Top 10 Essential Oils for Muscle Soreness and Pain

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For many of us, avoiding pain is always a good thing! But there are times when soreness and pain aren’t always bad. One example of this can be muscle soreness and pain. It is often a sign that we are using muscles and even building them up – but it still hurts.

That’s where your essential oils come in. While they will never replace medical advice or what your doctor tells you to do to handle muscle pain, they can help ease some of the soreness and help you recover. The question is – which ones?

Best essential oils for muscle soreness

We’ll talk about how to use the essential oils in a moment but let’s start by seeing which ones you might want to test out on your sore muscles to see if they help.

Basil

Basil is best known as a herb used in lots of tasty dishes but it also makes a useful essential oil. Basil oil can help to ease feelings of tension and also release muscle spasms and reduce inflammation.

Black pepper

Black pepper is great if you are feeling cold and sore as it has natural warming properties. Plus you can get antimicrobial benefits from it which is great if you took a little tumble when pulling that muscle. Some people even find it has analgesic properties and can be used for pain relief.

Blue chamomile

Chamomile oil is a familiar essential oil and tea ingredient but it does come in different varieties. Blue or German chamomile is most often used for herbal teas but also comes in essential oil format. It is known for being anti-inflammatory as well as non-irritating for most people (although a spot test is always recommended).

Clary sage

One of the common herb family sage, clary sage is popular as an essential oil because it acts as a pain reliever and eases spasms. It is also a nerve tonic so if there’s a bit of nerve tension or damage, it can help.

Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus is my personal favourite for almost anything. Not only does it smell great but it comes with some solid benefits. It is known for being anti-bacterial and helps to protect the lungs as well as being great for dealing with congestion. For muscle soreness, it is anti-inflammatory and anti-spasmodic to help with muscle spasms.

Ginger

Perhaps best known for its place in recipes like gingersnap cookies, ginger has been used in traditional medicine for centuries. As an essential oil, it has a warm and spicy scent and is known to have anti-inflammatory properties which are helpful with muscle soreness.

Lavender

Lavender oil is one of the most well known and popular essential oils that is often used to calm people and ease stress. But for our topic, it is the anti-inflammatory properties of lavender essential oil that make it useful. Some people can even use it undiluted or without a carrier oil but as always, test a small area of skin first.

Marjoram

Marjoram is another herb oil and this one is known specifically for helping with spasm, strains, sprains and swelling as well as with stiffness in joints and muscles. There’s also anti-inflammatory properties and it is anti-bacterial so if there are cuts or scrapes associated with muscle pain, it can help kill off infection.

Peppermint

Peppermint is often said to be the world’s oldest medicinal plant and is popular for anti-inflammatory properties as well as to cool the discomfort of sore muscles. Peppermint oil is quite strong so avoid using it directly but does work well with a carrier oil or in blends.

Rosemary 

Rosemary is a popular herb that’s a member of the mint family and is known for having good antioxidant content. It is another that helps with inflammation and also has pain-relieving properties to help handle those aches and pains.

How to use them

Deciding which essential oils you are going to try to help with your muscle soreness is one thing. Then you also need to think about how to use them. There are a few ways to get the best from the oils, sometimes depending on which ones you use.

Diffusing in a hot bath

One of the simplest ways to get the benefits of essential oils is to use them in the bath. You can even use it with things like Epsom salts.  

Add a few drops of the oil or oils into the hot water and swirl it around to disperse them. Then hop in and relax. If you haven’t used the oils before, remember that spot test first to make sure you aren’t allergic to them.

Create a cold compress

Another simple method is to create a compress to apply directly to the sore muscle. This is particularly effective if there is swelling and you use anti-inflammatory oils.  

Add a few drops of the oil into cold water and then place a clear piece of cloth into the water. Make sure it gets wet and soaks up the soils then ring it out and place it on the sore area. Or you can use a compress ball.

Use as a massage oil

The third option is to use as a massage oil. Here you need a carrier oil to work with – something like sweet almond oil, avocado oil or even just olive oil will work.  

Mix a few drops of the essential oil into the carrier oil then massage it into the sore muscles. Body heat will warm the oil to help with the pain and also get the aromatherapy benefits too as you breathe them in.

Make your own roll-on

You can even get an empty roll-on style container and use diluted essential oils to create a roll-on. Use this directly onto the sore muscles or affected area to help get those anti-inflammatory benefits.

A simple essential oil blend

To get the best of essential oils, you can blend them together and get a whole range of benefits in one place. Here’s an example of a simple essential oil blend for muscle soreness:

How to use essential oils safely

When it comes to the use of essential oils there are always a few things to remember. For starters, always use them carefully and test in a small area before jumping in. Never use them if a medical professional says not to and be careful using them if you have health conditions or are pregnant.

Ease that muscle soreness with essential oils

Using the right essential oils can help with muscle soreness, ease spasms, aching muscles and muscle tension and even inflammation. Blending them or using them in different ways means you get just the help you need for the problem you have and be back in top form in no time!