Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsOils for InflammationHerbs and Oils for UCHow to UseGetting ReliefFacts and Figures
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Oils for Inflammation
Herbs and Oils for UC
How to Use
Getting Relief
Facts and Figures
Some essential oils, including ginger, lavender, and turmeric, may help relieve inflammation from ulcerative colitis (UC). Many people with UC use at-home remedies such as herbs or essential oils in conjunction with traditional medications to manage the condition.
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that affects the large intestine (colon). The condition causes inflammation in the colon that leads to ulcers, which produce mucus and pus and can cause painful symptoms. If you have UC, you may be taking medication and adhering to a special diet to alleviate symptoms and reduce flare-ups. You may also be able to add home remedies to your treatment regime.
Marian Vejcik / Getty Images
Essential Oils for Inflammation
Essential oils are highly concentrated plant extracts derived from the roots, stems, leaves, and flowers of plants. These extracts contain many therapeutic properties that may provide some relief for certain health conditions.
Many essential oils have anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce pain and inflammation throughout the body.
The most powerful anti-inflammatory essential oils include:
Some, but not all of these oils are being investigated specifically for their benefits in managing inflammatory bowel diseases like ulcerative colitis.
Herbs and Essential Oils for Ulcerative Colitis
Many essential oils have anti-inflammatory and analgesic (pain-relieving) properties that may benefit people living with ulcerative colitis. Many products can be found in both essential oil and herbal forms. The difference is that essential oils are generally applied topically and can be more potent than dried herbs. The use of these essential oils or herbs may provide people living with UC with much-needed symptom relief.
Turmeric
Turmericis a popular spice often used in cooking and has been used for thousands of years for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and anticancer properties.It can also be purchased and used in the form of essential oil.
Curcumin—the active ingredient in turmeric—has strong anti-inflammatory properties, which may help reduce UC symptoms.
One study has found that patients with mild-to-moderate UC who took a combination of mesalamine (a common medication to treat UC) and 3,000 milligrams of curcumin each day achieved remission (symptom relief) faster than the group given placebos (substances with no therapeutic effect).
Ginger
Numerous studies have been done on the effects of ginger on gastrointestinal disorders such as UC, and for good reason.Ginger can be purchased in many forms, including as an herbal supplement or as an essential oil.
Ginger has powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and is commonly used to reduce nausea, bloating, and gas, and improve digestion.
Lavender
Lavenderhas a long history of treating many health conditions, including digestive disorders. It is also widely used to soothe anxiety and promote sleep.
Many people with UC experience sleep issues, such as having difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or both. Lavender oil is effective at improving sleep quality.
One study found that lavender not only helped people fall asleep but also enhanced the quality of their sleep.Participants reported waking up feeling more refreshed.
Adding lavender essential oil to a warm bath or spraying some on your linens may help you get a good night’s sleep despite your UC pain.
Myrrh
Myrrhessential oil is made from resin extracted from theCommiphora myrrhatree. Traditionally used to treat inflammatory diseases due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, myrrh essential oil may be helpful in reducing UC-related inflammation.
A cell culture study showed that the combination of myrrh, charcoal, coffee, and chamomile extract may have some benefit in treating IBD due to the combined ingredients' anti-inflammatory properties.
Peppermint
Peppermint oil has been used for centuries to help relieve symptoms of gastrointestinal ailments.
Peppermint is known to have antispasmodic (relieving spasms of involuntary muscles) and anti-inflammatory effects in the gastrointestinal tract. Research shows it effectively reduces cramping and pain.Peppermint oil is also effective at reducing nausea.
Peppermint oil can be diffused for use in aromatherapy or can be purchased as a dietary supplement. If you opt for peppermint as a supplement, look for enteric-coated tablets to aid in absorption.
Cinnamon
The main compound in cinnamon is cinnamaldehyde. In lab trials, cinnamon is being examined for its potential benefits in the treatment of colitis. In particular, cinnamon’s antimicrobial activity and anti-inflammatory effects are of interest.
Currently, there aren’t enough studies conducted in humans to know for sure if cinnamon can provide any real relief from ulcerative colitis, but early animal studies look promising.
Other Types of Oil
In addition to the essential oils listed here, there are some other types of oil that have been investigated for their potential benefits in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.
For example, some early studies suggested that fish oil might play a role in the treatment of UC. Fish oil contains omega-3 fatty acids that are linked to several health benefits.
Several clinical trials conducted in 1992 suggested that fish oil supplementation might be helpful during treatment to help reduce inflammation and help patients gain weight.But findings from study to study were inconsistent and one 2014 study suggested that benefits are limited and more research is needed before the relationship between fish oil and UC treatment is fully understood.
How to Use Essential Oils for Inflammation
There are a few different ways to useessential oils for inflammation, including:
Most essential oils should not be swallowed, but dietary supplements can be consumed in capsule form. Be sure to speak with your healthcare provider before adding essential oils or any herbs to your treatment plan.
When to Expect Relief from Essential Oils
Many people want to know if essential oils will provide immediate relief to their ulcerative colitis symptoms. Whether an essential oil provides immediate relief depends on the type of oil you are using and the symptom and/or condition you are trying to treat.
Lavender, for example, may help soothe anxiety and help you fall asleep quickly. Whereas peppermint essential oil may require repeated use in order to soothe the digestive tract and reduce painful UC symptoms.
In many cases, you may notice improved symptoms after using the essential oil over a period of time.
Ulcerative Colitis Facts and Figures
Ulcerative colitisis one of the primary forms ofinflammatory bowel disease.
An estimated 3 million people in the United States live with IBD.Most people with UC are diagnosed between the ages of 30 and 40 years old, but the condition can affect people of any age.
There is no cure for ulcerative colitis, so treatments focus on managing symptoms and reducing flare-ups.
Symptoms of ulcerative colitisinclude:
What causes UC is not fully understood. Genetics, environmental factors, and abnormal immune responses are all potential causes. Some research suggests that a viral or bacterial infection may be responsible for the development and progression of the disease in some people.
Summary
Many essential oils have anti-inflammatory properties that can help manage the condition, while others have calming and soothing properties to help reduce stress and anxiety and improve sleep.
16 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Pezantes-Orellana C, German Bermúdez F, Matías De la Cruz C, Montalvo JL, Orellana-Manzano A.Essential oils: a systematic review on revolutionizing health, nutrition, and omics for optimal well-being.Front Med. 2024;11:1337785.Zuo X, Gu Y, Wang C, et al.A systematic review of the anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties of 16 essential oils of herbs.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2020;2020:1-14. doi:10.1155/2020/8878927Hewlings SJ, Kalman DS.Curcumin: a review of its effects on human health.Foods. 2017;6(10):92. doi:10.3390/foods6100092Sadeghi N, Mansoori A, Shayesteh A, Hashemi SJ.The effect of curcumin supplementation on clinical outcomes and inflammatory markers in patients with ulcerative colitis.Phytotherapy Research. 2020;34(5):1123-1133. doi:10.1002/ptr.6581Chandan S, Mohan BP, Chandan OC, et al.Curcumin use in ulcerative colitis: is it ready for prime time? A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials.Ann Gastroenterol. 2020;33(1):53-58. doi:10.20524/aog.2019.0439Sadeghi Poor Ranjbar F, Mohammadyari F, Omidvar A, et al.Zingiber officinale (Ginger) as a treatment for inflammatory bowel disease: A review of current literature.Front Drug Discov. 2022;2:1043617.Mashhadi NS, Ghiasvand R, Askari G, Hariri M, Darvishi L, Mofid MR.Anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects of ginger in health and physical activity: review of current evidence.Int J Prev Med. 2013;4(Suppl 1):S36-S42.Lillehei AS, Halcón LL, Savik K, Reis R.Effect of inhaled lavender and sleep hygiene on self-reported sleep issues: a randomized controlled trial.J Altern Complement Med. 2015;21(7):430-438. doi:10.1089/acm.2014.0327Weber L, Kuck K, Jürgenliemk G, Heilmann J, Lipowicz B, Vissiennon C.Anti-inflammatory and barrier-stabilising effects of myrrh, coffee charcoal and chamomile flower extract in a co-culture cell model of the intestinal mucosa.Biomolecules. 2020;10(7):1033. doi:10.3390/biom10071033Alammar N, Wang L, Saberi B, et al.The impact of peppermint oil on the irritable bowel syndrome: a meta-analysis of the pooled clinical data.BMC Complement Altern Med. 2019;19(1):21. doi:10.1186/s12906-018-2409-0Pahan S, Pahan K.Can cinnamon spice down autoimmune diseases?J Clin Exp Immunol. 2020;5(6):252-258. doi:10.33140/jcei.05.06.01Stenson WF, Cort D, Rodgers J, Burakoff R, DeSchryver-Kecskemeti K, Gramlich TL, Beeken W.Dietary supplementation with fish oil in ulcerative colitis.Ann Intern Med. 1992 Apr 15;116(8):609-14. doi: 0.7326/0003-4819-116-8-609Farrukh A, Mayberry JF.Is there a role for fish oil in inflammatory bowel disease?World J Clin Cases. 2014 Jul 16;2(7):250-2. doi:10.12998/wjcc.v2.i7.250Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Inflammatory bowel disease.da Silva BC, Lyra AC, Rocha R, Santana GO.Epidemiology, demographic characteristics and prognostic predictors of ulcerative colitis.World J Gastroenterol. 2014;20(28):9458-9467. doi:10.3748/wjg.v20.i28.9458Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.Signs and symptoms of ulcerative colitis.
16 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Pezantes-Orellana C, German Bermúdez F, Matías De la Cruz C, Montalvo JL, Orellana-Manzano A.Essential oils: a systematic review on revolutionizing health, nutrition, and omics for optimal well-being.Front Med. 2024;11:1337785.Zuo X, Gu Y, Wang C, et al.A systematic review of the anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties of 16 essential oils of herbs.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2020;2020:1-14. doi:10.1155/2020/8878927Hewlings SJ, Kalman DS.Curcumin: a review of its effects on human health.Foods. 2017;6(10):92. doi:10.3390/foods6100092Sadeghi N, Mansoori A, Shayesteh A, Hashemi SJ.The effect of curcumin supplementation on clinical outcomes and inflammatory markers in patients with ulcerative colitis.Phytotherapy Research. 2020;34(5):1123-1133. doi:10.1002/ptr.6581Chandan S, Mohan BP, Chandan OC, et al.Curcumin use in ulcerative colitis: is it ready for prime time? A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials.Ann Gastroenterol. 2020;33(1):53-58. doi:10.20524/aog.2019.0439Sadeghi Poor Ranjbar F, Mohammadyari F, Omidvar A, et al.Zingiber officinale (Ginger) as a treatment for inflammatory bowel disease: A review of current literature.Front Drug Discov. 2022;2:1043617.Mashhadi NS, Ghiasvand R, Askari G, Hariri M, Darvishi L, Mofid MR.Anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects of ginger in health and physical activity: review of current evidence.Int J Prev Med. 2013;4(Suppl 1):S36-S42.Lillehei AS, Halcón LL, Savik K, Reis R.Effect of inhaled lavender and sleep hygiene on self-reported sleep issues: a randomized controlled trial.J Altern Complement Med. 2015;21(7):430-438. doi:10.1089/acm.2014.0327Weber L, Kuck K, Jürgenliemk G, Heilmann J, Lipowicz B, Vissiennon C.Anti-inflammatory and barrier-stabilising effects of myrrh, coffee charcoal and chamomile flower extract in a co-culture cell model of the intestinal mucosa.Biomolecules. 2020;10(7):1033. doi:10.3390/biom10071033Alammar N, Wang L, Saberi B, et al.The impact of peppermint oil on the irritable bowel syndrome: a meta-analysis of the pooled clinical data.BMC Complement Altern Med. 2019;19(1):21. doi:10.1186/s12906-018-2409-0Pahan S, Pahan K.Can cinnamon spice down autoimmune diseases?J Clin Exp Immunol. 2020;5(6):252-258. doi:10.33140/jcei.05.06.01Stenson WF, Cort D, Rodgers J, Burakoff R, DeSchryver-Kecskemeti K, Gramlich TL, Beeken W.Dietary supplementation with fish oil in ulcerative colitis.Ann Intern Med. 1992 Apr 15;116(8):609-14. doi: 0.7326/0003-4819-116-8-609Farrukh A, Mayberry JF.Is there a role for fish oil in inflammatory bowel disease?World J Clin Cases. 2014 Jul 16;2(7):250-2. doi:10.12998/wjcc.v2.i7.250Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Inflammatory bowel disease.da Silva BC, Lyra AC, Rocha R, Santana GO.Epidemiology, demographic characteristics and prognostic predictors of ulcerative colitis.World J Gastroenterol. 2014;20(28):9458-9467. doi:10.3748/wjg.v20.i28.9458Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.Signs and symptoms of ulcerative colitis.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Pezantes-Orellana C, German Bermúdez F, Matías De la Cruz C, Montalvo JL, Orellana-Manzano A.Essential oils: a systematic review on revolutionizing health, nutrition, and omics for optimal well-being.Front Med. 2024;11:1337785.Zuo X, Gu Y, Wang C, et al.A systematic review of the anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties of 16 essential oils of herbs.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2020;2020:1-14. doi:10.1155/2020/8878927Hewlings SJ, Kalman DS.Curcumin: a review of its effects on human health.Foods. 2017;6(10):92. doi:10.3390/foods6100092Sadeghi N, Mansoori A, Shayesteh A, Hashemi SJ.The effect of curcumin supplementation on clinical outcomes and inflammatory markers in patients with ulcerative colitis.Phytotherapy Research. 2020;34(5):1123-1133. doi:10.1002/ptr.6581Chandan S, Mohan BP, Chandan OC, et al.Curcumin use in ulcerative colitis: is it ready for prime time? A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials.Ann Gastroenterol. 2020;33(1):53-58. doi:10.20524/aog.2019.0439Sadeghi Poor Ranjbar F, Mohammadyari F, Omidvar A, et al.Zingiber officinale (Ginger) as a treatment for inflammatory bowel disease: A review of current literature.Front Drug Discov. 2022;2:1043617.Mashhadi NS, Ghiasvand R, Askari G, Hariri M, Darvishi L, Mofid MR.Anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects of ginger in health and physical activity: review of current evidence.Int J Prev Med. 2013;4(Suppl 1):S36-S42.Lillehei AS, Halcón LL, Savik K, Reis R.Effect of inhaled lavender and sleep hygiene on self-reported sleep issues: a randomized controlled trial.J Altern Complement Med. 2015;21(7):430-438. doi:10.1089/acm.2014.0327Weber L, Kuck K, Jürgenliemk G, Heilmann J, Lipowicz B, Vissiennon C.Anti-inflammatory and barrier-stabilising effects of myrrh, coffee charcoal and chamomile flower extract in a co-culture cell model of the intestinal mucosa.Biomolecules. 2020;10(7):1033. doi:10.3390/biom10071033Alammar N, Wang L, Saberi B, et al.The impact of peppermint oil on the irritable bowel syndrome: a meta-analysis of the pooled clinical data.BMC Complement Altern Med. 2019;19(1):21. doi:10.1186/s12906-018-2409-0Pahan S, Pahan K.Can cinnamon spice down autoimmune diseases?J Clin Exp Immunol. 2020;5(6):252-258. doi:10.33140/jcei.05.06.01Stenson WF, Cort D, Rodgers J, Burakoff R, DeSchryver-Kecskemeti K, Gramlich TL, Beeken W.Dietary supplementation with fish oil in ulcerative colitis.Ann Intern Med. 1992 Apr 15;116(8):609-14. doi: 0.7326/0003-4819-116-8-609Farrukh A, Mayberry JF.Is there a role for fish oil in inflammatory bowel disease?World J Clin Cases. 2014 Jul 16;2(7):250-2. doi:10.12998/wjcc.v2.i7.250Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Inflammatory bowel disease.da Silva BC, Lyra AC, Rocha R, Santana GO.Epidemiology, demographic characteristics and prognostic predictors of ulcerative colitis.World J Gastroenterol. 2014;20(28):9458-9467. doi:10.3748/wjg.v20.i28.9458Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.Signs and symptoms of ulcerative colitis.
Pezantes-Orellana C, German Bermúdez F, Matías De la Cruz C, Montalvo JL, Orellana-Manzano A.Essential oils: a systematic review on revolutionizing health, nutrition, and omics for optimal well-being.Front Med. 2024;11:1337785.
Zuo X, Gu Y, Wang C, et al.A systematic review of the anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties of 16 essential oils of herbs.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2020;2020:1-14. doi:10.1155/2020/8878927
Hewlings SJ, Kalman DS.Curcumin: a review of its effects on human health.Foods. 2017;6(10):92. doi:10.3390/foods6100092
Sadeghi N, Mansoori A, Shayesteh A, Hashemi SJ.The effect of curcumin supplementation on clinical outcomes and inflammatory markers in patients with ulcerative colitis.Phytotherapy Research. 2020;34(5):1123-1133. doi:10.1002/ptr.6581
Chandan S, Mohan BP, Chandan OC, et al.Curcumin use in ulcerative colitis: is it ready for prime time? A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials.Ann Gastroenterol. 2020;33(1):53-58. doi:10.20524/aog.2019.0439
Sadeghi Poor Ranjbar F, Mohammadyari F, Omidvar A, et al.Zingiber officinale (Ginger) as a treatment for inflammatory bowel disease: A review of current literature.Front Drug Discov. 2022;2:1043617.
Mashhadi NS, Ghiasvand R, Askari G, Hariri M, Darvishi L, Mofid MR.Anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects of ginger in health and physical activity: review of current evidence.Int J Prev Med. 2013;4(Suppl 1):S36-S42.
Lillehei AS, Halcón LL, Savik K, Reis R.Effect of inhaled lavender and sleep hygiene on self-reported sleep issues: a randomized controlled trial.J Altern Complement Med. 2015;21(7):430-438. doi:10.1089/acm.2014.0327
Weber L, Kuck K, Jürgenliemk G, Heilmann J, Lipowicz B, Vissiennon C.Anti-inflammatory and barrier-stabilising effects of myrrh, coffee charcoal and chamomile flower extract in a co-culture cell model of the intestinal mucosa.Biomolecules. 2020;10(7):1033. doi:10.3390/biom10071033
Alammar N, Wang L, Saberi B, et al.The impact of peppermint oil on the irritable bowel syndrome: a meta-analysis of the pooled clinical data.BMC Complement Altern Med. 2019;19(1):21. doi:10.1186/s12906-018-2409-0
Pahan S, Pahan K.Can cinnamon spice down autoimmune diseases?J Clin Exp Immunol. 2020;5(6):252-258. doi:10.33140/jcei.05.06.01
Stenson WF, Cort D, Rodgers J, Burakoff R, DeSchryver-Kecskemeti K, Gramlich TL, Beeken W.Dietary supplementation with fish oil in ulcerative colitis.Ann Intern Med. 1992 Apr 15;116(8):609-14. doi: 0.7326/0003-4819-116-8-609
Farrukh A, Mayberry JF.Is there a role for fish oil in inflammatory bowel disease?World J Clin Cases. 2014 Jul 16;2(7):250-2. doi:10.12998/wjcc.v2.i7.250
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Inflammatory bowel disease.
da Silva BC, Lyra AC, Rocha R, Santana GO.Epidemiology, demographic characteristics and prognostic predictors of ulcerative colitis.World J Gastroenterol. 2014;20(28):9458-9467. doi:10.3748/wjg.v20.i28.9458
Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.Signs and symptoms of ulcerative colitis.
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