Essential oils are a safe and effective way to soothe sore muscles. But with so many different oils on the market, it can be difficult to know which ones to choose.
I’d like to help you understand the benefits of using natural oils in treating your body aches. It doesn’t matter if it’s back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain or general aches anywhere in your body.
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In this blog post, I’ll recommend some of the best essential oils for sore muscles, as well as provide tips on how to use them safely and effectively.
1. Eucalyptus
REVIVE offers a select few USDA certified organic oils, such as this Organic Eucalyptus essential oil.
Eucalyptus oil has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, making it an ideal choice for sore muscles, muscle spasms and stiffness. It helps to relieve pain associated with inflamed muscles.
When used topically, eucalyptus oil can also help improve circulation.
For best results, mix eucalyptus oil with a carrier oil like sweet almond oil or coconut oil and massage into the affected area. You can also add a few drops of eucalyptus oil to your bathtub for a relaxing and muscle-soothing soak.
2. Lavender
Lavender oil has analgesic properties which relieve various types of aches and pains. This essential oil also has sedative effects, and it can soothe tensions and unnecessary pressures in the muscles.
Lavender oil is another excellent choice for relieving sore muscles. Due to its mild and calm nature, it is perfect for strained, tired, and sore muscles. Lavender has both anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, making it effective at relieving various types of aches, pain and swelling.
It’s also been shown to improve blood circulation when used topically.
For best results, mix lavender oil with a carrier oil like jojoba oil or sweet almond oil and massage into the affected area. You can also add a few drops of lavender oil to your bathtub or diffuser to help relax your muscles.
3. Peppermint
Peppermint oil is known for its cooling effect, making it ideal for relieving muscular pain. It contains menthol, which has been shown to improve blood flow and reduce inflammation when applied topically.
For best results, mix peppermint oil with a carrier oil like jojoba oil or grapeseed oil and massage into the affected area. You can also add a few drops of peppermint oil to your bathtub or diffuser to help soothe your muscles.
4. Rosemary
Rosemary oil is rich in antioxidants, making it anti-spasmodic and anti-inflammatory. It also contains carnosol¹, an essential ingredient to alleviating painful acute and chronic conditions in the body.
For best results, mix rosemary oil with a carrier oil like jojoba oil or sweet almond oil and massage into the affected area. You can also add a few drops of rosemary oil to your bathtub or diffuser to help ease muscle pain and stiffness.
5. Juniper Berry
Juniper oil is a great choice for relieving inflammation. You will enjoy the antiseptic and anti-rheumatic properties contained in this beautiful oil. Help keep your body agile, perfumed, and healthy with Juniper oil.
6. Clove
Clove essential oil creates warming sensations within your body. Warmth relieves inflamed tissues. It is capable of reducing tension of your ligaments and joints, and can loosen stressed and tired tissues. The mild anti-neuralgic effects of clove oil help it in sedating the part of the body where the pain is located. This makes you feel less pain, although that feeling may last for a short while only. You need to do a skin patch test before applying Clove oil to your body because it contains Eugenol. This ingredient is capable of causing irritations and a burning sensation. Read more in the precautions here.
7. Frankincense
Frankincense essential oil is calming to the body, with analgesic and anti-spasmodic properties. It can tranquilize pains and relieve muscle spasms. Most people prefer to use it because of its mellow, well-rounded scent. It is also a good oil for anti-anxiety, periods of stress or panic. If your muscle tensions are related to emotional pain, Frankincense may be a great oil option for you.
How to Use Essential Oils for Sore Muscles
Essential oils are a natural way of treating muscle pain. The best way to use aromatherapy for muscle pain relief is through massage, a warm steam bath or compresses.
Massage
The easiest way to get essential oils into your aching tissues is an oil massage.
Massage is a perfect way to treat painful and aching muscles. They can help to quickly release tension or muscle spasms. Regular massages can also help to increase blood circulation and to reduce stress and anxiety.
You can use my 5-ingredient massage oil recipe for sore muscles.
Using massage gets the essential oils into your aching tissues. The oils penetrate deep into the body tissues, relieving joint pain and muscle spasm. It takes only about 20 minutes before feeling the therapeutic effects of the essences in the body. Massaging also increases the flow of blood to every part of the body, and promotes quick recovery, especially for pain.
Besides, the feelings of physical touch by a gentle hand offers a relieving and healing effect all on its own.
Notice which parts of your body are stiff, swollen, and painful. Calm the tension by rubbing your blend onto the areas affected. To avoid skin irritations, don’t overdo it. Use these oils specifically for joint pain, arthritis and inflammation.
Never use essential oils without diluting them using carrier oils. One of the most common carrier oils is fractionated coconut oil. You can also simply use an all-natural body lotion to carry diluted oils onto your skin.
Steam Bath
Sitting in an essential oils bath is super relaxing!
Warm steam baths are ideal for enhancing healing. Heat helps to stimulate the body and promotes blood circulation. Muscle aches and soreness are really small injuries of the muscle tissues. The increased blood flow brings more oxygen and nutrients to the injured area. It will also help flush out any metabolic waste, and thus alleviate muscles soreness.
In a bath, your skin absorbs the therapeutic qualities of the essential oils. This treatment provokes relief and wellness throughout all parts of your body. For an easy recipe to get started, try this Muscle-Soothing DIY Bath Salts recipe.
Not only do the therapeutic oils work wonders in your body, you’ll also get to enjoy the fragrant essential oils’ healing scents.
Hot or Cold Compress
Use a simple cloth to make a compress.
You can also use essential oils in a hot or cold compress to soothe sore muscles.
With a warm compress, muscles can relax, and will be well on their way to make the tissues flexible and agile again. Add any essential oil you have chosen onto a fabric cloth and fill a bowl with hot water.
TIP: Use hot water for alleviating aches and pains, or cold water to reduce inflammation.
To make the essential oil muscles relief pack, take an old sock or cloth and fill it with rice or flax seeds. Add essential oils over the sock to soak it. Microwave the essential-oil filled sock for 30 seconds to two.
Side Effects
Essential oils are powerful substances that should be used with caution. Be sure to do your research before using any new essential oil, as some can cause skin irritation or allergic reactions.
While essential oils share many properties, each essential oil is still different. Check the chosen essential oil’s label and description first. Some oils are indeed hot to the skin, or need additional caution.
After you’ve looked over the fine prints of the oil you plan to use, follow the recommended dilution rates guide for a proper measurement between carrier oil and essential oil. When using essential oils topically, always dilute them with a carrier oil such as jojoba oil or sweet almond oil before applying them to your skin.
Some essential oils can cause adverse skin reactions such as itchy, red skin.
If you experience any skin redness, soreness, or itching, stop use immediately. Applying more plain carrier oil can help alleviate the redness. Massage straight-up coconut oil onto the area of redness. Call your health care practitioner if the spot doesn’t get better within 30-60 minutes, or starts to blister. Explain your essential oils use to them in detail.
If you do not experience any negative side effects, continue using essential oils for your achy muscles and muscle spasms.
People with sensitive skin or thinner skin as found in the elderly, use extra precaution and smaller % dilution rates. Essential oils are also not recommended for babies younger than 2 years of age. Find out more about essential oils for kids here. If you’re pregnant or breast-feeding, consult with your doctor before using any essential oils as some oils can interact with medications or pose risks during pregnancy and childbirth.
And when diffusing essential oils, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully to avoid any adverse reactions.
Finally, keep essential oils out of reach of children and pets to avoid accidental ingestion or skin irritation.
Final Thoughts
Essential oils are an excellent way to help ease painfully sore muscles. You can also use your EO’s for acute muscle cramps.
Treating your body this way is a double-duty wellness act: Not only do you get the healing power of the essential oils, you also benefit from receiving the hands-on massage.
Apply the essential oils topically with massage oil for the best relief from aches and pains. Or enjoy the space and relaxation of a steaming hot bath. Lastly, you can also opt for the soothing feeling of a hot or cold compress.
I hope your body feels better after these home remedy treatments.
shubham deshmukh
What herbs are good for headaches?
Emma Carter
Hello! You can find the recommended essential oils for headaches over here. Hope it helps!