Summer is almost over. YAY! My favorite time of year is coming. I love the autumn months. It is starting to cool down a bit and the humidity is much lower. This is the time of year when many people are out trying to get a few last minute fun in the sun before the winter weather is upon us. Enjoying the fall colors with a nice hike or a bike ride. Playing sports with friends. This is also a good time for yard work and house repairs. Lots of autumn activities that could result in tired, overworked muscles.
We have these issues during all seasons. Winter months may have snow shoveling and winter sports like skiing, sledding, etc.
Improper or excessive use and tension of muscles can lead to symptoms of overworked muscles hours later. When muscles undergo excessive tension for a length of time, muscle fatigue, stiffness, and aches may be experienced.
Young Living has several products that are helpful in supporting tired achy muscles. Some of these are included in the monthly promo for September.
PanAway –
PanAway is a blend of wintergreen, which has an active principle similar to cortisone; clove, which contains eugenol, used by dentists to numb gums; peppermint, calming for nerves; and helichrysum, soothing to overworked muscles.
PanAway is a wonderful oil blend to have on hand for those days when you get a little too much exercise, play sports or work too hard.
Apply on location for muscles, compress on the spine, rub on reflexology points of feet.
Ortho Sport –
A stronger version of Ortho Ease, Ortho Sport Massage Oil is designed for both professional and amateur athletes, as well as anyone who works or plays hard. Ortho Sport Massage Oil has a higher phenol content, which has been used traditionally to produce a warming sensation and provide relief to tired muscles.
Ortho Sport contains:
Grapeseed oil, wheatgerm oil, sweet almond oil, olive oil, wheatgerm oil, vitamin E, and premium grade essential oils of birch, juniper, marjoram, red thyme, vetiver, peppermint, eucalyptus australiana and lemongrass
Wintergreen
A refreshing, minty, sweet aroma is stimulating and invigorating. Great addition to lotions and ointments that are applied after activity.
Includes the naturally occurring constituent methyl salicylate.
Northern Lights Black Spruce essential oil comes from Young Living’s new Northern Lights Farm in British Columbia, Canada.
Northern Lights Black Spruce can also be applied anywhere, including to the bottoms of feet, along the spine, back of neck, or used for massage. This oil includes the naturally occurring constituents alpha-pinene, camphene, and beta-pinene
Apply to bottoms of feet, along the spine, back of neck, or wherever desired or use for massage.
Suggested Use
Topical: Dilute 1 drop with 1 drop of V-6 oil.
Apply to desired area as needed.
Aromatic: Diffuse up to 30 minutes 3 times daily.
Essential Oils can be soothing for overworked muscles.
A few options:
Muscle Relaxing Oils:
Basil, German Chamomile, helichrysum, lavender, marjoram, peppermint, Aroma Siez
Analgesic Oils: Bergamot, wintergreen, helichrysum, lavender, lemongrass, marjoram, PanAway, peppermint, Cool Azul, Deep Relief
How to prepare your own High-Powered Massage Oil:
Add these formulas to 4 oz. V-6 Mixing oil or Massage oil base.
Cooling and Soothing blend 1
Recipe:
10 drops basil
8 drops wintergreen
6 drops cypress
3 drops peppermint
Rub oil blend neat on location. Mix with V-6 Mixing Oil or Massage Oil Base to massage larger areas of the body.
Cooling and Soothing blend 2
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- 3 drops lavender
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- 4 drops cypress
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- 3 drops wintergreen
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- 4 drops marjoram
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- 5-6 drops Roman chamomile
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- 4 drops peppermint
Rub oil blend neat on location. Mix with V-6 Mixing Oil or Massage Oil Base to massage larger areas of the body.
Cooling and Soothing blend 3
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- 10 drops wintergreen
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- 10 drops peppermint
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- 10 drops marjoram
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- 8 drops elemi
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- 8 drops vetiver
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- 5 drops helichrysum
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- 5 drops cypress
- Rub oil blend neat on location. Mix with V-6 Mixing Oil or Massage Oil Base to massage larger areas of the body.
Cooling and Soothing blend 4
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- 20 drops wintergreen
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- 15 drops marjoram
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- 10 drops juniper
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- 10 drops cypress
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- 6 drops spruce
Rub oil blend neat on location. Mix with V-6 Mixing Oil or Massage Oil Base to massage larger areas of the body.
You can add these formulas to 4 oz. of Ortho Ease to strengthen its effects.
These oils can also be added to the cream or salve recipe below.
Making a Salve or Cream
SOFT – This is a good one if you are wanting something closer to a lotion.
FIRM – A little more firmness.
X-TRA FIRM – this version would be a good choice for a foot or elbow balm.
HARD – Good for a lip balm or deodorant.
INGREDIENTS
1/2 Cup of Oil Mixture- a combination of…
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Beeswax, Shea Butter, or combination of the two:
SOFT: Use 2 Tbsp per 1/2 CUP of oil mixture
FIRM: Use 4 Tbsp per 1/2 CUP of oil mixture
EXTRA-FIRM: Use 6 Tbsp per 1/2 CUP of oil mixture
HARD: Use 8 Tbsp per 1/2 CUP of oil mixture
DIRECTIONS
Place coconut oil, extra-virgin olive oil and beeswax and shea butter in small glass jar. Place jar into pan and fill with approximately 2-inches of water. Heat over medium-heat, stirring mixture in jar until everything is melted. Remove pan from heat.
Using a clean kitchen towel or wash cloth, carefully remove jar from pan and place on cutting board to cool. While cooling stir with knife
to make sure contents stay well mixed.
Before adding your choice of essential oils, let the mixture cool a little but not too much. Letting the mixture cool helps to preserve and
protect the delicate chemical constituents in the essential oils. You can speed the process by gently stirring with a clean knife. Add the
essential oils while stirring and mixture is just starting to turn opaque and beginning to harden.
How to Make Hot and Cold Compresses
Preparing for a hot compress:
Fill a bowl with very hot water.
Add 4 to 5 drops of essential oil.
Dip a folded piece of sterile cotton cloth into the prepared water. Squeeze out excess water. Place the moistened cloth onto the affected area until it reaches body temperature. Repeat steps 3 through 5 two to three times.
Preparing for a cold compress, replace hot water with ice cold water and follow with steps 2 through 6.
The Crust:
