It’s becoming achy season.
The time of year when bodies get sore due to a virus that is going around – causing sore throats, headaches and fatigue along with achiness.
What do you do when you have an achy body and all you want to do is relax on the couch or go to bed?
Well, if it’s bed you need, then that’s where you should be headed.
But what if it’s too early in the day? Or you need something more than sleep?
When your body aches, there’s nothing better than using essential oils – either as part of a massage or in a bath. There are a variety of essential oils for an achy body.
Are you achy because of stress and tension?
Then you should consider essential oils like chamomile, lavender, jasmine, rose and neroli. Chamomile relives anxiety, lavender is relaxing and steadies the nerves, jasmine soothes anxiety and brings on relaxation and sleep, while rose and neroli ease tension and anxiety.
What if your muscles are sore?
Relieve muscle spasms with chamomile, clary sage, lavender, marjoram and rosemary. Rosemary helps overcome exhaustion and is stimulating to the senses, so don’t use it an hour before bed. Clary sage is good for muscles and is especially useful for an aching body due to PMS. Marjoram is a warming and penetrating oil that is good for aches and pain and is also useful after exercise.
If you have pain and rheumatism, consider the essential oils of rosemary, black pepper, juniper and lavender to massage on the body. Juniper is particuarly useful in cases of arthritis and rheumatism, but it should be avoided if one has kidney trouble. Black pepper is a warming and stimulating oil that helps muscular stiffness, aches and pains. It can be used to massage before and after exercise. Black pepper should be used in smaller amounts as it can be an irritant.
Caution should be used when using essential oils directly on the skin, as the oils should always be diluted in a base oil such as sweet almond oil. Use about 5 drops of an essential oil (only 2-3 drops of black pepper) diluted in a base oil of 1-2 ounces. Mix gently before massaging on the skin.
