8 Essential Oils for Sore Muscles

Last Updated on December 17, 2017 by Marc Seward

How can something so minor be such a pain? Sore muscles are a common issue that effects everyone at one time or another for various reasons. Whether its illness related or due to a physical injury, sore muscles can sideline you from your day-to-day routine. However, with some TLC and the restorative powers of essential oils, your achy muscles will be a thing of the past.

Causes of Sore Muscles

There are many potential reasons as to why you may be experiencing achiness and sore muscles. The number one culprit is often strenuous activity. Starting a new exercise routine or shoveling the drive way causes you to use muscles that aren’t used to such strenuous activity.

The muscles then become stressed, inflamed and sore. To avoid this painful problem, ease yourself into your new exercise routine to acclimate your muscles to the new activity. This will condition your muscle and prevent tearing and strain. Sore muscles can also be the result of too much stress or medical conditions, such as fibromyalgia and lupus.

Essential Oils for Sore Muscles

Its true that time does indeed heal all wounds, and that is true for sore muscles as well. However, if you don’t feel like toughing it out, there are several essential oils you can do that will not only help ease up tense muscles, but help speed up the recovery process as well.

1) Rosemary Essential Oil

This floral essential oil will not only help to treat sore muscles induced by stress, but it also helps the treat the stress itself. To get muscular relief, add a couple drops of rosemary essential oil to a warm bath and soak for twenty calming minutes. This bath will help soothe sore muscles and melt away tension and stress.

If there is a particular spot that is achy, make a rosemary compress.

Soak a clean cotton cloth in a basin of hot water and ring out the excess moisture.
Add a couple drops of rosemary essential oil to the cloth and wrap around the affected area.
A warm compress will warm up the muscles and make them more pliable.

2) Lavender Essential Oil

Just like rosemary, lavender essential oil treats both the sore muscles and the stress responsible for achiness. To address the stress, try vaporizing a couple drops of lavender essential oil in an infuser. This tranquil scent will relax anyone in your abode, bringing the stress level down to zero.

For the ultimate relaxing experience, try adding a couple drops of lavender essential oil to a warm bath. Both the warm water and the healing properties of the lavender essential oil will soothe your achy muscles.

To take a more proactive approach, try mixing lavender essential oil in a carrier oil and massage directly onto the sore muscles.
A nice massage will rub the healing oil directly into the muscles while alleviating muscle spasms and cramping.

3) Chamomile Essential Oil

Chamomile’s naturally soothing properties help eliminate the toxic buildup responsible for causing sore muscles. This herb is loaded with flavonoids and antioxidants, eliminating harmful toxic waste that may be causing muscles spasms to occur.

Add a couple drops of chamomile essential oil to a carrier oil and massage away the pain.
To ingest chamomile and flush out the toxins, enjoy a cup of chamomile tea. Getting rid of this toxic build up will help speed up the recovery process.

4) Juniper

Juniper essential oil is great for relieving muscle pain and spasms related to nerve pain conditions such as fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis. Regularly using this treatment will also help alleviate nerve pain.

Massaging this essential oil directly onto the affected area when you first wake up will help manage your pain throughout the day while massaging it on at bedtime will help you get a good night’s rest free of pain.

5) Eucalyptus

This medicinal essential oil is a great pain reliever and helps reduce muscle spasms. Eucalyptus essential oil works best applied topically, whether it is applied as a cream or combined with a carrier oil to massage directly onto the sore muscles.

This earthy essential oil also works great when added to your bath. Soaking in a warm bath will help soften up the muscles and release built up tension. Use eucalyptus essential oil to soothe sore muscles, joints, sprains, and nerve pain. Beware, as eucalyptus essential oil can be harmful when used in large quantities.

6) Peppermint

This minty essential oil is like a breath of fresh air for people experiencing muscle, joint, and nerve pain. Whether your muscles are tired and overused, or are achy due to health conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, peppermint essential oil helps ease away the pain.

Add a dash of peppermint oil to your bath or combine with a carrier oil for the ultimate massage.

7) Sweet Marjoram

Sweet marjoram is a powerful pain reliever and sedative. Calming down inflammation, sweet marjoram essential oil soothes stiffness, muscle pain, sprains, and nerve pain. If you’re feeling a bit tense, this essential oil cures that too, calming your mind and letting your muscles relax. Muscles suffering due to strain, cramps, and spasms will experience immediate relief. Sweet marjoram essential oil offers analgesic properties without the side effects of traditional pain relievers.

8) Clary Sage

This herby essential oil has many medicinal properties, specifically when it comes to relieving muscle cramping and spasms. Inhaling this essential oil will help relieve nervous tension and bring about feelings of euphoria. Add a couple drops of clary sage essential oil to your bath and massage to experience its pain reliving effects.

If you’re looking to soothe achy muscles and cramping related to menstruation, pair it with chamomile essential oil. A word of caution, clary sage essential oil should never be used within 24 hours of consuming alcohol or narcotics. The sedative effects of this essential oil can double the effect, causing potential harm.

Prevention

Sometimes sore muscles are unavoidable. Everyone gets them, even experienced bodybuilders. If you would like to prevent your chances of developing sore muscles, there are a few precautions you can take:

Always stretch before engaging in any form of strenuous exercise. It’s a good idea to stretch post-workout as well.
Make sure not to overuse your muscles. If starting a new exercise routine, take baby steps. This will also help prevent burnout from occurring.
If you are experiencing muscle soreness, give those muscles a break and allow them to heal. Putting more stress on them is only going to make things worse and further delay recovery.
Drinking enough water and keeping yourself hydrated will help flush out the toxins and keep your system running smoothly.

Some Considerations

If your muscle pain is associated with an illness or health condition, see your physician to hatch out the best plan of action for treating your sore muscles.
If your muscle pain does not go away within a couple days, see your doctor.
The use of essential oils are not recommended for the use of children or pregnant and nursing women.
Before using essential oils, do an allergy patch test on your skin. This will ensure that you are not allergic to the essential oil. If you do experience an adverse reaction, wash off immediately and call your physician.