Massage Therapist Tip: Why Blends Work Best for Muscle Pain & Discomfort When…

By Caryn Gehlmann & Lakita Dunkers, Clinical Aromatherapists

One of the things I love best about what I do is the opportunity to work with amazing healthcare professionals. They are a wonderful resource when I get questions from customers. So in this Q&A with Caryn, I asked Lakita to share a massage therapist tip on why essential oil blends are so effective in supporting muscle pain and discomfort.

For those of you who don’t know Lakita Dunkers, she brings over 20 years of experience in healing arts as a massage therapist, energy practitioner, life coach, and Clinical Aromatherapist. Lakita enjoys supporting people to achieve their optimal state of well-being.

Here’s the question I got from Shana…

“I’m trying to buy Roman Chamomile that would be strong enough to help with back spasms and inflammation. Can you tell me if the 5% diluted Roman Chamomile would be strong enough to help or should I purchase the full strength essential oil and make a stronger dilution?”

I asked Shana for some background information and learned that her husband was experiencing back spasms, perhaps from overuse or strain. I referred this question to Lakita and we’ll all benefit from her response as a clinical aromatherapist and massage therapist!

Has your husband been to a doctor, chiropractor, or massage therapist for evaluation? It is possible that he pulled his spine out of alignment or strained a muscle while working. I would recommend seeking the care of a healthcare practitioner as a first step. If there is a structural issue, essential oils alone may provide some initial pain relief but will not address the underlying cause. Essential oils can be of huge support in conjunction with these other modalities. You can use them to calm and soothe the whole body system, as well as to help reduce inflammation and support pain management. If however, there is a structural issue, just using essential oils will not likely provide your husband with the relief that he is looking for.

Chamomile Roman has wonderful calming soothing properties, however, for muscle aches, pains, and spasms I prefer to use blends.  One massage therapist tip is to use e3’s Inflammation Blend or Muscle Soothe.

Inflammation Blend has German Chamomile which has the benefit of calming properties as well as being one of the best anti-inflammatory essential oils. There are also other essential oils in this blend that have analgesic, nerve-calming, and anti-inflammatory properties.

The essential oils in Muscle Soothe are geared more toward soothing aches and pains. Peppermint for analgesic properties, Fennel Sweet for muscle spasms, Lavender for general tension relief, Lemongrass and Rosemary for muscle aches and muscle fatigue, and lemon for its uplifting properties.

Regarding Chamomile Roman Dilute – it is at a 5% dilution which for most circumstances is an effective dilution. Again I would recommend the blends over a single essential oil for muscle aches, pains, and spasms. Also, Chamomile Roman has an intense aroma that you may find is too strong.  However, when  used in a synergistic blend, it can add a balancing soft floral note along with its calming and relaxing therapeutic properties.

Thanks, Lakita for providing such a thorough response to that question. This is a great massage therapist tip: essential oil blends often provide more well-rounded support for muscle discomfort! There are three reasons for this…

1. They combine the individual therapeutic properties of different oils, allowing for a more comprehensive approach to pain relief, potentially targeting multiple aspects like inflammation, tension, and circulation.
2. They often have a more pleasant aroma compared to using a single oil alone. And experience teaches us that you’re more likely to use it if you like how it smells!
3. And this one is a bonus — you can save money! Not always of course, but many times blends are a better value than single essential oils, especially precious oils like Roman Chamomile.

Do you have a question about essential oils? Our experienced staff of Clinical Aromatherapists and healthcare professionals are happy and ready to support you. As you can see, we take the time to listen, answer your questions, and suggest personalized aromatherapy solutions tailored to your needs. Contact us here if you have one you’d like answered.

And if you’d like to learn more about essential oils, where they come from and how to use them safely, please feel free to download our free ebook, Listen to Your Nose – An Introduction to Aromatherapy. You’ll get a 20% off coupon you can use on your next order.

Photo by Toa Heftiba