Muscle Recovery With Essential Oils
by Amy Simmons
Those of us engaged in an active lifestyle know that the key to a successful fitness routine comes in two parts: the workout and the recovery. While we often give most of our attention to the workout, without allowing your body adequate time to rest and heal, your next trip to the gym or yoga studio could fall flat. Aside from proper sleep, hydration, and nourishment, there are many tools available to give your recovery period a little boost, and Aromatherapy is one that while powerful, is sometimes overlooked.
Essential oils (the aromatic plant extracts used within the practice of Aromatherapy) are widely available, but can be misunderstood as they vary greatly in fragrance and function. Those interested in a faster and more enjoyable recovery after their exercise routine should consider essential oils that can help with relaxation, circulation, and easing inflammation in the muscles and joints.
Top 4 Essential Oils For Muscle Recovery
1. Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) – Soothing to the nerves and gently sedative, Lavender helps promote deep rest in the body. It addresses muscle soreness and cramps, in addition to improving the look of bruises, burns, and other topical injuries resulting from physical activity.
2. Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) and Tansy (Tanacetum annuum) – Calming to the nerves and soothing to overworked muscles and joints. It also addresses skin injuries, allergies, or heat and redness in the skin post-workout.
3. Wintergreen (Gaultheria fragrantissima) – One of the most popular and effective essential oils for muscle recovery, injuries, and other bodily discomforts, and has compounds similar to the active ingredients found in Aspirin.
4. Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) – Stimulating and lightly sedative, Rosemary supports the circulatory system and helps your body move through soreness and discomfort for faster recovery. This herb also helps to cleanse and heal the skin in the case of any scrapes or other topical injuries during physical activity.
Easy Aromatherapy For Muscle Recovery
You can also explore Aromatherapy Blends, like those offered by KM Herbals. Warming Ginger, Sage, and Blue Chamomile are just a small selection that can help with muscle recovery and are also featured in their line of therapeutic Bath Salts.
How do I use essential oils for Muscle Recovery?
Diffuse
Find an Aromatherapy diffuser to vaporize the oils within your space. These may range in price and design, but can be selected to fit your preferred ambiance. Make sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions and use only pure essential oils without any base oils (like almond or coconut) included.
Soak
Pair aromatherapy with the luxurious full body treatment of soaking in a bath of Epsom salts. These salts are rich in Magnesium, a key mineral for muscle recovery, and the heat of the bath will help ease your body into even deeper relaxation.
Massage
Gently massage topical products like oils and gels onto overworked muscles and painful joints directly. Aromatherapy products rich in Arnica and St. John’s Wort herbs are a plus, as they also help with inflammation and bruising. KM Herbals’ Injury Oil incorporates these herbs with Lavender and Blue Tansy essential oils, and can be applied directly to the area of discomfort.
You can also mix essential oils into your favorite moisturizing oils for use after bathing, which can help replenish the skin after a salt bath and ease the dryness of the winter season.
A compact and convenient tool for workout recovery, essential oils support the body on both a physical and emotional level. You can easily take advantage of Aromatherapy’s many benefits by customizing it to your lifestyle, and since there are so many specialized products available today, with minimal effort and maximum enjoyment, you can make Aromatherapy your new workout recovery ally.
Want More Information on aromatherapy and muscle recovery, KM Herbals has a deeper dive into the topic that you’ll love!
For More Wellness – Read Be Well W Barry
For more wellness based articles you can check out Be Well W Barry
A whole new element to Lipgloss + Aftershave! Barry’s always been drawn to wellness and has loved all aspects of a healthy lifestyle. He holds 2 yoga certifications, loves all body work modalities, gets regular bodywork, acupuncture, and chiropractic treatments. He’s a fitness enthusiast and is studying for his personal training certification. He loves aromatherapy and all body treatments and products and has been using them for 2 decades. He’s also very focused on nutrition and loves amazing food and daily supplements.
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About Amy Simmons
Amy T. Simmons is the Research and Education Coordinator for KM Herbals, manufacturer of aromatherapy and botanical personal care products. She is a licensed esthetician who specializes in holistic wellness and plant-based skincare. Amy studied herbalism and aromatherapy at the California School of Herbal Studies as well as cosmetic chemistry with Rebecca Gadberry at UCLA.