Whether you just came back from the gym or slept in a funny position, having sore muscles or knots can put a cramp in your day. Luckily, healing essential oils can help your body recover. Applied topically or diffused, essential oils are packed with anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties that can ease tight, sore muscles.

To help you smooth out muscle kinks and pain, we’ve created a short guide to the best essential oils for sore muscles and how to use them. Read on to learn more!
 

What Causes Muscle Soreness?

Muscle soreness is most often experienced at the beginning of a new workout when your muscles are adapting to your regimen. When you exercise, your muscles undergo physical stress. This physical stress manifests in the form of microscopic tears in the muscle and coupled with inflammation, we experience soreness or pain. 

One may also experience aching muscles 24-48 hours after exercise. This common occurrence is known as delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) which occurs when muscles contract over an extended period of time. Note here that DOMS is often confused with a buildup of lactic acid.

Luckily, as you continue to exercise, your muscles adapt and you may begin to experience less soreness. However, after you do experience muscle soreness, your muscles will return to their normal state as inflammation reduces and your body repairs damaged muscle fibers. 

Essential Oils For Pulled Muscles

To address pain, soreness and inflammation, Edens Garden created expertly formulated essential oil blends that penetrate and provide deep pain relief, allowing users to recover faster and more efficiently. 

Muscle Relief

Containing only four single oils (Peppermint essential oil, Clove Bud, Wintergreen and Helichrysum) Muscle Relief essential oil blend packs a punch. With a warm, minty and herbal aroma, this restorative blend can ease tight muscles and soothe pain. Additionally, its cooling effect on the body can help decrease inflammation and swelling.

Muscle Relief contains a potent combination of Wintergreen and Peppermint Oil, making it perfect for easing acute pain. The addition of Clove, which boasts anti-inflammatory properties and analgesic actions, gives this blend a warming effect to offset the cool feel of mint. Similarly, the anti-inflammatory properties in Helichrysum provide relief from swelling, allowing muscle tissue and joints to heal.

Muscle Relief Body Butter

Nourish your skin while alleviating aches and pains with Muscle Relief Body Butter. 

What You Need

• 4 oz Hemp Seed Carrier Oil

• 2 oz Shea Butter

• 1 oz Soy Wax

• 90 drops Muscle Relief

How To

Add Shea Butter and Soy Wax to a double boiler. Stir until melted, then stir in Hemp Seed. Remove from heat and stir in Muscle Relief. Transfer to an 8 oz container and let cool. Once hardened, take a small amount and massage into tense muscles.

Massage Therapy

A tranquil mix of Wintergreen, Camphor, Peppermint, Ylang Ylang, Helichrysum, Blue Tansy, Chamomile and Osmanthus essential oils, this camphorous and floral blend can revitalize your mood and calm your senses.

Similar to Muscle Relief, Massage Therapy contains Wintergreen and Peppermint. A study showed that Wintergreen essential oil, particularly when combined with Peppermint, was found to be effective at treating lower back pain as an alternative to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). This blend also utilizes the anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties of Camphor. Ylang Ylang and Blue Tansy also help to relieve pain and improve your mood. 

Massage Therapy Magnesium Lotion

Soothe muscles deeply with our ultra calming Massage Therapy Lotion, infused with healing magnesium. 

What You Need

• 30 g Sesame Carrier Oil

• 16 g Shea Butter

• 12 g Emulsifying Wax

• 100 g Distilled Water

• 36 g Magnesium Oil

• 2 g Massage Therapy 

• 2 g Preservative (manufacturer’s recommended amount)

• 2 g Vitamin E

How To

In a double boiler, add Distilled Water and Magnesium Oil. In a separate double boiler, add Sesame Oil, Shea Butter and Emulsifying Wax. Heat both mixtures to 158° F at the same time. Once 158° F has been reached, slowly pour the oil mixture into the water mixture while using a stick blender to combine. Blend for 10 minutes. Once the lotion has been cooled to 104° F, whisk in Massage Therapy, the Preservative and Vitamin E. Transfer to a PET plastic or glass lotion bottle. 

Note: This product has a recommended 1- 2 month shelf life. Store in the fridge for maximum shelf life.

Circu-Touch

This soothing blend boasts a bright, minty aroma, and includes deeply penetrating oils like Cypress, Peppermint, Sweet Marjoram, Basil, Grapefruit and Lavender.

Well-rounded and multipurpose, Circu-Touch offers the pain-relieving properties of menthol found in Peppermint and the circulation benefits present in Cypress oil. Grapefruit essential oil is also beneficial in its ability to stimulate the lymphatic system and relieve joint pain.

Circu-Touch Massage Oil

To enhance a massage, increase blood flow and reduce muscle aches, incorporate this Circu-Touch Massage Oil into your routine. 

What You Need

• 1 tbsp Tamanu Carrier Oil

• 1 tbsp Fractionated Coconut Carrier Oil

• 6 drops of Circu-Touch

How To

Add ingredients to a 30 ml bottle and shake gently to combine. In your next massage, ask your massage therapist to use Circu-Touch Massage Oil or use it yourself by rubbing it into tender areas. 

How To Reduce Sore Muscles

Along with using essential oil for pulled muscles, here are some of the top suggestions doctors have to offer on reducing muscle pain.

• Ice

• Rest

• Stretch

• Use a foam roller

• Drink water

• Take a hot bath or shower

• Exercise periodically

While the body does a great job of healing itself, incorporating a few of these remedies while also using aromatherapy can drastically reduce your recovery time and help you to be in your best shape. 

More Post-Workout Favorites

There’s more than one way to enjoy Massage Therapy, Muscle Relief and Circu-Touch. In fact, all three are available in the form of prediluted roll-on essential oils for quick and easy use. You may also enjoy Muscle Relief body oil–the perfect item to throw in your gym bag or keep nearby after a strenuous workout. And to soothe a sore muscle while also resting and relaxing, try adding Circu-Touch bath salt to your post-workout soak. Check out our product reviews to find the natural remedy that’s right for you. 

Sources:

1. WebMD. “Sore Muscles? Don’t Stop Exercising.” WebMD, 16 June 2003, www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/features/sore-muscles-keep-exercising#1.

2. Hebert, Patricia R. “Treatment of Low Back Pain: The Potential Clinical and Public Health Benefits of Topical Herbal Remedies.” NCBI, 1 Apr. 2014, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3995208.