Show notes
Are essential oils the pain solution your Instagram feed promises or just hype in a bottle?
Stacey Roberts brings her no-nonsense expertise and decades of clinical experience to question what really works for pain relief. In a world hooked on quick fixes and social media claims, discover which oils are backed by real human trials, how these natural compounds work in the body, and the honest limits the hype never reveals.
Listen now to uncover proven strategies and avoid the costly mistakes that come from blind trust. Miss this, and you risk wasting money, risking safety, or worse, missing a real breakthrough in your pain journey. Dive in for honest science, practical options, and Stacey’s exclusive tips you won’t find on any influencer’s feed.
Timestamped Highlights
- 01:00 – How Instagram got essential oils wrong (and what’s real)
- 02:22 – The unexpected science behind why some oils actually work
- 05:09 – The proven essential oil that beats headaches—fast
- 07:35 – A personal mom moment that reveals lavender’s hidden power
- 10:00 – Frankincense and rose: promising newcomers or empty promises?
- 12:07 – The brutal limits of essential oils you never hear about
- 13:32 – Stacey’s go-to rules for using oils safely (and what to avoid)
- 20:11 – The sneaky label trick: How to spot the purest oils now
Resources
Are essential oils the miracle cure your feed says they are? No. Are they worthless? Also no.
The truth, as usual, lives in the evidence: a handful of these oils — peppermint, lavender,
frankincense, clove — have real human trials showing real, if modest, pain relief, working
through real biological mechanisms. Used safely, sourced well, and treated as one tool
alongside addressing the actual root cause, they've earned a legitimate place in the toolkit.
This podcast is for informational purposes only. ALWAYS check with your trusted license
healthcare professional for guidance on any information provided here.
A 2–3% dilution describes how much essential oil you mix into a carrier oil (like jojoba, almond,
or fractionated coconut) before applying it to your skin. The percentage is the proportion of
essential oil in the total blend.
The practical rule of thumb: 1% ≈ 6 drops of essential oil per 1 oz (30 mL) of carrier oil.
So:
• 2% = about 12 drops per ounce of carrier
• 3% = about 18 drops per ounce of carrier
If you're mixing a small amount, a common shortcut is roughly 3 drops of essential oil per
teaspoon (5 mL) of carrier for a ~2–3% blend.
References
Göbel, H., Fresenius, J., Heinze, A., Dworschak, M., & Soyka, D. (1996).
Effectiveness of Oleum menthae piperitae and paracetamol in the therapy of tension-type headache. Nervenarzt, 67(8), 672-681.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s001150050040
Placebo-controlled crossover trial evaluating 10% peppermint oil in 41 patients with tension-type headaches.
EUMINZ® Phase IV Trial. (2017).
10% ethanolic peppermint oil for episodic tension-type headache. Z Phytotherapie.
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01770080.
https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0037-1607119
Phase IV study involving 211 participants examining peppermint oil for episodic tension-type headache relief.
Borhani Haghighi, A., Motazedian, S., Rezaii, R., Mohammadi, F., Salarian, L., Pourmokhtari, M., & Shojaei, A. (2010).
Cutaneous application of menthol 10% solution as an abortive treatment of migraine without aura: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossed-over study. International Journal of Clinical Practice, 64(4), 451-456.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1742-1241.2009.02215.x
Sundstrup, E., Jakobsen, M. D., Brandt, M., Jay, K., Persson, R., Aagaard, P., & Andersen, L. L. (2014).
Acute effect of topical menthol on chronic pain in carpal tunnel syndrome: A randomized placebo-controlled crossover trial. Rehabilitation Research and Practice, 2014, 310913.
https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/310913
Inhalation Aromatherapy With Lavender for Postoperative Pain Management: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials. (2025).
Pain Management Nursing.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmn.2025.03.005
Nasiri, A., Mahmodi, M. A., Nobakht, Z., & Benisi-Kohansal, S. (2016).
Effect of aromatherapy massage with lavender essential oil on osteoarthritis of the knee: A randomized controlled clinical trial. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 25, 75-80.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2016.08.002
Single-blind RCT involving 90 patients. Significant pain reduction immediately and at one week, but not sustained at four weeks.
Sasannejad, P., Saeedi, M., Shoeibi, A., Gorji, A., Abbasi, M., & Foroughipour, M. (2012).
Lavender essential oil in the treatment of migraine headache: A placebo-controlled clinical trial. European Neurology, 67(5), 288-291.
https://doi.org/10.1159/000335249
Mohsenzadeh, A., et al. (2023).
Topical boswellic acid extract for knee osteoarthritis: A randomized controlled trial. BMC Research Notes, 16(1), 28.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-023-06291-5
Study evaluated boswellic acid extract derived from frankincense, not frankincense essential oil.
Rose Oil (Rosa damascena) Inhalation for Primary Dysmenorrhea. (2023).
Advances in Integrative Medicine.
Randomized controlled trial involving 86 patients examining the effects of inhaled rose oil on menstrual pain.
(Verify author names and DOI from the original publication prior to publication.)
Corasaniti, M. T., et al. (2023).
Essential oils and cancer pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24(8), 7085.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24087085
Scuteri, D., et al. (2021).
Essential oils and pain: A systematic review with meta-analysis of preclinical studies. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 12, 640128.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2021.640128
Important Links
About the Host
Stacey Roberts, PT, MBA, MSN, RN, is an Amazon bestselling author, physical therapist, registered nurse, and functional medicine specialist with 30+ years of experience. She founded and runs New You Health and Wellness in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. Her program, detailed in her book, The Pain-Free Formula; Solving The Puzzle of Muscle and Joint Pain Without Surgery, Drugs or Injections, has helped thousands overcome chronic pain and reclaim their vitality.
The Pain-Free Formula Podcast is brought to you by Stacey Roberts. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.
Medical Disclaimer
Information in this program, as well as any information provided by New You Health and Wellness and its subsidiaries, is provided for informational purposes only. This information is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by a licensed physician or other healthcare professional, or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging that we supply. Do not use the information on this website or podcast for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease or prescribing medication or other treatment. Always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal or homeopathic supplement or using any treatment for a health problem. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, contact your health provider promptly. Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking professional advice because of something you have read or heard in this program. Information provided in this program and any other presented by New You Health and Wellness LLC, and the use of any products or services purchased from New You Health and Wellness LLC by you does not create a doctor-patient relationship or healthcare provider-patient relationship between you and any of the health professionals affiliated with our website or clinic. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Nothing stated or posted on this site or in this podcast or available through any services is intended to be and must not be taken to be the practice of medical or counseling care. For purposes of this agreement, the practice of medicine and counseling includes, without limitations, psychiatry, psychology, psychotherapy or providing healthcare, treatment instructions, diagnosis, prognosis or advice.
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