Can Aromatherapy and Essential Oils Help Ease Ulcerative Colitis Symptoms?
Updated on January 13, 2026
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If you have ulcerative colitis (UC), you’re probably already taking medications prescribed by your doctor to address symptoms and help stave off flares. While medications are effective and necessary to achieve remission, many people with UC also seek out complementary and integrative treatments as well, to alleviate other symptoms. These include mindfulness techniques, to learn how to reduce the stress that can trigger active illness, plus acupuncture, herbal treatments, and aromatherapy to address other concerns.
Aromatherapy, or the use of naturally derived aromatic oils from various plants to benefit health and well-being, is an accessible, affordable complementary therapy. It works via the stimulating effects of scent molecules on the nervous system, which trigger a cascade of chemical responses in the body. And because it may potentially benefit people with UC, it’s a treatment to discuss with your physician.
Aromatherapy May Help You Manage Ulcerative Colitis
“Studies have shown that ingredients in essential oils used in aromatherapy may have anti-inflammatory or analgesic [pain-relieving] properties, and some may help boost your mood and energy,” says Hallie Armstrong, ND, a naturopathic doctor in private practice in Rochester, Michigan. “It may be that these properties can help you manage symptoms like pain and fatigue that come with UC.”
Research supports the effectiveness of aromatherapy as a complementary therapy alongside medication in a range of medical conditions. One review found that essential oils extracted from plants may reduce inflammation, aid digestion, and treat skin infections, among other benefits.
Another research review found that the anti-inflammatory properties of essential oils eased symptoms in mice with ulcerative colitis. Preliminary studies on animals also found that certain essential oils can improve the balance of beneficial and harmful bacteria in the intestines (gut microbiome). Other early research found that essential oils may also help with depression and insomnia.
But it’s important to note that most studies have been done in animals, so the findings may not translate to humans. More robust studies in people are needed to determine if the health claims around essential oils hold true.
And because aromatherapy can be contraindicated for people with certain health concerns — including breathing issues, epilepsy, skin conditions, pregnancy, and allergic illnesses — it’s best to get the all-clear from your healthcare provider before using essential oils.
How to Use Essential Oils for Ulcerative Colitis
Most essential oils shouldn’t be ingested, and some shouldn’t be used on the skin. Always confirm before using a specific oil that you’re doing so as intended — if you can’t find reliable information on your own, you can call your local poison control hotline, or use the National Capital Poison Center’s website or smartphone app to get general advice on using them safely. For detailed advice on specific oils, you can also seek out a professional aromatherapist; organizations like the Aromatherapy Registration Council have directories of trained practitioners.
Consider trying one of the following methods of using essential oils for aromatherapy.
Inhalation
Inhalation is an easy way to get the benefits of essential oils. You can use a vapor diffuser to fill the air with fragrance by adding the recommended number of drops of oil to your device. Or you can try an at-home facial with an aromatherapy steam treatment by adding essential oil to a bowl of water that’s hot enough to emit steam — up to six drops of oil per ounce of water — and inhaling with your face near the bowl.
Be careful when it comes to using diffusers, however — essential oils contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that get released into the air; these are known to be harmful to human health. While the long-term effects on the body aren’t known, one study that followed 200 essential oil users over more than a decade found that those who used aromatherapy for more than four hours per day had increased blood pressure and heart rate; those who used essential oils for less than an hour daily didn’t. Diffusers can also harbor mold and bacteria, which may lead to infections, and for this reason, experts often recommend against using them.
You can also try oil-filled nasal inhalers that you hold near your nose and sniff, room sprays, vapor balms, or directly inhaling the scent from a few drops of oil poured on a tissue or a cotton ball.
Use caution if you choose to inhale essential oils, particularly if you’re using undiluted oils, which can cause respiratory irritation. You may experience symptoms such as nasal and throat discomfort, coughing, or even feel short of breath. People with breathing conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma may be especially prone to irritation, and oils can cause allergic reactions when inhaled.
Always use essential oils in a well-ventilated room, make sure to thoroughly clean your diffuser to prevent microbial growth, and follow dilution instructions for the method and the specific oil you’re using, and trust your own body’s response — aromatherapy affects everyone differently. Additionally, make sure your pets are free to leave the area if the scent bothers them.
Applying It to Skin
Many people use aromatherapy oil blends as a massage oil, body moisturizer, or bath oil. You can also apply oil blends using a bottle with a rollerball applicator — some people use this method with essential oils used to treat headaches, congestion, nausea, anxiety, and muscle aches.
While many essential oils can be applied to the skin, some are known to cause irritation and should be avoided, including cinnamon, lemongrass, and clove. Those that can be used on the epidermis almost always need to be diluted in a so-called carrier oil first, even when used in the bath. Only a few essential oils can be applied to skin in very small amounts without dilution, such as lavender and tea tree oils, but caution is warranted.
Oils used as carriers include coconut, sweet almond, rose hip, and grapeseed, among others. Before applying an essential oil formulation to your skin, do a 24-hour patch test first, to confirm you don’t have an allergy or sensitivity. Make sure to only use the recommended number of drops of essential oil and amount of carrier oil to achieve the appropriate level of dilution.
In addition to potentially causing irritation via allergies, sensitivities, or inadequate dilution, some essential oils are photosensitive and react to ultraviolet (UV) light, like sunlight. They can cause second- or third-degree burns when they’re applied to skin that’s then exposed to sunlight. Essential oils such as those derived from citrus, angelica root, and cumin seed are among those known to be photosensitive, but double-check the properties of any oil you use if you’re planning to be in the sun.
Which Essential Oils Might Soothe Ulcerative Colitis Symptoms?
There’s some evidence that the following oils can help alleviate UC symptoms.
Peppermint Oil
Peppermint helps with general digestive symptoms when ingested, largely because of its soothing antispasmodic properties. It can also ease gas and bloating, says Dr. Armstrong.
For example, one research review found that peppermint oil was superior to a placebo for treating irritable bowel syndrome, though the authors noted that the quality of evidence was very low and more research is needed. If your doctor clears you to try a peppermint oil supplement, Armstrong says to make sure you choose enteric-coated capsules to enhance absorption in the intestine.
Turmeric Oil
You may use turmeric when cooking — it’s a traditional spice in Indian dishes — but it can also be found as an essential oil, often sold in capsule form. Curcumin, an active compound in turmeric, has been shown to reduce inflammation — a key factor in ulcerative colitis — when ingested. Preliminary research on animals has also found that turmeric oil offers significant anti-inflammatory properties; more studies are needed to determine if the findings apply to humans, though.
Aromatic-turmerone, the main bioactive compound in turmeric oil, prevented colon shortening, improved colonic tissue damage, and reduced colonic inflammatory chemicals (cytokines) in a study on rats with an animal model of ulcerative colitis. Researchers also found that aeromatic-turmerone increased the overall amount of bacteria in the gut, while keeping beneficial strains and lessening harmful types.
In a small study of people with active UC, the combination of curcumin and qing dai, an herbal blend used in traditional Chinese medicine, led to remission in 43 percent of participants who took the supplement, compared with 8 percent who took a placebo.
Lavender Oil
Research has shown that sleep problems, which can significantly impact quality of life, are common in people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). One study of 208 people with IBD found that 59.6 percent of participants had a sleep disorder, compared with 37.7 percent of control subjects without IBD.
But some evidence suggests that lavender oil may promote better sleep. A research review found that lavender essential oil was connected to better sleep quality in people who didn't have insomnia or other sleep disorders.
Another research review examined research on the use of lavender for sleep disorders in people with conditions ranging from cancer to respiratory and cardiac diseases, dementia, and depression. It found that lavender oil used through inhalation alone or in combination with massage shows promise in improving sleep, though the review’s authors noted that more robust research is needed.
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What to Know Before You Try Essential Oils for Ulcerative Colitis
Armstrong cautions people who are interested in trying essential oils to be sure the product is pure. To find out, “release a drop on a piece of white paper,” she advises. “After it evaporates, a pure oil won’t leave a stain.”
Most importantly, remember that essential oils aren’t a substitute for medical intervention, so don’t stop taking any medication unless advised to by your doctor.
Complementary therapy should work alongside your medical treatments, not as a replacement for the medications your doctor prescribes. Many of the options mentioned above are most helpful for addressing additional symptoms after successful treatment of a primary issue, such as inflammation, is achieved with medical therapies.
As previously mentioned, you should always check with your doctor before trying any complementary and integrative treatments, including aromatherapy, says Armstrong.
Additional reporting by Ashley Welch.
The Takeaway
- Complementary and integrative therapies such as aromatherapy may alleviate symptoms in patients with UC, but they are not meant as a replacement for medications or other treatments.
- Research on other conditions found that essential oils eased symptoms those conditions have in common with UC, such as gas, bloating, and inflammation, and may have even improved sleep.
- Check with your doctor before trying any complementary and integrative treatments, including aromatherapy.
Resources We Trust
- Cleveland Clinic: Aromatherapy
- Mayo Clinic: Aromatherapy Use and Safety: What to Know About Essential Oils During Pregnancy
- American College of Healthcare Sciences: Essential Oil Safety: Avoiding Top 3 Mistakes in Usage
- National Capital Poison Center: Essential Oils: Poisonous When Misused
- American Lung Association: Essential Oils: More Harmful Than Helpful?
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
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Meet Our Experts
Yuying Luo, MD
Medical Reviewer
Yuying Luo, MD, is an assistant professor of medicine at Mount Sinai West and Morningside in New York City. She aims to deliver evidence-based, patient-centered, and holistic care for her patients.
Her clinical and research focus includes patients with disorders of gut-brain interaction such as irritable bowel syndrome and functional dyspepsia; patients with lower gastrointestinal motility (constipation) disorders and defecatory and anorectal disorders (such as dyssynergic defecation); and women’s gastrointestinal health.
She graduated from Harvard with a bachelor's degree in molecular and cellular biology and received her MD from the NYU Grossman School of Medicine. She completed her residency in internal medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, where she was also chief resident. She completed her gastroenterology fellowship at Mount Sinai Hospital and was also chief fellow.
Denise Schipani
Author
Denise Schipani is a New York–based editor and writer with a special interest in health and healthcare. Her work has appeared in a wide range of consumer and custom magazines and websites. She's at work on a memoir about breast cancer surgery and its aftermath.