Essential Oils for our Muscular and Skeletal Systems

Autumn seems to have arrived very quickly this year! One minute we had bright blue skies and sun, and the next all those wonderful warm autumn colours, but with colder temperatures. I took this months cover shot at the beautiful Winkworth Arboretum.

I thought that this month, as a lot of my clients have complained of aching muscles and joints as the colder weather arrives, I would do a blog focusing on some Essential Oils that warm us, bringing comfort and support to our Muscular and Skeletal systems.

As the weather gets colder, joints can get stiffer, and muscles can ache. We start to yearn for comfort, and whilst it is lovely to get out and walk this time of year, and see all the beautiful warm colours of the trees, we also do love to get home and wrap ourselves up! If you get a chance to go to Ramster Gardens while it’s still open (they close from the 9th of November) – you will be spoilt with the most stunning Acer trees down their ‘Acer Avenue’ right now!

Essential Oils with Warming Properties

There are many Essential Oils that have rubefacient (heating) properties. I list some for you to consider below. Please do note that some of these are quite strong, and as such there is important Safety Data to be aware of, before blending these to use on yourself or your loved ones.

You can make these Essential Oils up into massage blends yourself, using (for healthy adults) a maximum of 12 drops of Essential Oil (4 drops each of three different Essential Oils selected from below, or 3 drops each of four different Essential Oils as you prefer) blended with 30ml of a Base/Carrier Oil of your choice (I personally use Sweet Almond Oil).

You can then use this Essential Oil Blend for a full body massage, or in a lovely warm bath as preferred (mix a little milk into the blend to act as a surfactant, if using in the bath), or just apply the blend as is, to specific muscle groups or joints of the body as needed. Obviously I can also supply this blend to you if you would like me to! For those active folk amongst us, these Essential Oils are also fantastic used as a pre-sports and/or post-sports treatment.

If you are blending for a child, or anyone with hypersensitivies, hyperallergies, hypertension, or other certain medical conditions, you should reduce the dose to half (or a quarter for a child), and always contact myself or another qualified Aromatherapist for more advice, prior to application. To re-iterate - some of the Essential Oils mentioned in this months blog are very strong, so please do read the cautions given at the end of each oil description, before using them at home.

Some wonderful Essential Oils for warming our bodies, and supporting our Muscular and Skeletal systems are:

Black Pepper (Piper Nigrum)

This oil works hard on our Muscular and Skeletal Systems, as it is fantastic for osteoarthritis, rheumatism, sciatica, and general muscular aches, pains and fatigue. It is analgesic, strengthening, and rubefacient (brings warmth), which is wonderful for releasing sore and tired muscles, and it is fabulous added to a warm bath, or in a massage or sports blend with other oils added. Safety Data: Black Pepper is very stimulating, so it is not recommended for bedtime, and should only be used in low-medium doses. It can be a skin irritant in high doses for those with hypersensitivity, and it is too strong for use on babies or young children.

Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus Globulus)

This oil brings warmth, so is great this time of year for our Muscular and Skeletal Systems, and is a good choice to balance your blend, alongside some of the stronger oils like Black Pepper and Ginger. It also works hard to support our Respiratory and Immune Systems, and is helpful for asthma, bronchitis, sinusitis, coughs, colds, chills, fever and chest infections. It is antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, as well as being an analgesic, decongestant, expectorant, immuno-stimulant and it is antirheumatic. It can also lift the spirits by clearing mental stagnation. It is non-toxic, non-sensitising, and non-irritant, and is safe for almost everyone. Safety Data: It is not suitable though, for babies or young children, and it is believed to perhaps antidote homeopathic remedies.

Frankincense (Boswellia Carteri)

This Essential Oil is my absolute personal favourite! It is one of the safest oils we have in Aromatherapy and I use it every single day! It is really warming, so is wonderful for our muscles, and it is a really good Essential Oil to use with the stronger oils mentioned here, to bring some balance to the blend. It is one of the best for dealing with any anxiety or stress too, and is a really comforting, healing oil. It is warming, rejuvenating, wonderful for emotional support, and is really calming and centering. Being such a restorative oil, it is also lovely for elderly people (probably why I like it so much!) and it is useful when dealing with bereavement and trauma. There is no safety data required with this wonderful Essential Oil, so just blend and enjoy!

Ginger (Zingiber Officinalis)

This oil is a warming, energising oil. It is just wonderful for our Muscular and Skeletal Systems, helping with all muscular aches, pains and fatigue, as well as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, joint stiffness and muscle tension. It is analgesic and anti-inflammatory, and it is very stimulating. Fabulous used in a warm bath after a busy day, but perhaps not just before bed. Safety Data: Ginger should not be used on babies or children as it is much too stimulating, neither should it be used on individuals with hypersensitivity.

Juniper Berry (Juniperus Communis)

This oil is wonderful for the muscles too, being great for general muscle stiffness, cramps, post-sports treatments, gout, lower backache, rheumatism and arthritis. It is detoxifying too, and is rubefacient and antirheumatic. Safety Data: Juniper Berry should not be used for people with kidney problems, and again may be too strong for those with hypersensitivity, and is too strong for use on babies and children. It should not be confused with the herb ‘Juniperus Savin’ which should not be used at all in aromatherapy, and definitely not in pregnancy.

Marjoram, Sweet or French (Origanum Marjorana)

Sweet Marjoram is a great choice for our Musculo-Skeletal Systems. It is a warming, sedative choice, working hard on cramps, muscular aches and pains, arthritis, joint pains and stiffness, sciatica and neuralgia. It is also very comforting and calming. I use this oil a lot, where muscles need supporting, but where Ginger or Black Pepper might be too stimulating for the client. It is an analgesic, sedative, and rubefacient oil, and is safe for just about everyone. Safety Data: Slight caution should be used with hypersensitive individuals, and it should not be used during pregnancy or menstruation.

Rosemary (Rosmarinus Officinalis)

This fantastic Essential Oil is wonderful for our Muscular and Skeletal Systems, as it helps with sciatic pain, arthritis, rheumatism, neuralgia, and sprains and strains. It is quite stimulating, so probably not the best choice for bedtime, but it is really useful in a pre-sports or post–sports treatment. It is strengthening, and great for those that might need a ‘pick-me-up’ after a period of stress or illness. Safety Data: Rosemary should be used with caution with individuals with hypertension and/or epilepsy, and it should not be used during pregnancy or menstruation, or on babies or young children.