Natural Care for Healthy Muscles, Joints and Backs

This information is for educational purposes only and has not been evaluated by the FDA. It is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any diseases. If you have an injury or disease, see a medical doctor.

Give your body the best   Whether you are a tri-athlete or just trying to fit in several normal workouts a week, you are working to give your body the best.  I know with hard physical work comes sore muscles. There are a lot of synthetic, chemical filled sports creams, these are not a natural way to relieve aches and pains.  They might bring short term relief, but there are much better options that support healthy muscles and joints. The natural result of decreased inflammation is less pain. 

Change is good When you make the best choices in your personal care and body products your body will be stronger and healthy.  There are a lot of people doing great things with diet and exercise, and personal care is another component of wellness that can’t be ignored.  Chemicals are absorbed into your skin and can accumulate over time. 

Make the right choices  The great news is there are truly natural options that support healthy muscles and joints.  Anyone with aging parents, friends or colleagues knows that the a great deal of our population is overmedicated.  You can lessen exposure to more toxins by making educated choices for healthy muscles and joints.  The last I checked, Amazon.com had 5,870 pain relief products available.   How do you begin choosing products for pain relief?  Start by reading the labels of what you are already using and know what you are applying to your body or ingesting.  Many products not only have synthetic ingredients and artificial colors that could cause a reaction, any with artificial fragrance could be disrupting your thyroid and hormones

1.  Essential Oils  There are many Therapeutic Grade essential oils that support natural muscle and joint health.  Essential oils can be applied topically or to the Vita-Flex points on the feet for direct application.   While essential oils cannot repair serious injuries like a torn rotator cuff or the need for knee replacement, they can decrease inflammation, speed healing and lessen the time you have to take potent narcotics for post-surgical pain. 

Essential oils also work on physical and psychological aspects of pain. Here are some of the best choices for pain in the muscles, joints and backs.  In addition to calming stressed muscles and joints,  essential oils have many uses, so when you apply an oil to your muscles or joints, you will be supporting your whole body’s health. Essential oils work in harmony with the body, so the sooner you can apply them after over-exertion or stressed areas the quicker they will relieve the discomfort and the less you’ll have to use them.

  • Idaho balsam fir- anti-inflammatory, grounding and relaxing to the body.  Effective against respiratory infections, fatigue and tight muscles.
  • Lavender – calming, relaxant physically and emotionally.  Supports skin health, speeds wound healing in cuts, scrapes and 1st degree burns.
  • Wintergreen – naturally warming, muscle relaxant, highly anti-inflammatory and anti-spasmodic.
  • Basil – soothes sore muscles, anti-spasmodic, also anti-bacterial and anti-viral.
  • Copaiba – powerful anti-inflammatory oil, antiseptic with almost imperceptible odor.
  • Marjoram – relieves occasional muscle spasms, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, promotes intestinal peristalsis, mucolytic, expectorant.
  • Peppermint – cooling, anti-inflammatory, stimulating (don’t use before bed!) Synergistic and increases penetration when applied after other oils.
  • Pain Blend – an essential oil blend of helichrysum (for health tissue & nerves, supports good circulation), wintergreen, peppermint and clove
  • Deep Muscle Blend is a convenient oil blend in an applicator bottle that you can roll on directly to sore muscles.

2.   Arnica Oil Arnica is a homeopathic compound that alleviates pain from bumps, bruises and sore muscles. We’ve used this on our kids for growing pains. Don’t combine it with anything containing peppermint. Strong mint and even coffee will negate the effects of homeopathic remedies.

3.  Salt Bath – Epsom salts, Magnesium Salts, baking soda and Sea salt are all great options for a soothing soak in the tub after a hard workout. All of these options will help decrease inflammation and increase circulation to your muscles. The most effective way to take a salt bath is when you can rest quietly for an hour afterwards. Soaking before bed is also helpful to ease you into a restful night of sleep after a hard day of work. 

4.  Joint Pain – is often caused by systemic issues.  Essential oils can bring some temporary relief, but an honest assessment should also be taken of environment, diet and lifestyle.   MSM can support healthy muscles and joints, as well as looking at your diet.  Goji Fruit  is a powerful anti-oxidant that works to give your body added nutrition with whole foods rather than synthetic vitamins.  Consult a doctor for medical issues. An Essential Oil Desk Reference, Prescription for Nutritional Healing and your holistic practitioner can coach you through aches and pains from .

For serious back injuries, essential oils can help bring relief until medical intervention is needed.   Many individuals have prolonged or even avoided the need for surgery when they used essential oils with integrated care by a chiropractor, physical therapist and gentle exercise like yoga with an experienced instructor.  The Raindrop method may relax occasional muscle spasms with essential oils that are helpful for every day back pain.

Name That Product:  Here’s a challenge for you, a product labeled with “Natural Herbal Ingredients” but also contains plenty of questionable chemicals.  One of my biggest concerns is the use of menthol (made as a synthetic or watered down peppermint ),  camphor (inexpensive filler that “smells strong”, may be derived from terpentine, used as insect or moth repellant and in embalming)  and lavender “oil” (not even listed as essential oil, this is probably hormone disrupting synthetic oil) and artificial colors, and chemicals that release formaldehyde (also used in embalming):

menthol 5%, camphor 3%, water, aloe vera gel, isopropyl alcohol, lavender oil, triethanolamine, carbomer, ginseng extract, angelica extract, polysorbate 60, DMDM hydantion, imidazolidinyl urea, blue 1, yellow 5

These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease.

 

 

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