Celiac disease is a medical condition that causes an immune reaction to eating gluten. [1]
Almost 1% of the U.S.A. population has the gluten-related condition called celiac disease. [2]
Nearly 6% of the people of USA have a less defined condition that is called gluten sensitivity. [2]
Our diets today contain a lot of gluten because of the massive consumption of processed food.
Wheat, barley, and rye- these are the standard gluten offenders.
Some people who have celiac disease have an even more significant sensitivity to gluten. For them, there are some other gluten-related substances which occur in a greater variety of food. [3]
Essential oils can help getting rid of this gluten sensitivity. Because these therapeutic oils boost necessary nutrition, natural immunity and also cleanse the body. [4]
Keep reading this article to know more about:
- Celiac disease
- Symptoms of Celiac disease
- Causes of Celiac disease
- Essential oils that help with celiac disease
- Home remedies for celiac disease with essential oils
What is a Celiac Disease?
Celiac disease is a gluten-sensitive enteropathy. Some people call it sprue or coeliac. This is an immune reaction that happens for eating gluten which is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. [6]
For the people who have celiac disease, eating gluten triggers a response in the immune system in the small intestine. [6]
This reaction damages the small intestine’s lining and prevents the absorption of some nutrients (malabsorption) over time. [7]
The intestinal damage that it creates, often causes diarrhea, weight loss, fatigue, bloating and anemia. [8]
Celiac disease may result in some serious health complications.
Malabsorption can affect the growth and development of children, on top of the symptoms seen in adults. [10]
There isn’t any cure for the celiac disease. But following a strict gluten-free diet may help manage the symptoms and promote intestinal healing for most people.
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Symptoms of Celiac Disease
Celiac disease is quite difficult to diagnose as it affects people differently. There are over 200 celiac disease symptoms known to medical professionals that may occur in the digestive system and other parts of the human body. [12]
Some people can develop celiac disease as children, others as adults. No one knows the reason for this yet.
Some people who have celiac disease have absolutely no symptoms. They can still test positive on the blood test of celiac disease. [12]
In rare cases, some may show a negative result in the blood test but even have a positive intestinal biopsy.[12]
Whether or not they display any symptoms, every patient with celiac disease is at risk for many long-term complications.[13]
Adults are less likely to develop some digestive symptoms. Only one-third of the patients experience diarrhea. [13]
Here are some signs people are more likely to have in celiac disease:
- unexplained iron-deficiency anemia
- bone or joint pain
- fatigue
- seizures or migraines
- infertility or recurrent miscarriage
- arthritis
- depression
- anxiety
- canker sores inside the mouth
- missed menstrual periods
- osteoporosis or osteopenia (bone loss)
- peripheral neuropathy ( tingling, pain or numbness in the hands or feet)
- liver and biliary tract disorders (fatty liver, transaminitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, etc.)
- dermatitis herpetiformis (itchy skin rash)
Best Essential Oils for Celiac Diseases
Pure essential oils come from plants and have some immune-boosting and cleansing properties. This is why using essential oils can support a celiac disease affected the body. [17]
Essential oils can also help the body recover more efficiently as the body makes a transition to a gluten-free diet.
These oils can be mixed or use separately to help with celiac disease. Ginger, Fennel, and Coriander essential oils are famous for assisting the patients to ease stomach discomfort. [18]
On the other hand, Peppermint, Tarragon, Anise, and Caraway essential oils aid in digestion, provide relaxation to the muscles of the patient and assist with digestion.
On top of providing relief from celiac disease, this blend of essential oils can aid in motion-sickness, indigestion, heartburn, and many other digestive issues. [19]
1. Peppermint Oil
Peppermint essential oil has varieties of uses. That’s why it’s no wonder this oil is a necessity in many people’s medicine cabinets.
Peppermint essential oil indeed does much more than freshening up breaths. It’s used to soothe stomach issues, indigestion, and nausea. [20]
This oil perks the senses up before a long meeting, and it can cool overworked muscles because of the menthol.
Fortunately, peppermint can also help to clear congestion, headaches and tackle symptoms from PMS.
It can be used to treat celiac diseases as well.
Peppermint is one of the ancient herbs that soothes digestion. Peppermint oil is useful for digestion. [21]
This oil has a carminative property of expelling gas. It expels gas from the stomach or the intestine to relieve flatulence or abdominal pain and distension.
Recommended Directions:
- Drinking mint tea has been the antidote to an upset stomach for generations
- Try aromatherapy by using a candle lamp diffuser with peppermint essential oil
- Apply on the neck and the shoulders every day to keep energy levels up during the day
- For boosting your mood and reduce fatigue, inhale.
- Massage a few drops of peppermint essential oil on your abdomen, then place a drop on your wrists or inhale to soothe nausea from celiac disease.
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2. Lavender Oil
Historically and today modern aromatherapy texts advocate for lavender essential oil use as an antibacterial essential oil. [22]
Lavender leaves and stems of the plant were used to prepare medicine against digestive system many diseases and rheumatism.
People in the past have valued lavender for its cosmetic purposes. For example, the Romans used lavender oil to take baths, to cook and to purify the air.[22]
Even in the Bible, lavender oil was considered among the aromatics used for anointing and healing.
Lavender oil has such versatile properties and this oil gentle enough to apply directly to the skin.
For generations, lavender essential oil has been used to treat many neurological issues such as migraines, stress, anxiety, and depression. [22]
It also helps patients having an adverse reaction to gluten to treat their celiac disease.
Recommended Directions:
- You need a few drops of lavender essential oil. Rub it in between your palms. Then inhale deeply to help alleviate the symptoms of celiac disease.
- Combine Lavender oil with a nut or vegetable carrier oil. For example coconut, sesame, etc. Then use topically on celiac diseases.
- Rub 3-4 drops of lavender essential oil in your cupped palms. Use the inhalation method to calm your nerves.
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3. Fennel Oil
Fennel essential oil has gained a lot of popularity as a potent ingredient for good digestive health. It has a licorice-like flavor and an aroma like its root plant. [23]
This oil originates from crushing the seeds of the fennel plant, then going through a process of steam distillation.
Fennel essential oil is an antiseptic. It can help reduce and eliminate gut spasms. This oil also helps prevent gas and bloating. [23]
Fennel has purifying and detoxifying effects on the body. It is an expectorant and is anatural laxativeand even a mouth freshener!
Even though essential fennel oil has a strong licorice taste, it works excellent for celiac disease patients. It provides phenomenal digestive support in the body. [23]
Fennel essential oil can help the patient to find balance in his diet.
Recommended Directions:
- Put one drop offennel essential oil on the toothbrush when brushing. It will help fighting sweet tooth cravings and provide antimicrobial benefits for the gums.
- Try aromatherapy by using a candle lamp diffuser with fennel essential oil
- Add two to three drops in a glass of warm water or a cup of chamomile tea for an upsetstomach
- Massage a few drops fennel essential oil on your abdomen, then place a drop on your wrists or inhale to get relief from celiac disease.
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4. Ginger Oil
Ginger is a beneficial flowering plant from the family Zingiberaceae; the roots of ginger is widely used as a spice. [24]
For generations, people have used ginger in folk medicine, almost for thousands of years. Because of its amazing digestive properties, ginger is a significant part of Asian cuisines.
Ginger is most commonly added to meals, including meat. It can aid digestion.
Ginger root, as well as the ginger essential oil, are gaining immense popularity for their preservation and also flavoring capabilities.[24]
Now ginger essential oil is used worldwide to treat nausea, upset stomach, inflammation, menstrual disorders, and respiratory conditions. When it is used as aromatherapy, it is also useful to bring on feelings of courageousness and even self-assurance.
And this is why it’s known as “the oil of empowerment.”
Ginger essential oil is thought to be one of the best natural remedies for colic, spasms, indigestion, diarrhea, and stomach aches.[24]
Ginger essential oil is also useful when used as a natural nausea remedy and to treat vomiting.
Ginger essential oil can also demonstrate analgesic activity. It can help people to relieve pain immediately after surgery.
Recommended Directions:
It’s important to do test for skin sensitivity before using ginger oil.
- Put 2–3 drops in water to help with celiac diseases
- Rub a few drops of ginger essential oil on your stomach or bottom of the feet to aid digestion
- Inhale ginger essential oil directly from the bottle. You can also massage over the lower abdomen
- Use ginger oil aromatically or topically to the solar plexus which is the upper abdomen of your body. This will stimulate strength and responsibility.
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5. Anise Oil
For centuries, Indians have been using anise seeds as a mouth freshener and also as a digestive agent.
Anise essential oil works as a fantastic digestive aid, which stimulates digestion.
This benefit makes it effective in helping people who suffer from slow digestion problems.
Patients who have Celiac disease can get benefit from anise essential oil for its extraordinary digestive properties. [25]
Recommended Directions:
- Topically massage in the stomach muscles, inhalation during respiratory illness.
- Add some anise essential oil into a glass of water then drinking it after consuming an unusually heavy meal.
- Rub 3-4 drops of anise essential oil in your cupped palms. Use the inhalation method to calm your nerves.
Some Forms of Celiac Disease
There are two types of celiac disease: classical and non-classical. In case of classical celiac disease, patients have symptoms and signs of malabsorption.
This includes diarrhea, weight loss, and steatorrhea (pale, foul-smelling, fatty stools), or growth failure in children.
In the case of non-classical celiac disease, a patient may have some mild gastrointestinal symptoms without any apparent signs of malabsorption. The patient may have seemingly unrelated symptoms as well. [14]
Non-classical celiac disease patients may suffer from some abdominal distension and pain, and other symptoms like iron-deficiency anemia, peripheral neuropathy (tingling, numbness or pain in hands or feet) chronic fatigue, chronic migraine, unexplained chronic hyper-transaminasemia, vitamin deficiency (folic acid and B12), reduced bone mass and bone fractures, and late menarche/early menopause. [15]
They may also have unexplained infertility, anxiety, dermatitis herpetiformis (itchy skin rash), dental enamel defects, depression, etc.
The silent celiac disease is also called asymptomatic celiac disease. In these cases, patients do not complain of any symptoms. But they experience villous atrophy damage in their small intestine.
Various studies show that even though some patients thought they had no symptoms at all, after going on a rigorous gluten-free diet they had reported better health and a significant reduction in acid reflux, abdominal bloating, distention, flatulence, etc.[16]
There are some ways through which celiac disease can affect patients. They are combined with a lack of training in medical schools, primary care residency programs, etc. contributes to the poor diagnosis rate in the United States.[15]
Bottom Line
Whether someone has celiac disease or he/she is experiencing some digestive issues, essential oils can reduce his health issues.
Use these essential oils to help yourself soothe the discomfort of celiac diseases. It is very crucial, be sure to contact a medical professional first 0if these symptoms are recurrent or persistent.
People can even combine eastern and western medicine. They can get medications for their celiac and do aromatherapy at the same time.
As with any supplements like vitamin, essential oil or change to a healthy routine, consult a medical professional first. It’s very crucial to take the time to research the essential oils someone chooses before using them.
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