10 Best Essential Oil Blends for Swollen Ankles and Feet
The best essential oil blends for swollen legs, ankles, and feet are Tea tree, Lavender, Juniper, Geranium, Roman Chamomile Oil, Cypress, Peppermint, Helichrysum Italicum, Ginger, Neroli. There are many essential oils out there and it can be hard to know how to use them, this blog post will help you with that.
The 10 Best Essential Oil Blends for Swollen Legs, Ankles, and feet & How to Use Them
The following essential oils are excellent natural remedies for swelling. Most are effective mixed in with carrier oil and massaged into your feet once or twice a day.
Nut oils are the best kind of carrier oils to use to make a blend to massage your swollen legs and feet because they are anti-inflammatory and stimulate circulation.
Nut oils include almond, hazelnut, macadamia and walnut. For those with nut allergies, coconut is a safe and soothing alternative, or simple olive oil is a great choice for sensitive skin.
- Tea tree Essential Oil
- Lavender Essential Oil
- Juniper Essential Oil
- Geranium Essential Oil
- Roman Chamomile Oil
- Cypress Essential Oil
- Peppermint Essential Oil
- Helichrysum Italicum Essential Oil
- Ginger Essential Oil
- Neroli Essential Oil
1. Tea tree Essential Oil
Tea tree oil comes from the Melaleuca alternifolia tree native to New South Wales, Australia, and it has been used as traditional medicine by the Aborigines for centuries. It possesses anti-bacterial, antiviral, anti-fungal, and anti-inflammatory properties., preventing infection and promoting healing.
It helps to soothe irritation, calm redness and swelling, and it can even be used on wound dressings to promote healing because its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties are so strong.
Combine 10 drops of tea tree with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and 1 tablespoon of coconut oil, and store the mixture in a sealed container. Massage into your feet and ankles twice a day to alleviate swelling.
2. Lavender Essential Oil
Lavender oil has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties that are helpful in soothing burns and bug bites, it is a powerful analgesic, making it useful as a topical painkiller for general aches and pains.
As it is also a mood stabilizer, Lavender is frequently used to reduce stress and anxiety, which adds to its healing prowess because it helps to relieve emotional as well as physical distress caused by pain.
Mix 6 drops of lavender with 1 tablespoon of soothing aloe vera juice and 1 tablespoon of your favourite carrier oil (I love coconut oil for feet), and massage into the affected area twice a day. Lavender is particularly nice to use in the evening as it is very calming.
3. Juniper Essential Oil
The aroma of juniper oil has a calming and grounding effect and it is a powerful detoxifier, especially effective at combating UTIs and promoting kidney health. Because it is a diuretic, it promotes good drainage which is helpful against swelling caused by fluid retention.
Juniper oil is not to be confused with cade oil, which is distilled from the wood of the juniper tree, not the berry.
Juniper oil can be applied directly to the skin to relieve swelling and joint and muscle pain, but it is best to mix 4-5 drops with your chosen carrier oil and massage into your feet every evening.
4. Geranium Essential Oil
Indigenous to southern Africa, Geranium oil is cultivated throughout the world and has been used to promote a glowing complexion since the time of the ancient Egyptians.
As a cosmetic, its anti-inflammatory properties, efficacy in removing dead skin cells, and the ability to promote skin tightness and regeneration make it an ideal beauty product.
Geranium is a mild painkiller, which combined with its anti-inflammatory and antiseptic nature makes it ideal for reducing discomfort and chances of infection. It is also said to promote good blood circulation, which makes it effective at combatting swelling.
Mix 4-5 drops of geranium oil with a tablespoon of your chosen carrier oil and massage into your feet twice a day.
5. Roman Chamomile Oil
Chamomile is well known as a mild sedative, and a well-known remedy for insomnia. It is also an effective natural remedy for allergy symptoms, able to reduce mucus congestion and swelling.
Applied topically, it is very effective for relieving skin irritation and soothing rashes.
It’s very helpful when used to calm inflamed skin, also helping with headaches, arthritis, and muscle aches.
Roman and German chamomile are often used interchangeable, but german chamomile actually contains more of the compound useful in combatting swelling.
Chamomile oil can be added to a carrier oil or ointment, but a particularly soothing way to use it is to add 5-10 drops to a bowl of hot water and soak your swollen feet.
6. Cypress Essential Oil
Cypress oil originates in the eastern Meditteranean and is distilled from the leaves/needles of the tree. Its main benefit is that it stimulates lymphatic drainage, making it an excellent detoxifier.
Cypress oil contains camphene, a strong antiseptic which aids the fast healing of wounds and infections, and it’s very helpful in treating spasms, cramps, and associated pain.
It also has hemostatic and styptic properties, which means it promotes clotting while preventing excessive blood flow; essentially, it improves circulation, which helps treat swelling.
Cypress is also wonderful for treating overheated or strained skin, a side effect of swelling.
To use cypress oil, simply rub 5 drops of oil into the affected areas twice a day for a few weeks.
7. Peppermint Essential Oil
Peppermint oil is distilled from peppermint leaves, a common plant found all over the world – and even in people’s gardens.
Peppermint oil is a fantastic remedy for the common cold, digestive issues such as nausea and bloating, and other issues such as relieving itching and muscle pain.
It has mild antibacterial properties, and its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties make it an excellent natural way to relieve tension headaches and alleviate muscle pain.
Peppermint oil has also been traditionally used specifically as a treatment for tired, aching feet at the end of a long day, as its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties help it to relieve swelling and muscle aches.
Simply mix 6-7 drops in with your chosen carrier oil or add to a foot bath to relieve swelling.
8. Helichrysum Italicum Essential Oil
Helichrysum is a Latin name meaning ‘immortal’ or ‘everlasting’. It grows wild in southern Europe, and it has an exotic, spicy scent. It’s very useful in skincare, as it helps strengthen cells and build new tissue
Helichrysum has anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties, making it useful for preventing and treating infections. There is even some new research to suggest that this oil could be effective in fighting malaria.
Traditionally, it is thought to be useful in treating wounds and supporting healthy kidney function as it promotes drainage, which can be useful to combat swelling caused by fluid retention.
It also reduces muscle and joint inflammation when rubbed into the affected area.
To relieve swelling, mix 5-10 drops with your chosen carrier oil and massage into your feet every evening.
9. Ginger Essential Oil
Ginger oil is derived from the ginger root and is alternatively known as ‘the oil of empowerment’ because of the feelings of confidence is inspires – it is spicy, warming, and energising.
Used topically, ginger oil reduces redness and is also known to reduce aches and pains.
Curcumene, a chemical found in ginger oil, is known to have hypotensive and analgesic effects, and it has extremely powerful anti-inflammatory properties.
It is used specifically to treat swelling; ginger has been proven to decrease cytokines, the enzymes that cause inflammation.
Ginger oil can irritate the skin when applied directly, so you should mix it with vaseline before applying to make a salve. Use about a 1:10 ratio of ginger oil to vaseline; that’s about 7 drops of oil per teaspoon of vaseline.
10. Neroli Essential Oil
Neroli oil is particularly useful in treating skin complaints such as acne because it has such strong anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. It reduces inflammation and could even have significant benefits for inflammatory diseases when manufactured as a food product.
When inhaled, Neroli reduces anxiety because it helps the brain to reduce cortisol levels and it is also beneficial in pain management as, applied topically, it reduces acute inflammation and sensitivity to pain.*
Mix a few drops of neroli with your chosen carrier oil and either use it as a massage oil for your feet or add it to your bath to help relieve swelling.
*Neroli should not be applied topically if the area of skin affected will be exposed to the sun as it promotes sunburn.
Massage Oil Recipe for Swollen Feet and Ankles
The most common causes of swollen feet and ankles are poor circulation and fluid retention caused by sitting or standing for too long. The best massage oil recipe to help with this issue should contain essential oils that address the root cause and soothe the swelling.
An effective massage oil recipe to combat these should include:
1. Cypress oil, whose hemostatic and diuretic properties help to regulate blood and flush out excess liquid and toxins, reducing swelling.
2. Lavender, which stimulates circulation and has analgesic properties which combat discomfort. Its scent is also known to aid relaxation, reducing discomfort mentally as well as physically.
To boost circulation further and help reduce inflammation and accompanying muscle aches, add a little juniper to the mix.
Add 5-10 drops of each of these to your chosen carrier oil, then store the mixture and use twice a day to relieve swelling.
FAQs on Essential Oil Blends for Swollen Legs, Ankles, and Feet
1. What Is The Best Essential Oil For Swollen Feet??
It’s hard to pinpoint the best essential oil for swollen feet is as it depends on the cause of the problem. In general, any oil that improves circulation and/or reduces inflammation is a good choice.
Chamomile reduces inflammation and promotes relaxation. German chamomile particularly contains a compound which reduces swelling – use 5-10 drops of this oil in hot water to soak your feet.
Peppermint is anti-inflammatory and analgesic – it has been used as a remedy for aching feet for centuries.
Cypress is probably the best choice overall. It simultaneously promotes good circulation and helps drainage (alleviating fluid retention), and has anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce skin irritation caused by swelling.
2. What Essential Oil(S) Is Good For Swollen Legs?
Swollen legs are most often caused by fluid retention, and a great combination for battling this is drainage-promoting juniper with ginger, an especially powerful anti-inflammatory (and tried and tested traditional treatment for swelling).
Adding a little cypress oil to any combination intended to treat swelling won’t hurt as it helps improve circulation and soothes overheated skin, which is helpful since swelling puts a strain on the skin.
3. Is Coconut Oil Good For Swollen Feet?
Coconut oil has great antibacterial and antifungal properties, making it a good choice of oil to use on your feet even when they aren’t swollen. It’s also a great carrier oil for any essential oils that you may want to use to alleviate the swelling in your feet.
Coconut oil has many healing properties and is made up of 90% fat; it works wonders when it is allowed to soak into your skin.
At the very least it will relieve the skin tightness which often accompanies swollen feet and reduce discomfort.
4. Essential Oils For Swollen Feet During Pregnancy
Many essential oils are not recommended for use during pregnancy – they have many beneficial properties but can also trigger undesirable effects such as blood thinning and cramps.
However, many are perfectly safe and can be a wonderful natural remedy for pregnancy-related problems such as swollen feet.
Cypress, lavender, and chamomile are a great combination for use in pregnancy as they are safe, gentle, and relaxing as well as having the desired effects on circulation and inflammation to reduce swelling.