Scleroderma is an autoimmune and chronic skin disease. It is also known as a rare form of rheumatic and connective tissue disorder.
The term ‘scleroderma’ comes from the Greek words ‘sclerosis’ (hardness) and ‘derma’ (skin). Scleroderma means “hard skin.” (1)
Thus you may diagnose scleroderma with a tightened and thickened skin on the face and hands.
In this case, your immune system produces more collagen or connective tissues in the body. (3)
This abnormal growth of the collagen has adverse effects on the skin, internal organs, and digestive tracts of your body.
More than 75000 people in the U.S.A. are suffering from scleroderma. Scleroderma causes disability, shortened life expectancy, mental distress, and depression. (2)
Scleroderma is incurable and a problematic medical condition to live with. Using essential oils for Scleroderma can manage many awful symptoms of the condition. These oils can also improve your quality of life to a great extent.
Types Of Scleroderma
There are two types of scleroderma. Localized sclerodermas are the inflammations or thickening of your skin. This type of scleroderma occurs as morphea and linear forms of skin inflammations. (1)
Systemic scleroderma or generalized scleroderma affects the internal organs and bodily system.
It might be genetical for a person to be susceptible to suffer from this autoimmune disease.
Women in their 30’s and 50’s are more prone to suffer from Scleroderma than men (the ratio is 4:1)
Scleroderma is a rheumatic condition. Because it causes a lot of pain and inflammations in the muscle and joints.
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What are the Symptoms of Scleroderma?
Scleroderma causes mild to severe complications on some internal organs of the body. It disrupts the vital functions of your body. (3)
Some of the common symptoms that you suffer from scleroderma are:
- You’ll observe patches of hard and tight skin on different parts of your body. Such as on the face, the hands, and on the upper trunk, etc. These patches may be straight lines or of oval shape.
- The skin patches differ in their location, size, and number based on the types of scleroderma.
- At an early stage, your fingers and toes will be extra sensitive to cold and emotional stress. Thus you’ll experience numbness, color changes (fingertips and toe turning red, blue, or white) and pain.
This symptom is also known as Raynaud’s phenomenon.
- Swollen and painful fingertips, toes, joints.
- Fatigue and weakness in the muscles
- Dryness of mouth and eyes are also known as Sjogren’s syndrome
- Difficulty in breathing.
- The problem in brushing teeth and lower production of saliva
- Erectile dysfunction in men reduced vaginal lubrication and constricted opening of the vagina.
- Diarrhea, heartburn or acid reflux and weight loss
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5 Best Essential Oils For Scleroderma
Scleroderma affects a wide range of organs and systems. There is no single remedy for this rare and challenging medical condition.
Essential oils are effective natural remedy to cut negative impacts on the body.
According to the researchers, essential oils can manage both the physical and emotional aspects of the disease. These oils can also relieve scleroderma symptoms effectively. (4)
1. Frankincense Oil
Frankincense oil comes from distillation of the oleoresin of Boswellia trees. (5)
Frankincense is a sacred ingredient in many cultures. The sweet and earthy aroma of the oil has a calming and relaxing effect on your body and mind.
The essential oil is rich in anti-inflammatory, expectorant, and anti-anxiety properties. Hence frankincense oil can relieve stress and inflammations associated with scleroderma symptoms. The oil can provide you with a sense of well-being. (6)
How to use frankincense oil:
You can use this oil for aromatherapy, massage or a hot bath to manage scleroderma symptoms.
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2. Lavender Oil
Lavender oil is one of the most potent essential oils with versatile uses. The herbal oil originates from the steam distillation of the aromatic lavender flowers.
Lavender oil has a sweet and calming aroma. It is full of antioxidant, analgesic, anti-anxiety, anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, and expectorant properties (7). Thus, it can relieve stress, insomnia, fatigue, and headaches due to scleroderma.
Here is a simple method of using lavender oil:
A lavender oil massage can reduce the skin inflammations. It can induce sound sleep in the time of scleroderma difficulties. (7)
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3. Lemongrass Oil
Lemongrass oil comes from the spiky aromatic leaves of lemon grass plants. The yellow herbal oil has a mind-blowing lemony scent.
The therapeutic oil is rich in analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-depressant, and anti-anxiety components. (8)
Easy methods of using lemongrass oil:
Take a lemongrass oil massage or a hot bath to relieve symptoms caused by scleroderma. These includes pain, stress, sleeplessness, and circulatory disorders.
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4. Peppermint Oil
Peppermint oil is famous for its menthol flavor. The peppermint herb is a combination of spearmint and watermint plants.
Peppermint oil has high menthol content. This component makes it an authoritative source of anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-stress, and antidepressant properties.
Peppermint oil can relieve the puffy and swollen fingertips and toes. It can calm down the pain and manage the circulatory problems in the body.
The oil contains rosmarinic acid. It helps you treat the shortness of breath associated with scleroderma symptoms.
How to use peppermint oil:
Massage few drops of peppermint oil to get rid of the symptoms of scleroderma. (9)
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5. Roman Chamomile Oil
Roman Chamomile oil comes from the blossoms of the chamomile plants. It is a great aromatic oil that acts as a stress reliever and mood enhancer.
The herbal oil has sedative, anti-depressant, anti-inflammatory properties. Thus, it can manage many scleroderma symptoms.
Simple way of using roman chamomile oil:
The oil has a penetrating effect on your nervous system and brain. It can relax your muscles and joints pains, headaches, and induce a sound sleep at night (10). Apply the oil in your affected areas to relax your muscles.
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When to See a Doctor
You can ease the symptoms of scleroderma with the help of these essential oils. But, if your symptoms don’t reduce after trying the home remedies, you must see a doctor.
It’s better to see a doctor who specializes in arthritis and other diseases of joints, muscles and bone.
This condition may affect various organ systems. You need to consult a doctor based on that.
Bottom Line
Scleroderma is a chronic medical condition. You need to undergo a difficult period of life because of this.
The essential oils discussed here can help you reduce your problems in this crucial journey. Using essential oils for managing scleroderma symptoms has no side effects at all.
The National Centre for Biotechnology suggests using essential oils. They provide relief from pains, skin inflammations, stress, sleeplessness, joint and muscle immobility. (11)
Do write your feedback and queries in our comment section below.
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