Ever wake up in the middle of the night with a charley horse in your leg or a painful muscle contraction in your foot? Oh, that really hurts!
Muscle cramps and/or spasms are involuntary contractions or tightening of the muscles. These cramps most commonly happen in the muscles of the calf, and may be caused by the lack of a particular nutrient, such as calcium, magnesium, and/or potassium. They might also be caused by dehydration, or just over-exercising. Sometimes, they just seem to happen without a clue to their root cause, which may even be stress. Stress is known to irritate nerves and trigger muscle cramps.
For stress, the following oils are recommended: Eucalyptus, Lavender, Lemon, Marjoram, Oregano, Peppermint, Geranium and Chamomile.
For muscle pain, the following oils are recommended: Marjoram, Peppermint, Basil, Cypress, Ginger, Lavender, Lemongrass, Rosemary, Sage, Vetiver and Wintergreen.
For more general aches and pains, such as achiness due to an illness, these essential oils are most helpful: Clove, Marjoram, Oregano, Peppermint, Ginger, Lavender, Chamomile, Rosemary, Thyme and Wintergreen.
It’s recommended that you apply oils over the affected muscles by using a carrier oil such as olive, almond, coconut, or a similar oil. Many individuals use essential oils un-diluted, however be sure you always use a carrier oil to dilute the stronger oils, such as Oregano or Wintergreen.
Muscle Cramps Recipe:
3 drops of Chamomile
2 drops of Marjoram
2 drops of Ginger
4 drops of Lavender
Combine the oils listed with approximately 1.5 tablespoons of carrier oil such as olive, jojaba or coconut and massage generously onto the affected area(s).