Ask anyone on the planet and they’ll tell you that they have sore muscles from time to time. Muscle soreness can stem from a hard workout, injury, or general tightness that stems from lack of flexibility. Depending on the severity of the muscle pain, you may be able to relieve it with stretches, ice packs, or the DIY cream in this article.
When it comes to muscle soreness, the most common areas of pain are the shoulders, neck, and lower back. In fact, roughly 80% of Americans will experience back pain at some point during their lifetimes. If the back pain becomes severe from accompanying inflammation, it may interfere with your daily activities, including work, hobbies, or general movements. Although a DIY cream may not be able to quickly relieve pain that you have not addressed for years, it may be able to remedy acute muscle pain.
Essential oils are powerful extracts from the leaves, seeds, flowers, fruits, and barks of plants. They are popular in aromatherapy, but you can apply them topically after proper dilution. The skin absorbs their health properties to alleviate numerous ailments, from skin conditions to muscle pain. The following essential oils are in the DIY sore muscle cream.
Eucalyptus Essential Oil
Eucalyptus essential oil is commonly used to promote decongestion and relaxation. It exhibits powerful anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, and it also has analgesic effects in muscles and joints. According to a 2015 clinical review, eucalyptus essential oil may treat ailments like arthritis, wounds, and the flu. A separate study examined a mixture of eucalyptus, marjoram, lavender, rosemary, and peppermint essential oils. The results indicated that this combination of essential oils wee able to reduce arthritic muscle and joint pain.
Peppermint Essential Oil
Similar to eucalyptus essential oil, peppermint essential oil has potent analgesic properties. The main components of peppermint oil are menthol and menthone. In the past, menthol has been used to treat pain from both tension and migraine headaches. A small study found that topically applying a 10% menthol solution to the temples was a great solution to relieve migraine pain. Health experts also believe that the awakening scent of peppermint essential oil may help to reduce muscle spasms. After dilution and topical application, people with arthritis may find that peppermint essential oil relieves joint pain.
In addition to these essential oils, the DIY sore muscle cream also contains coconut oil, shea butter, and beeswax. These ingredients help to lock moisture in the skin, as they have emollient properties. It’s also worth noting that massaging the sore muscles alone may help to relieve some of the pain, regardless of the essential oils. Keep this in mind when using the DIY cream below.
DIY Cream For Sore Muscles
Ingredients:
- 1/3 cup beeswax pastilles
- 1/2 cup organic shea butter
- 1/2 cup virgin coconut oil
- 15 drops peppermint essential oil
- 10 drops eucalyptus essential oil
Instructions:
- Add the beeswax, shea butter, and coconut oil to a microwave-safe glass bowl and microwave for about two minutes, stirring every 30 seconds until melted.
- You may need to microwave longer until you have liquified the mixture.
- Stir in the peppermint and eucalyptus essential oils and then allow the mixture to harden a little.
- Once it has firmed up a bit, use an electric hand mixer to whip the mixture until it looks smooth and creamy.
- Spoon it into a mason jar, cover, and store in cool, dry place. Massage a generous amount into sore muscles when you experience muscle pain.
- This can be beneficial after a long day at work or a hard workout.
Vincent Stevens is the senior content writer at Dherbs. As a fitness and health and wellness enthusiast, he enjoys covering a variety of topics, including the latest health, fitness, beauty, and lifestyle trends. His goal is to inform people of different ways they can improve their overall health, which aligns with Dherbs’ core values. He received his bachelor’s degree in creative writing from the University of Redlands, graduating summa cum laude. He lives in Los Angeles, CA.
