Essential oils have become a popular alternative medicine for various health, beauty, and wellness concerns. However, people have used them for many years in their traditional folk medicine to treat various ailments.
This article will review these studies and discuss some of the best essential oils for heart disease, cardiovascular health, and general health concerns such as heart inflammation, heart pain, heart blocked carotid artery, and heart atrial fibrillation.
You’ll also get an overview of heart disease, its causes, and its symptoms. Finally, keep in mind some essential oils, and aromatherapy can have adverse side effects. You should not use essential oils without your doctor’s advice.
Heart Disease: An Overview
Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Almost 735,000 Americans have a heart attack every year. [2]
Heart disease is a range of conditions that affect the human heart. The diseases that fall under the heart disease category are blood vessel diseases, like coronary artery disease, arrhythmias or heart rhythm problems, and heart defects that people are born with named congenital heart defects. [3]
Heart disease is a term often used interchangeably with cardiovascular disease. [4]
Cardiovascular disease usually refers to the conditions like narrowed or blocked blood vessels which can lead to heart attacks, chest pain, and stroke. [5]
More heart conditions affect your cardiovascular muscles, valves, or rhythm, which are also considered types of heart disease. [6]
People can prevent and treat many heart diseases with healthy lifestyle choices. The sooner we start taking good care of our heart health, the lesser the risk.
Causes of Coronary Heart Disease
Almost fifty years ago, heart disease killed an even more significant percentage of people than those who suffered from coronary heart disease. [7]
Fortunately, doctors are proficient at using various treatments that control heart disease symptoms and care for heart health.
Some of these methods are effective at lowering blood pressure, cholesterol, and triglycerides, but many merely target the symptoms and don’t focus on the bigger picture. [8]
Coronary heart disease results from inflammation from fatty material and other substances.
These substances form a buildup of plaque in the heart. The plaque accumulates inside the walls of the arteries. [9]
The arteries have a crucial role to play. They bring blood and oxygen to the heart. And if the heart has reduced blood flow, it can slow down or even stop the heartbeat, which causes cardiac arrest. [7]
Medical professionals recommend a combination of lifestyle changes, medications, etc., to address cardiac arrest.
These changes and the medical procedures may slow, stop or even reverse the buildup of the plaque. This can help patients lower the risk of blood clots and heart attacks by widening the clogged arteries. [9]
Are Essential Oils Good for Your Heart?
People have used essential oils medicinally for generations. These oils have fragrant compounds derived from distilling flowers, plants, leaves, and seeds.
Many researchers have concluded that there isn’t any supportive evidence of aromatherapy having any therapeutic effects on heart disease in people. [10]
On the other hand, some studies have shown that aromatherapy may effectively lower anxiety and stress in humans. [11]
Mental stress and anxiety are some risk factors for high blood pressure. [12]
Another research suggests that aromatherapy that involves using essential oils can lower blood pressure through relaxation. [13]
Using essential oil can normalize your blood pressure and make the heart relaxed.
6 Essential Oils for Heart Disease, Failure, Inflammation, Pain, Blocked Arteries, and More
1. Juniper Oil
Juniper was historically used in Europe. Europeans used it as a refreshing tonic. Juniper essential oil is extracted from berries that produce a piney, fruity aroma. [14]
Juniper essential oil is a powerful detoxifier for the body that aids in improving blood circulation. [15]
This makes juniper suitable for people with hardened arteries or heart problems. This essential oil acts on the body’s warm yang energy. [16]
Juniper oil has antiseptic, antirheumatic, depurative, antispasmodic, stimulating, sudorific, stomachic, astringent, rubefacient, carminative, diuretic, and vulnerary agents. [15]
The oil may help overcome any heart problems and breakthrough psychological trauma. [14]
Juniper essential oil can be used as aromatherapy, topically or even internally.
How to use juniper essential oil for heart health:
- Combine several drops of juniper oil with 1 to 2 teaspoons of coconut or jojoba oil.
- Directly apply to the skin
- Massage it onto the chest
Juniper oil penetrates the skin and passes into the bloodstream. As a result, the oil makes its way into many different body areas. This works for pain reduction and other therapeutic benefits.
2. Eucalyptus Oil
Eucalyptus oil is found in cold relief products such as cough drops. But it is also good for the health of the heart. [17]
Eucalyptus oil may reduce pain, swelling, and inflammation. It decreases blood pressure and pain in heart patients. [18]
A recent study concluded that if people with heart diseases inhale Eucalyptus essential oil when infused in the air, it may significantly lower their blood pressure. [19]
How to use eucalyptus oil for heart health:
- First, warm up some water till it starts steaming
- Pour the water into a bowl
- Add 2-5 drops of eucalyptus essential oil to the water
- Keep your face at a safe distance from the bowl and put a towel over the head
- Inhale the steam deeply for 5-10 minutes
3. Rose Oil
Ancient medical practitioners believed that rose essential oil has the power of healing and soothing the heart.
Historically, the word rose is derived from the Greek word “rodon,” which means red. The floral, feminine scent of rose oil is heart soothing.
Rose essential oil is the queen oil for grief and bereavement. The aromatic oil is most commonly used for emotional balance. [20]
This essential oil comforts in dark times of emotional pain and a massive shock.
Rose is a precious oil, a little of it goes a long way.
If someone is confronting an unbearable loss, he should try smelling rose essential oil to seek comfort.
Just take a slight drop in the palm and inhale. Or smell from the bottle. There is an energy in the aroma, enough to open the heart to be at peace and connect with the inner voice.
How to use rose essential oil for heart health:
- Mix 10 drops of rose essential oil with ½ cup of Pink Himalayan Sea Salt and 1/4 cup of baking soda
- Add the mixture to your warm bath water
- The aromatic bath may help to calm the nerves
Note: Test rose oil on the skin first to see if there is an allergic reaction. Store the rest in an airtight container for later use
4. Lavender Oil
The blue-violet lavender flower has made its way into many perfumes, soaps, etc.
Researchers claim that the aroma of lavender oil produces an overall calming mood among the participants inhaling it. [21]
How to use lavender essential oil for heart health:
- Mix 10 drops of lavender oil with some sea salt and water
- Put the solution in an empty spray bottle
- Shake well
- Create your natural linen spray.
- Spray on your sheets, pillows, and towels
- This spray will calm the nerves and relax the heart.
5. Elemi Oil
Elemi essential oil is native to the Philippines. This essential oil is distilled from a particular tree’s resin.
Elemi essential oil has a fresh, slightly spicy aroma. It supports and uplifts the mood of heart patients.
Morphologically, tree resin acts as a Band-Aid. Like that, elemi is a wound healer herb supporting the cardiovascular system. It also helps in neutralizing stress. [22]
The aroma of elemi oil may revive the spirit. The oil may rouse a feeling of compassion in the heart.
How to use elemi essential oil for heart health:
- Put three drops of elemi essential oil on a cotton wick
- Insert it into an aromatic inhaler
- Wave the inhaler under your nostrils
6. Marjoram Oil
Marjoram essential oil comes from the Mediterranean herb marjoram, a relative of oregano.
Marjoram essential oil may lower blood pressure in patients with heart problems. This is because it may relax the blood vessels.
Marjoram essential oil rouses the parasympathetic nervous system. This improves the flow of blood. [23]
How to use marjoram essential oil for heart health:
- First, warm up some water till it starts steaming
- Pour the water into a bowl
- Mix 2-3 drops of marjoram essential oil in the water
- Inhale the therapeutic steam deeply for 5-10 minutes
When to See a Doctor
Essential oils are not medical alternatives for treating heart diseases. These aromatic oils can only provide complementary support while undergoing medical treatments for heart problems.
You must consult a doctor to diagnose and get appropriate heart disease treatment properly. Some common symptoms of heart diseases are:
- Pain, tightness, pressure, and discomfort in the chest (angina)
- Racing heartbeat
- Shortness of breath
- Slow heartbeat
- Light-headedness
- Fainting (syncope) or near fainting
- Getting short of breath or tiring quickly during exercise or activity
- rapid and Irregular heartbeats, pounding or fluttering
- Changes in the heart rhythm
- Weakness or fatigue
- A dry or a persistent cough
- Swelling of the legs, ankles, and feet
Make an appointment with your doctor if you experience any of the symptoms.
Bottom Line
The heart is the most crucial organ in the body. Without the heart pumping, we could never sustain life.
Regular exercise and a balanced diet are essential to keep the heart-healthy.
In addition, aromatherapy may help patients with heart issues by giving psychological support.
