While more research is needed, some people may find relief from psoriatic arthritis symptoms by adding complementary therapies, including essential oils like turmeric and lavender.
Some essential oils have components with anti-inflammatory or pain-relieving properties.
If you have psoriatic arthritis (PsA), using essential oils may help support your overall treatment plan, whether in:
- massage products
- aromatherapy
- other products you apply to the skin
There’s still a lack of definitive research on the benefits of essential oils specifically for PsA. However, many studies suggest that these oils contain compounds that may support PsA management.
Keep reading to learn which oils to try.
You may want to try one or several essential oils to relieve PsA symptoms, such as:
- pain
- inflammation
- mood disorders, such as anxiety and depression
On using essential oils
While research suggests there are health benefits, the FDA doesn’t monitor or regulate the purity or quality of essential oils. It’s important to talk with a healthcare professional before you begin using essential oils, and be sure to research the quality of a brand’s products. Always do a patch test before trying a new essential oil.
The following essential oils may help with one or more of these symptoms.
Lavender essential oil
Lavender is often associated with calmness and relaxation.
A small 2021 study suggests it may help reduce anxiety and pain. Study participants who wore a lavender oil-infused face mask before and after a medical procedure reported lower levels of anxiety and pain than members of two control groups.
However, additional research is still needed to further support these and other potential benefits.
Some people may also have skin reactions and allergic reactions to lavender (or any essential oil). Do not use lavender essential oil if you have an allergy to it or to the chemical linalyl acetate.
Read more about using lavender to reduce anxiety.
Eucalyptus essential oil
People use eucalyptus essential oil to manage symptoms of colds and respiratory infections. But it can also be effective for pain relief and reducing inflammation.
A small 2022 clinical trial evaluated the effects of inhaling eucalyptus essential oil on 70 people with rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune form of arthritis that causes joint pain and other symptoms.
Participants who inhaled eucalyptus essential oil had statistically significant improvement in pain after weeks 3 and 4 of the intervention, compared to participants in the control group. They also had an improved quality of life.
Ginger essential oil
Ginger has properties that may reduce inflammation and pain. It also has antioxidant activity.
In a 2019 study of 66 people with rheumatoid arthritis in Iran, consuming 1.5 grams of ginger daily reduced multiple genetic markers of inflammation.
Learn about the other health benefits of ginger, including its anticancer and anti-nausea properties.
Turmeric essential oil
Turmeric is in the same family as ginger, and shares some of the same properties. Turmeric and curcumin, a bioactive compound in turmeric, may have antioxidant, anticancer, antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory effects.
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While research specific to PsA is still needed, curcumin may possibly have a pain-relieving effect.
Turmeric powder can also be used in cooking. Combining it with black pepper helps your body use more of it.
Cinnamon essential oil
According to a 2021 test tube study on specific genes associated with osteoarthritis arthritis, cinnamon reduced markers of inflammation.
A 2020 review of animal and human research also suggests that cinnamon may reduce inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases, including type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and inflammatory bowel disease.
However, research specific to people with PsA is still needed.
Bergamot essential oil
Bergamot is another essential oil that comes from a citrus fruit, the bergamot orange.
A 2024 review of studies that looked at possible health benefits of bergamot juice and essential oil suggests that it may have anti-inflammatory properties.
However, most of the conclusions were based on studies in test tubes and in animals. It’s not certain it will have the same effects on humans. The research also didn’t specifically test for possible benefits for PsA.
Keep in mind that citrus oils can cause photosensitivity, so if you use them on your skin and plan to go outside, make sure to take precautions to cover your skin.
Essential oils are a type of complementary treatment. This means that you use essential oils to help with PsA symptoms combined with conventional treatments.
Essential oils are distilled from these plants and bottled in highly concentrated amounts. Essential oils must be diluted in a carrier oil before use, especially on your skin.
Even diluted, they may also cause a reaction on your skin or in your body, so it’s important to do a patch test on a small area of your skin to see how you react to them before applying them all over.
You can use essential oils in many ways. You can breathe in the essential oils through aromatherapy, or apply them topically when diluted with an appropriate carrier oil. Do not ingest essential oils.
Some ways to safely use essential oils include:
- inhaling for a few seconds directly from the bottle of the essential oil
- mixing in lotions, bath salts, or other body products and using them as directed
- diluting with carrier oils (scentless oils like fractionated coconut or grapeseed oil) and rubbing or massaging onto the body
- dispensing in a diffuser filled with water and inhaling the air
- adding to a few cups of water, dipping a cotton washcloth into the mixture, and applying it to your body
Take care when applying essential oils to any open skin areas (cracks or cuts). This may cause irritation or infection. In most cases, you’ll just need a few drops of essential oils.
Read more about using essential oils safely.
Some people use complementary medicine approaches to manage PsA in addition to traditional treatments. Essential oils are one option that may help improve your symptoms.
It’s best to talk with your doctor before you begin to use essential oils to ensure that they are safe for you. Some oils may potentially interfere with medications you may be taking.
