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Muscles
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Sore muscles are bound to happen after a workout, but they don’t
have to derail the rest of your day. If foam rolling and over-the-
counter pain relievers aren’t doing the trick — or if you want
something a little more natural — it may be time to consider essential
oils.
Read on to find out what you should be slipping into your gym bag or
adding to your evening bath.
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Each of the following oils boast being able to treat pain, tension, and
swelling — talk about a triple threat! For added relief, consider mixing
two or three of these oils together to create a custom blend.
You can also try out different combinations to see which oils work
best for you:
These oils pull double duty by easing muscle pain and swelling.
You can use them separately or combine them to create your own
blend:
Lavender oil. Lavender is prized for its ability to calm and relax. It
also relieves pain and inflammation.
Eucalyptus oil. Eucalyptus has a cooling effect on muscles and
reduces pain and inflammation.
Roman and German chamomile oils. Chamomile oils can help
with pain and inflammation. They also help soothe muscle
tension and reduce spasms.
Rosemary oil. Rosemary is noted for its ability to ease pain and
inflammation.
Yarrow oil.Yarrow is used to reduce pain and inflammation.
If you’re dealing with a mix of muscle tension and swelling, these oils
may do the trick.
You can use one or more of these oils to relieve pain and discomfort:
Clary sage oil. Clary sage alleviates muscle tension and spasms
while promoting relaxation.
Juniper oil. Juniper eases tension and eliminates muscle
spasms.
Although carrier oils absorb some of the essential oil’s potency, they
don’t interfere with its therapeutic properties. They simply reduce
your risk for irritation.
:
A general rule of thumb is to use at least 6 teaspoons of carrier oil for
every 15 drops of essential oil. Carrier oils include coconut oil, olive
oil, argan oil, and more.
Remember the roll-on lip glosses that you used when you were
younger? Essential oils are often packaged the same way! Roll-on
bottles are a great way to carry diluted oils on the go and allow for
mess-free application.
You can buy prepackaged roller ball bottles containing your oil or
blend of choice online or at your local health store. You can also
purchase empty roller bottles and fill them with your own diluted oils.
Not only can the oils penetrate deep below the skin to relieve pain,
swelling, and tension, but massage can also help work out knots and
quickly release tension. Just make sure you dilute your essential oils
before application.
:
You can also book an aromatic massage from a certified therapist.
1. Fill your sink or a bowl with water. Cold water is typically used to
soothe inflammation. Hot water is typically used to relieve pain.
2. Add the diluted essential oil to the water.
3. Submerge your towel until it’s completely wet with the mixture.
4. Gently wring out the excess water and apply the towel to the
affected area.
5. Leave the towel on for about 15 minutes.
6. Reapply as needed throughout the day.
7. You can rewarm in the microwave. Take care to avoid burns.
You should also do a skin patch test before your first application to
test for any potential allergic reactions.
To do this:
The sky’s the limit in terms of how you can use and combine these
incredible oils. You can start with what we’ve outlined here, but feel
free to experiment!
:
Once you learn how the oils work, creating a blend may be as easy
as knowing which clothes or perfume you prefer based on your
mood.
: