Psoriasis can be difficult to manage for those who have it, as well as arthritis and having to suffer from both at the same time can take a toll on anyone’s mental, emotional and of course physical health. Though there are medical treatments that help relieve pain, sometimes those treatments aren’t enough and can be pretty costly. Fortunately, there are other remedies to help relieve pain that won’t have you breaking the bank.
How Psoriatic Arthritis Affects You Daily
Living with psoriatic arthritis can cause a lot of stress on your mind and body. Psoriatic arthritis usually develops when a person is already diagnosed with psoriasis so its symptoms are both skin and arthritic symptoms.
These symptoms include stiffness, swelling and joint pain and can last for periods at a time. This can be disruptive to one’s daily life since there is no cure for this chronic disease.
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Physically suffering from joint pain daily and swelling can stop someone from doing simple activities such as getting up and going to work, cooking dinner for themselves or family members because of its effect on the joints in your fingers, or being able to simply walk from one area of the room to the next. It also weakens your knees and your muscles.
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Dealing with this disease can weigh on someone mentally as well. Having to live in constant pain during a flare-up can lead to depression and anxiety.
Why Inflammation is the Main Problem of Psoriatic Arthritis
As stated before, PsA (psoriatic arthritis) is the cause of both arthritis and psoriasis. PsA causes pain and swelling in your joints, which usually worsens as you age. Psoriasis and arthritis both cause inflammation and inflammation is the main trigger of flare-ups.
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When inflammation starts in the body, it leads to the start of the symptoms from both medical issues. When this occurs, it causes scales to form on the body. These scales are usually a white-silverish color that occurs on thick red patches.
They usually develop in the joints, knees and muscles but can be visibly seen on a person’s hands, feet, scalp, neck and face. These physical patches can also be extremely painful due to the patch being inflamed. Then there is the possibility of severe joint aches and pains while the skin is having a flare-up.
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5 Essential Oils You’ll Benefit From Having
When dealing with PsA, you’re likely to get prescribed medication from your doctor that will help with flare-ups and joint pains. Now in some instances, they may work, which is great! In other instances, these medically prescribed treatments may not work, so what do you turn to to get some type of relief? A remedy of nature perhaps?
Essential oils have been around since the beginning of time. Not only do they smell amazing when you put them in boiling water or in a diffuser to add scent to an area or room, but they also have amazing healing properties. They’re great for relaxing your mind and soothing your body. Here are some oils to help with PsA:
- Eucalyptus- this essential oil is great for joint relief. *Use blended with other oils, ex. lavender, lemon, juniper berry and or pine needle*
- Lavender- this essential oil is great for soothing your muscles *Use blended with lemon, rosemary, peppermint, and/or lemongrass*
- Chamomile German- this essential oil helps soothe inflammation
- Peppermint- this essential oil is also anti-inflammatory and great for inflammation
- Wintergreen- this essential oil is good for soothing. *it is similar to aspirin and is a methyl salicylate. Do not use it if you are on blood thinners, pregnant or nursing. Use HIGHLY dilated*
How to Use and Where to Find
There are a few ways to use these oils in order to get relief from a psoriatic arthritis flare-up.
Bathing
One way to incorporate these oils is by taking a bath. Once you’ve run the warm (or cool, whichever works better for you) water, drop anywhere between 3-9 drops of essential oils in 1 or 2 cups of Epsom salt. Get into the water and drop the mixture in as well, mixing it all around. Sit in the water for 10-15 minutes.
Directly Applying
Another way to gain relief is by directly applying the oils to the area that is needed. Use a diluted ration; 5-10 drops of oil to 1 teaspoon worth of lotion or cream and apply it 1-3 times a day.
Obtaining these oils is simple and easy. They can be found in your local grocery store, pharmacy, and/or online. So if you’re struggling with flare-ups, try these suggestions. Though this isn’t a cure, it’s an easy and natural remedy to use often. Besides, it may be a lot more helpful than you think.
