What is Raynaud's Syndrome?

Raynaud’s is an affliction people often struggle through without knowing it’s a defined, named medical condition. The Mayo Clinic defines it as follows: 

“Raynaud's (ray-NOSE) disease causes some areas of the body — such as fingers and toes — to feel numb and cold in response to cold temperatures or stress. In Raynaud's disease, smaller blood vessels that supply blood to the skin narrow. This limits blood flow to affected areas, which is called vasospasm.” 

This description from the Mayo Clinic is just the tip of the iceberg. The condition goes on to cause fingertips and toes to turn white or blue, and is often quite uncomfortable or painful. There’s often slight to excruciating tingling as the body warms back up and circulation returns, much like when a part of the body falls asleep.

How can I support the body and soothe symptoms?

Protecting yourself with layers and the right outdoor gear is a great place to start, but aromatherapy can support you through circulatory support to thwart an incident and to support symptom alleviation. Pranarōm has a wide range of essential oils and virgin plant oils to help you live your most comfortable outdoor life this winter.  

Carrot Seed Essential Oil

Carrot Seed Essential Oil is rich in constituents like carotol, caryophyllene, and more! Rich in sesquiterpenols, like the carotol, this oil’s compounds can support through phlebotonic actions. This is especially helpful for blood vessels, which with Raynaud’s can become constricted and prevent proper circulation. Carrot Seed essential oil to the rescue! Other common indications for this essential oil include:

•       Stimulates circulation

•       Tonic for nervous system

•       Cold extremities

Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil

 Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil, rich in cinnamaldehyde, comes in as a warming support where someone might have cold extremities due to poor circulation or Raynaud’s. This warming action is fairly unique for an aromatic aldehyde, but doesn’t diminish cinnamaldehyde’s abilities. Cinnamon Bark is, however, an oil you want to be sure to use in dilution*. It is a known culprit for irritating skin when used inappropriately. When used in proper dilution, however, this oil is a great ally for cold extremities, and works wonders in combination with Ginger essential oil for warming effects. Additional benefits include:

•       Generally re-energizing for all failing functions

•       Cold extremities

•       Peripheral capillary insufficiency

Neroli Essential Oil

Neroli Essential Oil pops in as a surprise for most, as it’s often utilized in perfumery. Lauded for its exotic and unique floral scent, one can see why it’s a top choice for personal scent. The surprise is the part I like best – helping people see an essential oil and its multi-faceted abilities. No essential oil is limited to one benefit, and that includes Neroli. Graced with ample monoterpenols and Monoterpenes, this essential oil comes with combined abilities that support slowed circulation to soothe symptoms of Raynaud’s. Here we see some of the specific therapeutic abilities of Neroli:

•       Venous tonic

•       Neurotonic

•       Circulatory congestion

Other Oils to Consider:

Additional honorable mentions go to the essential oils of Cypress, Atlas Cedarwood, German Chamomile, and Patchouli. Remember that every body responds to essential oils differently, whether it’s differences in body chemistry or the sensitivity of the skin, so it’s important to be prepared for some trials in terms of finding just the right combo for you.

That said, there are Virgin Plant Oils that can be supportive enough on their own, and require no dilution since they’re the oils you’d be using to dilute with. Let’s look at two here that could go solo or with your essential oil combos.

Virgin Plant Oil's for Raynaud's Syndrome

St. John's Wort Virgin Plant Oil

St. John’s Wort Virgin Plant Oil is a first-aid cabinet favorite, well utilized alone or in combination with Calendula and Arnica oils to support optimal healing. Here, we turn to St. John’s Wort for its abilities to support where circulatory needs arise. Helpful, too, where nerve pain and itching might appear, it can be used on the other side of a Raynaud’s flare up – on its own or with one of the essential oils mentioned above. Below are some of St. John’s Wort’s phytonutrients and supportive abilities:

•       Hyperforin

•       Naphthodianthrones

•       Trace amounts of the essential oil

•       Circulatory congestion

Tamanu Virgin Plant Oil

Tamanu Virgin Plant Oil come from a nut native to the South Pacific. Traditionally used there for its supportive tendencies for heavy, restless, uncomfortable legs, Tamanu can also promote circulatory health. Though this fixed oil has remarkable abilities, it can sometimes leave a tacky feel to the skin if used alone, so I’d recommend blending it with another fixed “carrier” oil in your applications. Tamanu offers key elements and supportive abilities as follows:

•       Calophyllolide

•       Heavy legs

•       Varicose veins

•       Lymph drainage

Essential Oil Supplements for Raynaud's Syndrome

Thyme ct Thujanol Essential Oil

Thyme ct thujanol acts as a circulatory activator thanks to its high content of the monoterpene thujanol, which is supremely supportive in the case of Raynaud’s, and comes in the convenient delivery system of mini caps. Each mini cap has one drop of Thyme ct thujanol in a base of non-GMO, organic sunflower seed oil, all encapsulated in a porcine gelatine to ensure travel through the digestive system. Pranarōm’s mini caps offer proper dilution and ensure optimal absorption so the body can distribute the oil’s potent phytonutrients as needed. This is your cold-weather go to where circulatory support is needed. Additionally, Thyme ct thujanol is indicated as a:

•       Circulatory activator

•       Neurotonic

•       For cold extremities

Putting It All Together

Raynaud’s can leave you feeling debilitated and uncomfortable. Lifestyle choices can be a great way to navigate this delicate terrain, but can also take some time to see results. Aromatherapy can be a wonderful stop-gap and consistent support as you make their way to finding relief. With ample ideas to get you going, I hope your journey with Raynaud’s is as uneventful as possible. In the meantime, find a sample recipe to get you going. All wellness and circulatory success to you! 

Cold Extremities

•       .5ml Patchouli Essential Oil

•       .5ml Atlas Cedarwood Essential Oil

•       .1ml Cassia/ Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil

•       .5ml Cypress

•       2ml Tamanu Virgin Plant Oil

•       6ml Jojoba Virgin Plant Oil

2 local applications daily until improvement is felt.

*Proper and effective dilution starts with a .5%-1% dilution rate, which equals 4-9 drops of essential oil per ounce of carrier oil. 

Article by: Liza Docken, Pranarom US National Educator

Liza Docken is a Certified Aromatherapist and the National Educator for Pranarōm. She has been in the natural products industry for over 25 years. She brings an enthusiastic approach to science-based aromatherapy, maintaining the importance and wonder of plants and the natural world.