8 Best Essential Oils for Bunions & How to Use

What are Bunions?

If the side of your big toe sticks out noticeably, you may have a bunion. A bunion is a deformity of the joint connecting the big toe to the foot. Scientifically speaking, bunions are characterized by medial deviation of the first metatarsal bone and lateral deviation of the big toe.

The exact cause of bunions is unknown: some medical professionals say that it’s caused by long-term use of shoes, especially the tight fitting ones with pointed toes. Others say it’s caused by genetic factors, worsened by wearing tight fitting shoes for extended periods of term.

Bunions occur when pressure is applied to the side of the big toe, forcing it inwards, leaning on the other toes. Because of this pressure, the tissues surrounding the joint often become swollen, tender and painful. Research shows that people from cultures who do not wear shoes do not suffer from bunions at all. That’s why bunions are majorly linked to wearing tight or ill-fitting shoes.

Signs and Symptoms of Bunions

If you have a bunion, you might be experiencing one or more of the following symptoms:

• Joint between big toe and foot protruding outwards
• Big toe shifting or slanting against the other toes
• Joint redness and pain
• Pain when walking
• Blisters around bunions
• Tenderness around bunion
• Calluses along the feet when the bunion rubs against your shoe

How do Essential Oils Help Bunions?

Essential oils are highly concentrated liquid plant extracts that have powerful therapeutic properties. They have a wide variety of properties that are beneficial in giving relief to bunions and helping them reduce in size and disappear. Some of these properties include anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antimicrobial and more. Essential oils promote blood circulation, reduce inflammation, prevent blisters from forming, numb down pain and heal the tender tissue.

Below, let’s check out the 8 best essential oils for bunions below then how to use them:

8 Best Essential Oils for Bunions

1. Eucalyptus Radiata Essential Oil

2. Lemon Essential Oil

3. Wintergreen Essential Oil

4. Peppermint Essential Oil

5. Sweet Marjoram Essential Oil

6. Rosemary Essential Oil

7. Lavender Essential Oil

8. German Chamomile Essential Oil

How to Use Essential Oils for Bunions

The best way to use essential oils for bunions is through gentle massage. Dilute one or more of the essential oils above in a suitable carrier oil and gently massage it on the affected area. You can use essential oils for bunions through the following ways:

• Massage blend
• Foot soak
• Roller blend

We shall explore how to use essential oils through the above ways:

1. Bunion Massage Blend

What you need

• ½ cup fractionated coconut oil
• 10 drops eucalyptus radiata oil
• 10 drops german chamomile essential oil
• 10 drops sweet marjoram oil
• 10 drops lemon oil
• 8 drops wintergreen oil
• 4 oz amber dropper bottle
• Small funnel

Directions

1. Using a small funnel, pour ½ cup fractionated coconut oil into your amber glass dropper bottle.
2. Next carefully add 10 drops each of eucalyptus radiata oil, german chamomile oil, sweet marjoram oil and lemon oil. Also add 8 drops of wintergreen oil.
3. Close the bottle and shake well to combine everything. Store in a cool dry place.
4. To use, gently massage about 1 tsp onto your bunion and big toe twice daily. Do not expose the oiled area to harsh sunlight as lemon essential oil is photosensitive. You can also use this massage blend only at night time to avoid sun exposure.

2. Foot Soak for Painful & Swollen Bunions

What you need

• Foot soak tub filled with hot water
• ½ cup Epsom salts
• 10 drops peppermint oil
• 10 drops lavender oil

Directions

1. Fill a tub with a gallon of hot water. Not very hot but hot enough that your skin can handle.
2. Now mix 10 drops each of peppermint and lavender oil in ½ cup Epsom salts.
3. Disperse the Epsom salt-essential oil mixture in the warm water.
4. Soak your feet for 15 minutes or more.
5. You can do this three times a week or more if necessary.

3. Bunion Busting Roller Blend 

What you need

• 10 drops eucalyptus radiata oil
• 10 drops sweet marjoram oil
• 8 drops lemon
• 8 drops german chamomile
• Fractionated coconut oil
• Roller ball remover tool
• 10 ml roller bottle

Directions

1. Remove the roller ball from the bottle using a roller ball remover tool.
2. Now drop in 10 drops each of eucalyptus radiata and sweet marjoram essential oil. Next add 8 drops each of lemon and german chamomile oil.
3. Top with fractionated coconut oil.
4. Firmly push the roller ball back onto the bottle and shake well to combine.
5. Gently roll onto the bunion three times daily. Do not expose the oiled area to harsh sunlight as lemon essential oil is photosensitive. If you want, you can leave out the lemon essential oil.

Caution

• Keep essential oils away from children and pets.
• Wash your hands after handling essential oils, for example, after massaging the above blend onto your bunion.

• Young Living Essential Oils, LC, is the world leader in essential oils, with a strict Seed to Seal® process that produces pure essential oil products for every individual, family, and lifestyle. This process ensures that all products are genuine, free of synthetic chemicals, and pure. This commitment stems from the company’s more than 20 years of stewardship toward the earth and its people.

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