DIY Sore Muscle Rub Recipe with Essential Oils

Did you overdo a workout?  Or overuse your muscles gardening or doing housework?  Or lift a box the wrong way?

Been there.

Done that.

And those are just a few of the times when this homemade sore muscle rub has come in handy.

Benefits of This Homemade Sore Muscle Rub

• deep penetrating
• really works and works quickly
• temporary relief of achy, sore, tense muscles
• cooling and refreshing
• natural
• simple to make
• smells sooooo much better than the store bought alternatives

What is DIY sore muscle rub used for?

• temporary relief of achy or overworked muscles
• tense neck and shoulders
• simple backaches
• occasional muscle fatigue
• after workout, housework, gardening, or a long day

Which essential oils are good for temporary relief of sore, achy muscles?

There are many essential oils that help relieve sore, achy muscles.  Here’s a list of some of my favorites:

• minty (peppermint, spearmint, wintergreen)
• herbs (rosemary, thyme, basil, marjoram, lemongrass)
• spices (black pepper, cinnamon, cassia, ginger)
• floral (lavender, chamomile, clary sage)
• woodsy/evergreen (cypress, sandalwood, cedarwood, pine, eucalyptus, juniper berry)
• and, of course, frankincense essential oil– what isn’t it great for?!!

What’s in this DIY sore muscle rub?

coconut oil and olive oil – Act as carrier oils to dilute the essential oils.  Diluting essential oils when used topically is beneficial because it both (1) makes it safer (less risk of skin reactions and overuse sensitivity) and (2) increases the effectiveness of the essential oils by slowing evaporation and improving absorption.

beeswax – Beeswax performs two functions in this salve: (1) it soothes, protects, and nourishes skin and (2) raises the melting temperature – coconut oil melts at 76 degrees F, so without the beeswax on a warm day, this salve would completely liquefy.  Beeswax has a much higher melting temperature (144 degrees F), so adding a little beeswax helps to keep the rub at least somewhat solid in warm weather.

wintergreen essential oil – provides cooling and warming sensations, a natural analgesic (pain reliever), anti-inflammatory properties, acts as a natural numbing agent, and helps reduce muscle tension

peppermint essential oil – helps relax and ease muscle tension, aches, and pain.  Plus, peppermint is cooling and anti-inflammatory.

lemongrass essential oil – Soothes achy muscles and tendons and adds a great scent

lavender essential oil – helps improve blood circulation, calms and reduces stress and tension, anti-inflammatory, soothes sore tired muscles, and provides temporary pain relief

helichrysum essential oil – powerful pain reliever, anti-inflammatory, and helps improve circulation

How to make homemade sore muscle rub?

step 1:  Add 2 tablespoons of beeswax to a heat-safe glass bowl or measuring cup (this will be used to melt the beeswax using double boiler method)

step 2:  to melt beeswax, put the heat-safe glass bowl/measuring cup into a pot of simmering water.  Melt beeswax over medium heat.  Stir occasionally.  It will take about 15 minutes to melt beeswax.  Make sure beeswax is completely melted, otherwise the beeswax might partially re-solidify, making the sore muscle rub grainy.

step 3:  Add 1/4 cup coconut oil to the melted beeswax

step 4:  Add 1/4 cup olive oil

stir to combine and melt the coconut oil (this won’t take long)

step 5:  once completely melted, remove the beeswax and oil mixture from the heat.  Allow it to cool for a few minutes.

After the oil/wax mixture has cooled for a few minutes, add the following essential oils and stir well

15 drops wintergreen essential oil

30 drops peppermint essential oil

30 drops lemongrass essential oil

20 drops lavender essential oil

20 drops helichrysum essential oil

note: this is a lot of drops of essential oil (115 to be exact), but because it is being diluted in 1/2 cup of oil, it is only a 5% dilution.  For occasional use by healthy adult.

step 6:  pour the mixture into containers (glass, metal, plastic #1 PET & plastic #2 HDPE jars are all safe for diluted essential oil blends like this)

step 7:  clean up

Beeswax to hard to clean with just soap & water.  So before it hardens, use paper towels to wipe out the glass bowl/measuring cup and any utensils you used to stir the mixture.  Then once you’ve wiped off as much as you can, wash as usual with soap and water.

step 8:  Allow the sore muscle rub to cool and solidify completely before putting the lid on (this might take a few hours to harden all the way through)  You can put it in the refrigerator to speed this step up.

step 9 (optional):  If you use a tin container like I did, then you can decorate the lid with a little scrapbook paper and Modge Podge.

• cut out scrapbook paper to fit the lid
• use a foam brush to apply a little Modge Podge to the top of the lid (this acts as the glue)
• put paper on lid, and starting from the center, use your finger to press down and smooth out any bubbles
• then cover the top of the paper with a little more Modge Podge to seal the paper
• let it dry

Here’s the DIY sore muscle rub recipe one more time

2 Tbsp beeswax

1/4 cup coconut oil

1/4 cup olive oil

15 drops wintergreen essential oil

30 drops peppermint essential oil

30 drops lemongrass essential oil

20 drops lavender essential oil

20 drops helichrysum essential oil

This is a 5% essential oil dilution.  For occasional use by healthy adult.

How to use DIY sore muscle rub with essential oils:

I use this sore muscle rub several different ways:

• temporary relief of achy or overworked muscles
• tense neck and shoulders
• simple backaches
• occasional muscle fatigue
• after workout, housework, gardening, or a long day

notes

• Don’t use on skin with open wounds or cuts.  It would hurt.
• Test on small area of skin before using.  If there’s any irritation, dilute with more carrier oils.
• Wash hands well after using.

Where to get supplies?

organic, extra-virgin coconut oil – buy here or pick up at your local grocery store

organic, extra-virgin olive oil  – I buy at my local grocery store

organic, cosmetic-grade beeswax (buy here)

4 oz tin jars (buy here)

adorable 2 oz glass mason jars (buy here)

wooden sticks for stirring (find them here)

heat-safe glass measuring cup or bowl (like these)

Modge Podge (buy here)

scrapbook paper (buy here)

If you liked this post, here are a few other essential oil posts that I think you’ll like:

20 Favorite Roller Bottle Blend Recipes and Free Printable Labels

DIY Calming Magnesium Body Butter with Essential Oils

Clever & Creative Ways to Use Empty Essential Oil Bottles

Best deals for essential oil supplies– diffusers cases, spray bottles, carrier oils, essential oil tools

25+ Easy DIY Gifts Made with Essential Oils

DIY Bug Spray and Bug Repellent Lotion Bars

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