11 Essential Oils for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Causes and Precautions

Carpal Tunnel syndrome is a painful disorder.

It is associated with weakness, numbness or tingling in your hand.

The pain is because of the excessive pressure on the median nerve of your wrist. Often, due to pregnancy, severe illness or obesity causes carpal tunnel syndrome. Proper rest and care may give you relief from the pain. [1]

The median nerve regulates the movement and sensation of your thumb and all your fingers except your little finger. The carpal tunnel is usually caused by swelling. [2]

Swelling causes this tunnel to squeeze and pinches your median nerve. This causes the symptoms of carpal tunnel. [1]It’s a quite common condition. Early treatment can create a major difference in how long it will take to get better.

You can use essential oils for carpal tunnel to ease some symptoms.

Note that, these essential oils can give you relief from pain, but can’t replace your doctor. These are complementary treatments that you should use after consulting with a doctor.

Essential Oils for Carpal Tunnel — Based on Research

1. Lavender Essential Oil

It is widely used for relaxation of body and mind. Lavender oil is powerful enough for healing inflammation, spasms, and pain. [4]

It boosts the circulation and brings a flow of oxygen to the joints. It reduces swelling. Thus it relaxes the muscles relieving them from pressure.

2. Wintergreen Essential Oil

It has cooling effect pleasant for the burning and extreme pain of carpal tunnel. Many pain relief medicine and balm use it as their ingredient.

Wintergreen essential oil has anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic and pain relieving properties. The natural therapeutic components make this oil is good for carpal tunnel. [5]

Use it whenever you feel pain. You will get an immediate result.

3. Frankincense Essential Oil

Frankincense oil may stop the unbearable pain of carpal tunnel. This oil has amazing pain-killing activities.

It can assist with the pain management, inflammation and even treat carpal tunnel. [6]

4. Ginger Root Essential Oil

Ginger oil may help in treating swelling and irritation from the inside out. It reduces inflammation. [7]

Ginger essential oil is good for curing localized pain, nerve tenderness, and inflammation.

5. Eucalyptus Essential Oil

This is oil has fantastic soothing and calming properties. Eucalyptus oil can be really helpful in treating carpal tunnel naturally.

The oil consists of a warming effect. It boosts blood flow on the affected area and soothes the particular area with its warmth. Thus It makes the pain go away. [8]

This essential oil contains analgesic and antispasmodic properties. It helps in healing the pain of carpal tunnel.

6. German Chamomile Essential Oil

The German chamomile oil contains chamazulene. It is one of the most powerful anti-inflammatories in the whole essential oil world. [9]

The chamomile oil is famous for stimulating healthy blood flow. It also works as a sedative for the nervous system.

7. Cypress Essential Oil

Cypress oil can heal wounds and infection. It treats both internal and external wounds.

The oil has antispasmodic properties. It can treat cramps and muscle pulls.

Using cypress oil will reduce pain, spasm. It will increase blood circulation. Proper circulation is much needed in the carpal tunnel and will ease chronic pain. [10]

8. Basil Essential Oil

Basil oil can stimulate the nervous system. It will make your nerve function properly.

Its anti-inflammatory properties can help with aching muscles. People use it as a natural muscle relaxer. It can get rid of swollen muscle and joints. [11]

9. Marjoram Essential Oil

This oil can treat the pain associated with muscle spasm and tension. Often massage therapist uses it with massage oil or lotion. [12]

Its anti-inflammatory and calming properties give relief from carpal tunnel pain.

10. Peppermint Essential Oil

Peppermint oil is a natural and effective painkiller and muscle relaxant.

This oil has amazing, refreshing, cooling, and antispasmodic properties. [13] It is often used in muscle rubbing balm to relieve pain.

11. Vetiver Essential Oil

Vetiver oil is mainly used for calming nerves. It calms your body and helps you to relax. [14]

How To Use Essential Oil For Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

You can use essential oils topically or in aromatherapy. Both will help.

You must dilute essential oils before using. Pick up your favorite oil like pure virgin coconut oil, olive oil or jojoba. Try adding it to your daily moisturizer and carry it with you wherever you go. Thus you will be able to apply it whenever you feel like.

Adding a few drops in bath water is a good option too. It will treat your whole body and mind. Using in a diffuser will do too.

Precautions of Using Essential Oil For Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Never directly apply essential oil on the skin. Dilute it. You can use a carrier oil, water, milk, honey, lotion, etc.

Start with 1-2 drops essential oil in a large quantity of solvent.

Always check the labels of the essential oil bottles. Look for genuine quality oil.

Essential oil does not get stale but may oxidize with air.

Store essential oil in a dry, cool place in a colored-glass container.

Massage gently. Roughness can cause more damage to tissue.

You can also try to heal the symptoms with aromatherapy.

In case of consuming always seek for expert’s opinion.

Continue the treatment regularly until you see results.

Do moderate exercise. Do not exert extra pressure. Stop repetitive movements.

Look out for any possibility of allergy.

There are more home remedies that can help you reverse carpal tunnel symptoms naturally.

Homeopathic remedies for carpal tunnel syndrome: Arnica 30c, Ruta graveolens, Causticum, are some good homeopathic remedies for carpal tunnel syndrome.

Foods and vitamin for carpal tunnel syndrome: Vitamin B help treat many symptoms of carpal tunnel naturally. You may take vitamin B6 in supplements. Or You may include B6 enriched foods: chicken, fish, eggs, cereals, soybeans, walnuts, vegetables, turmeric, etc. to your carpal tunnel diet. Turmeric contains curcumin. The natural anti-inflammatory agent is good for curing carpal tunnel pain and inflammation at home. [15]

When To See A Doctor

Carpal tunnel is a common syndrome. You may soothe some of the symptoms like swelling and pain using some essential oils. In case, you feel any severe pain and can’t move your hands at all, visit a doctor immediately. [2]

Bottom Line

Carpal tunnel can be painful as hands do most of the work. Having pain in the hands or wrists affect your regular life. The syndrome can be easily reduced when you treat it in time. The holistic treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome mentioned above is easy to maintain.