When evaluating a person’s health, most focus on their weight, heart, and mental health. The last thing people think about is a person’s blood circulation. However, circulation has a serious impact on a person’s health and is directly in charge of keeping your body healthy. To help keep your body healthy, we will review the symptoms and causes of poor blood circulation and the top essential oils to increase it.
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All About Blood Circulation
Now, prior to talking about essential oils, it’s worth talking a little bit about blood circulation. Your circulation system is in charge of moving your blood through your body, as well as oxygen, nutrients, and other compounds that help you move.
The body’s circulatory system is responsible for moving blood throughout the entire body. When this flow is disrupted, you can suffer from a variety of health problems.
However, the majority of circulation blockages are caused by a lack of oxygen in the body. This can reduce your overall health and effectiveness of your lymphatic system.
Often enough, having poor circulation is not actually a disease itself, but instead a symptom of an even worse condition. These health conditions can include peripheral artery disease, high cholesterol, heart disease, etc.
Take the first step in treating your poor circulation and talk to your doctor about what you can do to correct your health condition. Improving your poor circulation can be anywhere from losing weight to switching to a healthier diet.
I would recommend adding some beet powder to your diet since beets are very effective at oxidizing the blood. My recommendation which can be found on Amazon is called Power Beets.
Nevertheless, essential oils can be introduced into your life to help improve your blood circulation as well.
Symptoms of Poor Circulation
1. Numbness
If you have poor circulation you might have numbness in your feet, hands, legs, or arms. This symptom is usually caused a reduction or blockage of blood flow. However, usually, it is a sign of poor circulation in your body.
2. Tiredness
If you find yourself feeling tired frequently and have a hard time sleeping, you may have poor blood circulation. This means that it’s harder for your body to deliver nutrients and oxygens to different parts of your body and reserve any energy, which is causing your fatigue.
3. Poor Appetite
Having poor appetite means that your body is having a hard time digesting the nutrients in your food and delivering it to your body via your circulatory system. This lack of nutrients leads to a further loss of appetite and slowed metabolism.
4. Digestive Problems
Problems with your blood circulation spell trouble for your digestive tract since it needs good circulation to function properly. Due to your loss of blood flow, you may experience nausea, diarrhea, and stomach pain.
5. Poor Immune System
Poor blood circulation can also lessen the strength of your immune system since you have fewer nutrients in your body. Also, the lack of minerals and amino acids can disrupt your digestive system and immune system from functioning properly. This can greatly affect your healing process of any wounds you may be suffering from.
Additional symptoms include:
Swollen Extremities
Chest Pressure
Reduced Libido
Fragile Nails and Hair
Cold Extremities
Skin Discoloration
Dark Eye Circles
Decreased Cognitive Ability
Leg Ulcers
Varicose Veins
Causes of Poor Blood Circulation
Poor blood circulation can also directly like other health condition such as peripheral artery disease and atherosclerosis. Decreases in your blood circulation can also be the cause of poor lifestyle habits such as overeating, excessively drinking alcohol, and smoking.
1. Peripheral Artery Disease
Most people who are in their adult age or over the age of 50 suffer from peripheral artery disease or PAD. This disease causes those who suffer from it to have shrinking blood vessels and arteries, which in turn, lower their blood circulation. However, PAD can also cause numbness in people’s extremities and cause severe damage to nerves and tissue. Without treatment, peripheral artery disease can cause a stroke.
2. Blood Clots
Blood clots are caused by a blockage of blood in a person’s arteries or veins and usually affect the blood flow in the arms or legs. It’s very important to treat a blood clot head-on since it can cause traumatic damage to your heart or lungs.
3. Diabetes
Diabetes is not only caused by low blood sugar levels but also poor blood circulation as well. This disease can cause pain in the feet, calves, legs, and thighs, which puts the person being affected at risk of diabetic neuropathy. This condition can damage the nerve endings in a person’s extremities, as well as damaging sensations in a person’s skin.
4. Obesity
Excess weight on your heart or lungs can cause serious blood restriction throughout your body. If you are overweight, you may have poor circulation in your legs or hands, which can make sitting or standing for a period of time overbearing.
Best Essentials Oils for Blood Circulation
If you believe you are suffering from poor blood circulation, you may be able to use essential oils to relieve your problem. It is crucial, however, that you know which ones to use and how to use them. Below, we will review the best essential oils you can use for this purpose. To utilize these oils, put a few drops in an aromatherapy diffuser or dilute them in a carrier oil and apply them to topically. Doing so can provide some much-needed relief for your circulatory troubles. Here are ten of the best essential oils to try out.
1. Ginger
To reduce swelling and muscle soreness, apply ginger topically. Ginger essential oil produces a warm and happy sensation when applied. The oil holds antioxidants that aid in the elimination of waste and reducing of inflammation. These two factors together can help to improve blood circulation.
2. Cypress
Cypress also contains powerful antioxidants that can rid your body of any toxins. It also boosts blood circulation and relaxes the nervous system. Cypress essential oil works similarly to omega-3 oils.
3. Eucalyptus
If fatigue is one of your most troubling poor blood circulation symptoms, try using eucalyptus oil. The main component of eucalyptus, eucalyptol, functions like a strong vasodilator when it is absorbed by the body. This makes the blood vessels larger and increases the blood’s flow throughout the body.
4. Coriander
When used in aromatherapy, coriander can lower your blood pressure. This essential oil helps the body to digest fats which, in turn, reduces the plaque that attaches itself to blood vessels. It can also prevent diuretic function, which removes toxins from your body. Coriander also has very powerful medicinal properties. If you choose to use this oil topically, it works like a very strong pain reliever.
5. Wintergreen
By cutting down platelet aggregation in your blood stream, wintergreen helps to improve circulation. Platelets play an important role in your body’s ability to clot blood, however, they can also cause thrombosis/blood clots. Wintergreen works to thin the blood, similarly to aspirin, which helps to prevent unnecessary clotting and promote circulation.
6. Juniper
Juniper essential oil cleanses and detoxifies the blood. This detox helps to boost bad circulation. The oil can also improve the removal of any uric acid crystals.
7. Black Pepper
Though you may think of black pepper as a simple table spice, it can do so much more. The essential oil holds copious amounts of limonene. This is a common, naturally occurring terpene that can help cholesterol to dissolve. Black pepper oil can also help to treat constipation and stimulate your digestive system.
8. Lavender
For those with stress-related blood circulation issues, lavender is an excellent option. This essential oil does more than just smell great. It has powerful relaxing properties. When used, it can calm down both your body and your mind. The oil aids in relieving anxiety, tension, and stress, which causes the blood vessels to dilate.
9. Neroli
Neroli essential oil is not very common, though recent studies have shown how promising it is when treating bad circulation. The oil is made out of the blossoms of bitter orange trees. The study found that when neroli oil was used for aromatherapy, it lowered participants blood pressure.
10. Cumin
Fat in blood plasma is a common cause of circulatory issues. Cumin essential oil works to target and reduce this. This oil can also be used as a pain reliever.
Bad blood circulation is a serious issue and can often be a sign of a deeper issue. However, by confronting the problem, you can help to relieve your discomfort and treat your circulation problems. One of the best ways to do so is by using essential oils. These natural remedies can boost circulation and help to treat the other symptoms associated with this problem. Hopefully, you enjoyed this informative guide all about blood circulation and how essential oils can help you.
Article Resources:
http://www.healthline.com/health/poor-circulation-symptoms-causes#overview1
http://www.belmarrahealth.com/essential-oils-circulation-10-best-oils-improve-blood-circulation/