In our house, you won’t find any over-the-counter pain relievers. That’s because we got rid of them years ago. Now, whenever pain strikes, I reach for natural essential oils.
Essential Oils for Aching Muscles
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If my discomfort is especially bad, I make a blend of aromatics to ease the discomfort. You can also purchase special ready-made aromatic pain relief blends if you don’t feel like mixing your own.
For me, OTC pain medications never worked that well anyway. Also, I’m well aware these products can cause potentially serious side effects. Because they’re sold without a prescription, it’s usually assumed they’re safe.
However, OTC pain formulas have the potential to cause harm, even if they’re not misused.
For instance, when my son was playing Little League, I met another mother who took ibuprofen for arthritis pain. She developed a rare and often fatal condition called Steven Johnson syndrome. What happens is her top layer of skin blistered and sloughed off. This is typically caused by a reaction to OTC medication.
Acetaminophen has also been known to cause liver failure. Overdosing on this drug is the leading cause of sudden liver failure in the United States.
As far as I’m concerned, this small but real risk of a serious outcome doesn’t seem like a good trade-off.
I suffer from nerve inflammation, which has the potential to be painful. But I keep it under control with natural remedies, including herbs, homeopathy and essential oils.
I also eat a healthy diet, filled with foods that don’t contribute to inflammation.
Essential Oils Muscle Pain Relief
Anyway, essential oils are my “go to” pain remedy. These aromatics contain natural analgesic compounds. Some oils are especially good for dulling discomfort when you apply them topically. For instance, when I have a headache, I often mix clove and peppermint essential oil together with a carrier oil. My pain starts to disappear within seconds of rubbing it into my forehead.
What I’m doing appears to be backed up by science. One German study found that peppermint oil did relieve headaches. The authors concluded that aromatic peppermint seemed to be “a well-tolerated and cost-effective alternative to usual therapies.” No adverse effects were reported.
Of, if I have a muscle spasm, I try to quell it with essential oils. Muscle spasms are a hallmark of my disease. But, with the lifestyle changes I’ve made, they’ve become much less frequent.
Many other people are using aromatics for pain, judging by the number of essential oil analgesic formulas, which have become available in recent years.
Please understand that I’m not a doctor. So I can’t give medical advice or promise that essential oils will help you live pain free. All I can do is share with you a personal account of how I use them.
Essential Oils for Pulled Muscles
Badger sore muscle rub is a USDA-certified organic formula that contains only natural healthy ingredients, including essential oils of ginger, cardamon, lemongrass, rosemary, marjoram and sage in a base of olive oil, castor oil and beeswax. This muscle balm is ready to use, and convenient for when you’re away from home, and aren’t able to mix essential oils in a carrier oil. (Because they’re so concentrated, they must be diluted before applying them to the skin.)
The sore muscle formula is made by a family-run business in Vermont. It makes a number of other organic aromatic body balms, designed for specific conditions.
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Essential Oils Muscle Relief
Another good option for muscle pain is the Muscle Relief blend made by Edens Garden, an American-based essential oil company that sells only pure oils made from plants that aren’t sprayed with pesticides, herbicides or other chemicals.
The Edens Garden formula, shown below, contains clove, helichrysum, peppermint and wintergreen oils, which contain natural analgesic compounds that work to dull pain. The advantage of blending multiple oils together is that they’re believed to work in synergy. This is a pure aromatic oil, which needs to be diluted in a carrier oil before use. I often use olive or grapeseed oil as carriers.
Edens Garden Sore Muscle Blend
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Disclaimer
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Women who are pregnant or nursing should not use essential oils.
For Additional Reading
Essential Oils to Help Knee Pain
Aromatherapy for Menstrual Cramps
Essential Oils to Stop Headaches
