How to Use Essential Oils to Relax Muscles
Muscular aches are usually caused by over exertion, stress and tension. Sometimes a poor sitting or sleeping posture leaves you nursing a muscle pull. There are over the counter ointments and creams available to relax aching muscles. However, if you do not want to use a commercial product, create your own muscle-relaxing massage using various herbal essential oils. You can use different blends of essential oils for different types of muscle aches, for example, combine nutmeg and rosemary essential oils to enhance blood circulation in your muscles, while a mix of tea tree, rosemary and angelica helps detoxify your muscles.
Instructions
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1
Warming (circulatory stimulants) blend
Use two drops of either nutmeg, thyme, ginger or black pepper essential oils and combine them with three drops of cinnamon or vetiver essential oil and five drops of rosemary, chamomile or marjoram essential oil. These ingredients are easily available at your nearest supermarket. -
2
Analgesic blend
Mix five drops of black pepper, rosemary, pine or marjoram essential oil with two drops of cardamom, eucalyptus or peppermint and three drops of Cedarwood, cinnamon or clove. -
3
Detoxifying blend
Blend five drops of juniper or rosemary, two drops of lemon, tea tree, grapefruit, fennel, or coriander and three drops of angelica or Cedarwood. -
4
Anti-inflammatory blend
Take about five drops of chamomile essential oil and add two drops of yarrow with about two or three drops of lime to create an anti-inflammatory blend. -
5
Muscular Massage
Use either of the above mentioned massage blends to soothe away muscular aches, stimulate circulation, eliminate toxins and get quick and long lasting pain relief. Blend eight to 10 drops of essential oil in 30 ml of carrier oil and apply it to the strained muscle and surrounding tissues, starting with gentle warming strokes, then applying firm pressure and finishing off with smooth strokes. Be sure to take your time while massaging the oil as you want the muscles to start to get relaxed and soothed. -
6
Oil Warming
You can also gently warm these mixtures for added benefit. Remember the goal is to make the essential oils warm and not hot. If you apply hot oil to your skin there is a chance that you can get seriously burned so make sure that the essential oils are lukewarm. You can warm the oils by placing them in a saucepan of boiling water and gently keep the oils in a bottle sitting inside. Remove after a minute or two and your oils will be nice and warm. -
7
Storage
You make all of the different combinations of oil and store them in little plastic or glass bottles for future use. Keep these oils in a dry dark place so that the next time your muscles are aching then you can always use these mixtures to get some much needed relief.
