Raise your hand if this has ever happened to you: you walk into the gym feeling great, walk out an hour later feeling uh-mazing, and then wake up the next day feeling like you were hit by a truck. I know, no pain no gain, but that sting is rough.
Rather than grin and bear your way through it, make a batch of this warming muscle rub to help soothe tense muscles. It’s super creamy so a little goes a long way and it’s loaded with natural ingredients and essential oils guaranteed to ease inflammation and dull the ache.
DIY Warming Muscle Rub
Muscle rubs have become popular because they can do wonders when it comes to soothing minor muscles aches. But a lot of the products you find at the store are either full of chemicals or cheap (ahem, ineffective) so they don’t work as well as you might like.
This homemade muscle rub is surprisingly simple and so, so helpful when it comes to pain and inflammation. It’s loaded with essential oils like camphor, peppermint and cinnamon to give it that warm-cool sensation that’s so good for muscles. Plus it’s got a creamy, lotion-like consistency that swipes on easily and sinks in quickly. Just a dab or two applied directly to hot spots can have you back up and running in no time.
Here’s how it works:
Camphor
Camphor is used topically to increase local blood flow and reduce inflammation. It’s considered a “counterirritant,” which means that it can help reduce pain and swelling by causing irritation.
Menthol
Like camphor, menthol is also considered a “counterirritant”. It works by causing the skin to feel cool, then warm, which helps distract you from muscle, joint and tendon pain.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon has anti-inflammatory properties, which can reduce swelling and soothe muscle soreness.
Clove
Clove works by providing a slight numbing sensation to soothe pain.
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus oil is an anti-inflammatory and an analgesic so it helps to soothe both the inflammation and pain that is associated with things like rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and even muscle injury.
Combine everything together and you get a natural muscle rub that rivals Icy Hot or Tiger Balm. To use, simply apply a pea-sized amount to the painful area and massage into the skin for instant relief. While it’s made for tired muscles, go ahead and use it for treating headaches, colds and sinus pain as well.
Warming Muscle Rub
Yield 1/2 cup
Ingredients
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup shea butter
- 2 tablespoons beeswax pellets
- 45 drops camphor essential oil
- 35 drops peppermint oil
- 20 drops eucalyptus essential oil
- 25 drops cinnamon essential oil
- 15 drops clove essential oil
Instructions
- Melt the olive oil, shea butter and beeswax pellets in a double boiler or in a glass jar in the microwave.
- Once completely melted, let it sit for few minutes to cool slightly. Then add the essential oils and stir to combine.
- Pour the mixture into a lidded jar and let harden in the refrigerator for 20 minutes.
- Massage a small amount of muscle rub onto the affected area to get relief.
- Store in a cool, dry place for up to a year.
Amazing tip, thanks
Hello, yesterday I made the warming muscle rub. Just a couple things: I could not find camphor at the whole foods store, so I just eliminated that. Is there something I can add to substitute? Also, after cooling in the jar, I’m thinking I don’t especially like the scent I think is from the natural African shea butter. Can I put a few drops of another oil to make the scent more tolerable for me? FYI, it was pretty easy to make. Thank you for sharing.
Carmella jankowski
I don’t know about the author but, I would use Peppermint or Eucalyptus or Rosemary. Look at the amount of Camphor each oil contains. You may find one that is better.
Do you have to use bees wax pellets or can you use solid bees wax that comes in a jar?
Is it possible to adjust this “recipe” to make a solid bar?
Did you mean the olive oil you cook with
Thank you.
Barbie. [email protected]
Yes, EVOO used for cooking if fine!
EVOO IS FINE!
How much menthol do you add?
it’s her ‘ peppermint’ oil :-)