Must-Have Essential Oils for Stroke Recovery
Essential oils for stroke recovery might not be a magic pill, but they can help relieve some of the secondary effects of stroke like anxiety, fatigue, and insomnia.
Essential oils are concentrated and aromatic chemical compounds distilled from plants. They’re a natural form of medicine that can be massaged into the skin or aromatized to stimulate the brain.
This article will go over 7 essential oils that can help promote healing after stroke. Let’s get started!
Can Essential Oils Help Post-Stroke Paralysis?
Before we get into the oils, we want to emphasize that stroke paralysis can’t be cured with essential oils because they don’t promote neuroplasticity.
Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to rewire itself so that it can recover functions affected by traumatic events like stroke. The rewiring process is promoted through massed repetition.
The more you move, the more your brain understands that there’s a demand for that function, and the stronger the neural pathways for that function become.
Essential oils won’t perform the repetitions for you, but they can help ease some of the psychological and physical effects of stroke.
The Best Essential Oils for Stroke Recovery
If you want to boost your recovery from stroke, here are some of the best essential oils to try:
1. Lavender
Lavender oil has neuroprotective properties linked to preventing oxidative stress in the brain.
Oxidative stress is when there’s an imbalance between antioxidants and free radicals, and it’s responsible for a lot of cell damage after stroke.
Reducing oxidative stress can help preserve neurological functions and minimize the effects of stroke.
Lavender oil is extremely versatile and has lots of additional healing properties.
Worldwide, it is used as a natural sedative (to reduce stress and promote sleep), antidepressant, and analgesic (pain reliever).
2. Frankincense
Frankincense oil has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antifungal properties.
This makes it ideal for healing bedsores (damage to the skin caused by prolonged pressure), which are very common among stroke patients because of paralysis.
It’s also suggested that frankincense oil can support mental health by influencing the limbic system (the area of the brain responsible for regulating instinct and mood).
3. Eucalyptus
Like frankincense, eucalyptus oil has antiseptic, antioxidant, and antiviral properties.
It helps promote cellular activity and circulation to relieve muscle and joint pain, which is often experienced by stroke survivors.
Eucalyptus oil is a natural stimulant that can boost attention and combat brain fog after stroke.
4. Chamomile
Many stroke survivors have difficulties sleeping through the night because of complications like anxiety and pain.
Chamomile oil produces a soothing, sedative effect that helps calm the mind and ease nerve tension by inhibiting the release of pain-producing chemicals called prostaglandins.
5. Rosemary
Rosemary essential oil helps stimulate the brain to reduce lethargy, enhance mental clarity, and boost motivation so that stroke survivors can focus on their rehabilitation.
Many stroke survivors experience pain due to spasticity (continuous muscle contractions). Rosemary oil can help reduce inflammation to soothe muscle aches and stiffness.
If you have high blood pressure, it’s best to avoid this oil because it increases circulation. Talk to your doctor before you try it.
6. Peppermint
Peppermint oil can help ease dizziness and nausea caused by secondary complications and medications.
It also helps stimulate brain activity for improved concentration and memory.
When massaged into the skin, peppermint oil has a soothing and cooling effect that can calm nerves and relieve pain.
7. Lemon
Lemon oil can be the perfect pick-me-up for stroke survivors experiencing extreme fatigue, lack of motivation, and sluggishness.
When inhaled, lemon oil is proven to improve mood and boost energy levels for better performance.
It also has purifying properties that can help detoxify the body and promote digestion.
Trying Essential Oils for Stroke Recovery
If any of these essential oils for stroke recovery strike your fancy, give them a try. They can help relieve secondary effects of stroke like pain, depression, and insomnia.
Everyone has a unique experience using alternative therapies, so results are not guaranteed. However, essential oils are generally affordable and have minimal side effects when used safely.
Hopefully, you can try some of these essential oils for yourself to boost recovery after stroke.
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