Muscle cramp is a sudden, involuntary and painful contraction of the muscles. It can occur during an effort, just after it, but also at rest. It is a very intense and persistent muscle spasm. It is localized on one or several muscles which become rigid at the time of the cramp. It is possible to relieve its muscles by stretching them; it is even better to associate this stretching with a massage with essential oils.
Related articles [View] - Muscle and joint problems - Synovial effusion and essential oils - Osteoarthritis and essential oils - Tendinitis and essential oils - Muscle pain and essential oils - Arthritis and essential oilsCramps being painful and intense episodes, it is sometimes preferable to try to calm them down as soon as possible, although in most cases, they disappear after a few minutes. A massage with essential oils can thus be of great help, since it allows to combine the benefits of an energetic massage with those of essential oils. The field of the fight against the pain is besides one of the fields where the greatest number of aromatic principles seem indicated. To calm the cramps, as well nocturnal as those of the sportsman, several properties of essential oils are put at the service of the muscles:
Essential oils with these properties are those rich in esters, certain ketones (camphor) and phenol derivatives (methyleugenol). They can be used as soon as the cramp appears, and as a complement to an adapted lifestyle (good hydration, stretching, etc.)
From 6 years and for adults. By cutaneous way, dilute 1 drop of Scented Gaultheria essential oil or Gaultheria Couchée in 4 drops of Arnica oily macerate (or other vegetable oil). Massage the muscle deeply with circular movements, 4 times a day until improvement.
Not to use in the event of anticoagulant treatment, nor of allergy to salicylates. Moreover, the Sweet gaultheria is disadvised in case of eczema, asthma, ulcer, hiatal hernia, hemorrhage, or before a surgical operation.
Because the essential oil of Sweet Clover (or Couchée) has a very strong smell, it can be embarrassing to use it in the middle of the night. In case of night cramps, it is therefore possible to replace it with Lavandin Super essential oil for example, which is powerfully antispasmodic.
For pregnant women. By skin, dilute 1 drop of Eucalyptus Lemon essential oil in 9 drops of Arnica oily macerate (or other vegetable oil). Massage the muscle deeply with circular movements, 4 times a day until improvement.
A milder alternative to sweet gaultheria essential oil, Lemon Eucalyptus has very few contraindications. However, it should not be used by pregnant women under 3 months or children under 3 years. Slightly irritating, it is preferable to dilute it in a vegetable oil for any cutaneous application.
In case of night cramps, and if the smell of Lemon Eucalyptus essential oil is too strong or even disturbing, it is quite possible to replace it with Roman Chamomile essential oil, which also has a powerful antispasmodic action.
Sweet Clover essential oil can be very effective on its own for cramps, but it can be interesting to combine it with other essential oils in synergy. This creates a more complete and versatile blend, combining many properties and active molecules in one ready-to-use bottle.
To get rid of cramps, take your empty bottle and add :
Close (click!), homogenize and label your bottle. Your synergy is ready !
Massage the affected area with 6 to 8 drops of the mixture. In case of prevention or frequent use, divide the quantities of essential oils by two.
YES. Adults, teenagers, children + 6 years old.
NOT. Pregnant and nursing women, children - 6 years old.
These precautions apply under the conditions of application and dosage cited above. If in doubt, ask your question on our forum and consult your doctor.
Lemon Eucalyptus essential oil can be very effective on its own for cramps, but it can be interesting to combine it with other essential oils suitable for pregnant women in synergy. This creates a more complete and versatile blend, combining many properties and active molecules within the same ready-to-use bottle.
To use this recipe, take your empty bottle, and add :
Close (click!), homogenize and label your bottle. Your synergy is ready to be used!
Massage the affected area with 6 drops of the mixture, no more than 3 times a day and for a maximum of 5 consecutive days.
YES. Pregnant women + 3 months, nursing women.
NOT. Pregnant women - 3 months.
Generally speaking, remember that essential oils are NOT allowed in the first 3 months of pregnancy. More information: essential oils for pregnant and nursing women.
These precautions apply under the conditions of application and dosage cited above. If in doubt, ask your question on our forum and consult your doctor.
The essential oil of Sweet Clover is composed of between 95 and 99% methyl salicylate, a particular ester with strong antalgic properties. Couched Gaultheria has a very similar composition as well. This molecule is also a very good muscle antispasmodic that notably works to relieve spasms such as cramps that can be very painful and persistent. This antispasmodic activity comes from two mechanisms:
First of all the rubbing action of methyl salicylate dilates the blood vessels and accelerates the blood flow. The muscles are therefore better irrigated and warmed up, this heat relaxes them and prevents their sudden contraction.
Second, it disrupts exchanges at the level of ion channels (membrane proteins allowing the passage and exchange of ions) between nerve fibers and thus can inhibit the passage of nerve impulses. This prevents involuntary contraction of the muscle and thus the onset of cramping.
The essential oil of Lemon Eucalyptus has a high percentage of citronellal. This monoterpene aldehyde provides it with multiple properties calming muscle and joint pain. Citronellal is spasmolytic, by action on certain neuromediators (molecules allowing the transfer of nervous information), it comes to relax the muscles which prevents their brutal contraction. The anti-inflammatory character of this essential oil by inhibition of certain pro-inflammatory prostaglandins will intervene to fight against the pain due to cramp.
It is properties including calming, anxiolytic and sedative that Lavandin Super essential oil brings to this synergy. Indeed, the monoterpene alcohols (linalool, terpinen-4-ol) as well as linalyl acetate, a monoterpene ester, are active on the nervous system and thus decrease excitability and stress that tend to tense the muscles and thus promote the appearance of cramps. These molecules, along with camphor, are also musculotropic spasmolytics (promote muscle relaxation); they have the effect of relieving muscle contractions such as cramps. Indeed, linalool, present between 25 and 39% in this essential oil, competes with acetylcholine, thus limiting the ionic exchanges necessary for the passage of the nerve impulse which inhibits the involuntary muscle contraction. Linalool and camphor are also antalgic and will work in conjunction with the essential oils of Sweet Clover and Red Myrtle to reduce the pain created by the cramp.
Muscle cramping can also come from poor venous drainage; alpha pinene, a terpene found between 19 and 28% in Red Myrtle essential oil will come to the aid of circulatory systems by decongesting and toning them. This essential oil also contains myrtenyl acetate, a monoterpene ester that holds powerful antispasmodic properties and will support the action of methyl salicylate from Sweet Clover and linalool from Lavandin Super to prevent involuntary muscle contractions such as cramping. Monoterpene esters such as myrtenyl acetate also possess calming and sedative properties that will limit stress-related cramping.
Avoiding cramps is preventing the origin of the problem, however if the cramp occurs despite everything that has been put in place to prevent it, the pain must be relieved. It is mostly for its anti-pain property that Noble Laurel essential oil has its place in this synergy. Eugenol and methyleugenol, although in very small amounts in this essential oil, are excellent antalgic. Methyleugenol works by inhibiting pain receptors. The monoterpene alcohols (linalool, alpha terpineol) and terpenyl acetate in this essential oil both disrupt ionic exchange at interneuron junctions conferring a spasmolytic property complementing the muscle-relaxing action of esters and citronellal.
Very used in aromatherapy for its numerous virtues and for its softness, the essential oil of Roman Chamomile has several properties ideal to relieve the muscular cramps. The pool of monoterpene esters composing it disrupts ionic exchanges at the interneuron junctions, this activity inhibits the transfer of the "pain" message to the brain. This antalgic property combined with the powerful anti-inflammatory property of this same essential oil provides the individual using it with a major pain-relieving action. The esters are antispasmodic just like the citronellal in Lemon Eucalyptus, they reinforce this property to prevent involuntary muscle contractions.
In order for the action of the synergy to be optimal, we have chosen as a dilution medium the Arnica Oily Macerate. This vegetable oil is therefore very useful to serve as a base for the synergy and dilute the essential oils, but also to multiply their properties. Thus, Arnica brings its anti-inflammatory properties, complementary to the sweet gaultheria and induced by the lactons that compose it. It also brings an analgesic function and a blood circulatory action, to reduce the pain and eliminate the cramp quickly.
Whether it's at the time of a cramp or in prevention of a cramp, there are some good habits to follow, including:
Our diet plays a critical role in our health. For example, diet can prevent muscle cramps by avoiding certain nutrient deficiencies. Here are some foods to focus on:
During the effort, it is finally possible to favour an effort drink, cereal bars and dried fruits.
Cramp is an involuntary, intense, painful muscle contraction that can cause difficulty moving the affected limb. Fortunately, it lasts only a few minutes before disappearing. However, it may recur, and an unpleasant sensation may remain, such as muscle tenderness. They occur mainly :
The lower limbs are generally the most affected by cramps. They can nevertheless affect the hands, as in the "writer's cramp". Although the mechanism of occurrence is still poorly understood, oxygenation and hydration of the muscles play a major role. Indeed, when oxygen is lacking, the muscle cells produce lactic acid which, by accumulating, would cause the excitability of the nerves and muscles, leading to cramp. It would seem that an imbalance in water and mineral salts (calcium, magnesium and potassium among others) in the muscle cells as well as a disturbance in nerve control may also play a role. Finally, they may be related to poor posture or of pathological origin. In the majority of cases, however, muscle cramps remain idiopathic, i.e. their cause is unknown. If they multiply, it is necessary to consult a doctor to rule out any serious pathology (respiratory and venous insufficiency, arteritis, diabetes, etc.).
Muscle cramps Pack of organic essential oils2 notes
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