Essential Oils For Muscle Pain
Muscle pain can sneak up on us when we least want it to. Whether it’s mild arthritis, muscle cramping, or a result of over-exercising, it can severely impact day-to-day functioning.
When conventional pain medication isn’t doing the job, essential oils are becoming a popular natural alternative that may help ease the tension so you can get on with the day.
Benefits Of Essential Oils For Muscle Pain
Essential oils are an easy and gentle way to target muscle tension, pain, inflammation and swelling. Filled with natural anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic and analgesic components, essential oils are known to naturally tackle muscle pain symptoms and may provide the following:
- Relieve muscle spasms
- Reduce chronic inflammation
- Alleviate cramping
- Alleviate joint pain
- Calm inflamed muscles
- Relax stiff muscles
Best Essential Oils For Muscle Pain
When muscle pain strikes, there are some essential oils you’ll want to keep close by. Below are some of our favourite essential oils that are known to relax the muscles and alleviate muscle pain:
Ginger Essential Oil
Over the centuries ginger root has been used medicinally to alleviate inflammation, arthritis and rheumatism. Ginger Essential Oil is filled with anti-inflammatory properties with a high concentration of gingerol. This makes it a popular essential oil for sore, cramping and spasming muscles.
With an earthy, spicy aroma, Ginger Oil is known to assist with back pain, menstrual cramping, muscle tightness and soreness. In fact, a 2013 study found that Ginger Oil may help calm acute and chronic inflammation.
Ginger Oil may be used in the following ways:
Diluting: Dilute with your favourite carrier oil, add your dilution to a roller bottle or glass pipette bottle and massage gently onto the skin. We recommend a 2 - 4% dilution when applied on the skin or a 1% dilution for facial application.
Warm Bath: Adding a few drops of Ginger Oil into a warm bath may help with inflammation such as sore muscles and cramping.
Peppermint Essential Oil
Peppermint Essential Oil has a crisp, invigorating aroma and is one of the most popular essential oils around. It contains natural analgesic, antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory properties and is known to assist with muscle spasms, inflammation and muscle and joint pain. It is also known for its ability to promote relaxation and even increase pain thresholds.
Peppermint Oil may be used in the following ways:
Diluting: Dilute with your favourite carrier oil, add your dilution to a roller bottle or glass pipette bottle and massage gently onto the skin. We recommend a 2 - 4% dilution when applied on the skin, or a 1% dilution for facial application.
Warm Bath: Adding a few drops of Peppermint Oil into a warm bath may help with inflammation such as sore muscles and cramping.
Sandalwood Essential Oil
Sandalwood Essential Oil carries an earthy, woody aroma and is filled with anti-inflammatory properties that work to calm inflammation and elevate mental and physical wellbeing. It has been used traditionally in East Indian, Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine and therapies for infections, mental health, digestive and muscular problems.
A 2013 study associates the naturally occurring compounds in Sandalwood Oil, α-santalol and β-santalol, with relieving inflammation, muscle spasms and muscle tension.
Sandalwood Oil may be used in the following ways:
Diluting: Dilute with your favourite carrier oil, add your dilution to a roller bottle or glass pipette bottle and massage gently onto the skin. We recommend a 1% dilution for facial application.
Warm Bath: Adding a few drops of Sandalwood Oil into a warm bath is also known to help with inflammation such as sore muscles and cramping.
Chamomile Roman Essential Oil
Chamomile Roman Essential Oil has a calming, sweet aroma and is one of the oldest therapeutic remedies known to help with mood enhancement and pain relief. In fact, a 2010 study found that Chamomile Roman Oil is useful in alleviating joint, muscle and rheumatic pain as well as inflammatory skin conditions.
As one of the best essential oils, it can help ease back pain, menstrual cramping, muscle pain and inflammation.
Chamomile Roman Oil may be used in the following ways:
Diluting: Dilute with your favourite carrier oil, add your dilution to a roller bottle or glass pipette bottle and massage gently onto the skin. We recommend a 2 - 4% dilution when applied on the skin, or a 1% dilution for facial application.
Warm Bath: Adding a few drops of Chamomile Roman Oil into a warm bath is also known to help with inflammation such as sore muscles and cramping.
Diffusion & Dilution Guidelines
Essential oils are highly concentrated and powerful. When using essential oils for muscle pain, it’s important to first dilute your oils in a carrier oil. Here are some of our favourite carrier oils:
- Coconut Oil
- Almond Oil
- Jojoba Oil
- Rosehip Oil
- Unscented Massage Oil
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, please consult with your doctor or healthcare professional before using essential oils for muscle pain.
We recommend doing a skin patch test before your first application for any potential allergic reactions. If you experience any reactions in the first 24 hours we recommend that you discontinue.
Essential oils should not be considered as the primary treatment for severe or chronic muscle pain. If you are planning on implementing essential oils into your treatment plan please consult with your GP or healthcare professional to discuss your options.
Other Tips For Muscle Pain
When experiencing muscle pain and muscle tightness, it’s important to relax the muscles and alleviate the tension. Aside from essential oils, there are a few other ways to alleviate and relax muscle pain, including:
- Epsom salts in a warm bath
- Apple cider vinegar
- Cherry juice
- Increase vitamin D consumption
- Cold/heat packs
- Remedial massages
Where To Buy Essential Oils For Muscle Pain
Whilst essential oils are generally available to purchase at health, wellness and retail stores, it is important to keep in mind that the purity and quality of these essential oils will vary. That is why we recommend finding a reputable supplier.
Here at AWO, we have a wide selection of 100% pure essential oils and organic essential oils that are sold at reasonable prices. Because our stock is purchased in bulk quantities our costs are significantly less, which allows us to offer our high-quality products at affordable prices. We are also based right here in Australia!
Essential Oil Safety
Whilst essential oils are natural products, they are extremely potent and can cause serious harm if used incorrectly. For this reason, we recommend the following:
- In line with the Therapeutic Goods Act, we do not recommend ingesting essential oils without the guidance of a registered Aromatherapist or Naturopath.
- Avoid using Essential Oils during pregnancy and whilst breastfeeding.
- We recommend storing your Essential Oils in a cool, dry place at room temperature, ensuring that they are not directly exposed to sunlight and are out of reach of children or pets.
- Essential Oils can be very concentrated and are likely to cause irritation or reactions if applied directly to the skin. For this reason, it is important to first dilute your essential oils before using topically (on the skin). Our recommended dilution percentages can be found under the ‘Best Essential Oils For Muscle Pain’ section.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any illness.
Resources
Jeena, K., Liju, V.B. & Kuttan, R., 2013, ‘Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities of essential oil from ginger’, Indian Journal Physiological Pharmacology, vol. 57,1, pp. 51 - 62.
Sharma, M.C et al, 2013, ‘Suppression of Lipopolysaccharide-stimulated Cytokine/Chemokine Production in Skin Cells by Sandalwood Oils and Purified α-santalol and β-santalol’, Phytotherapy Research, vol. 28, 6.
Srivastava, J. K., Shankar, E., & Gupta, S., 2010, Chamomile: A herbal medicine of the past with bright future. Molecular medicine reports, vol. 3, no. 6, pp. 895 – 901.