; Cantele, Lora, Complete Aromatherapy and Essential Oils Handbook for Everyday Wellness, 2014, page 182.
Worwood, Valerie, The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy, 2016, page 79.