Has anyone tried using essential oils?

[caldwellccc]

I have had Crohn's for 9 years. I have some friends using essential oils for a variety of different things. Has anyone tried using them for Crohn's?

 

[nogutsnoglory]

I have found running essential oil on my belly is helpful but I think it's more the massage aspect. Peppermint oil is great for my sinuses though.

 

[Mondowicked]

I've been playing with them for a couple of months now. My favorite so far has been clove oil. I dilute it in carrier oil and then rub it on my feet and sometimes my ears. It helps a ton with pain. I've found that I've decreased my use of pain medication. I just started making little capsules to take it internally to see if the effects last longer. When I put it on my feet I need to reapply every couple of hours.

If you are interested in trying oils I recommend going with something that you are drawn to scent wise. I have various other oils that are nice, but the clove was something I was drawn to. Now the more I read about it, the more I'm like, oh yeah no wonder I like it so much. It helps with pain and inflammation among other things.

I also like lemon oil in my water. Not only does it help me drink more water, but it also helps me detox and clear meds and other toxins from my system. The first few days I drank it, I felt gross. Then, it was like things cleared up and I felt better with more energy.

I'm not sure anything is helping with the Crohn's specifically, but I do think it is helping to manage side effects of having the disease and using such strong medications.

 

[LHJ]

I tried 4 drops of lemon oil in 8oz of warm water for five weeks and I felt very crummy the first couple of days too. During this time, (5 days a week for 5 weeks) I also took HOT (as hot as you can stand) baths with essential oils and soaked for 20-30 minutes. The idea is that by sweating this way you're releasing toxins from the INSIDE out. (The sweating you do from exercising is not the same). Let me tell you, the first three times I could only stay in for 20 because it was uncomfortable AND my bath tub had a faint yellow tint to it after my bath from the toxins that were released from my body!

*Recommendations:
- 10 drops of essential oil per bath
- Blend EO with a carrier oil (coconut, olive oil, jojoba, etc.) first to keep the oils from evaporating or clinging to the side of the bath tub.
- Add the oils to the water right before you get in the bath tub.
- Epsom salts also draw toxins out of the body
- I turn on Pandora and listen to relaxing spa music with nature sounds
- I love listening to audio books that I checked out from the library during this time too.
- Part of healing, is making time for yourself.

*I'm not a doctor. These were the protocols that I followed and they worked for me.

 

[caldwellccc]

Thanks for your input. I'm always up to try anything!