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Find out how to relieve headaches, stress, muscle tension + more with the all-natural benefits of lavender, peppermint, tea tree, and other oils
Whether in competitive settings or working out at your local gym, physical activity is fundamental for good health. As anyone who has ever donned a pair of workout shoes will tell you, athletic activity can be taxing on the body and even painful at times.
According to product and culture trainer at Saje Natural Wellness, Linnette Carriere, the addition of essential oils into a fitness-focused lifestyle helps to boost endorphins, support healthy circulation, increase energy levels, and soothe and relieve achy muscles.
I have found the benefits of essential oils to be tremendous for the body anytime of the day, particularly with workouts. If you are anything like me, it can be increasingly difficult to find ways to support the body naturally. Carriere notes that essential oils naturally benefit the body by detoxifying the lymphatic system and encouraging a lift in energy, while also regenerating soft tissue, ligaments and muscles by using the healing power of plants.
It’s particularly effective to use specific essential oils at certain times of the day, such as before or after your workout. I’ve found that Saje, Escents Aromatherapy (also proudly Canadian and Vancouver-based) and doTERRA do an excellent job at combining essential oils together to create just the right aroma blend. They can all be used on their own either internally or topically, and in conjunction with coconut oil, or aromatically.
We break down why we love our favourite essential oils for all you sports enthusiasts and athletes to better support your health naturally.
Click through for our usage tips and product suggestions.
These oils speak to the autonomic nervous system by encouraging deeper breathing and offer a cooling sensation while invigorating energy naturally. Apply them around the hairline, on the chest and take internally in lemon water to open up the airways and boost attention, focus and energy before a workout.
Use soothing lavender, eucalyptus, cooling peppermint and healing Roman chamomile to help reduce inflammation and relieve muscle pain and stiffness related to neck tension, stress, overuse or injury. The warming and cooling action works to reduce pain and pounding, while the sedative qualities relieve tension and balance the nerves.
Combining peppermint and lavender is also a good choice for migraine and headache relief when you’re on the go. Plus, this combo increases energy, helps fight sickness and even helps with hangovers.
Product suggestions:
Turn an ordinary post-workout shower or hot bath into an extraordinary one by adding some calming lavender, camphorous rosemary, fresh eucalyptus and sweet, warming frankincense. They soothe muscles by releasing a build up of lactic acid, the cause of soreness and pain. After the bath, I suggest melting away your aches and pains with Saje’s versatile, reusable clay wrap that helps you feel relief fast. Use hot or cold depending on desired relief.
You can also take frankincense internally to promote cellular health, repair DNA and kill damaged cells.
Widely used for its calming and relaxing qualities, lavender is my go-to sleeping aid because it helps to ease feelings of tension. Add a few drops to pillows, bedding or wrists and bottoms of feet for a restful night’s sleep. If you snore on a regular basis, in addition to lavender, the following essential oils are also helpful: marjoram, cedarwood, eucalyptus, globullus and geranium. You can also diffuse doTERRA’s Easy Air blend at night.
Add lavender to bath water to soak away stress or apply to the temples, behind ears and back of the neck along lymph-notes. For additional stress reduction, mix equal parts rosemary and lavender, or combine calming lavender with soothing neroli and uplifting bergamot. Lavender can also be taken internally to reduce anxious feelings. As seen on Dr. Oz, another option is trying the Escents Aromatherapy Stress Relief To Go roll-on and inhaler.
Lavender can also be used topically to help heal cuts, burns and bites, as well as reduce foot, ankle and leg swelling.
Begin your day by putting doTERRA’s Balance blend on your wrists, neck or the bottom of your feet to lessen stress throughout the day, or use anytime to find peace and feel grounded in the midst of a busy day. These essential oils promote a whole-body sense of relaxation and better mental health by evoking feelings of tranquility and balance. Add them to Epsom salts for a comforting bath, or diffuse before bed, while thinking positive thoughts, to promote peaceful dreams and a restful night’s sleep.
At the gym, these oils can also help you stay focused on working out harder by calming the senses and supporting mental clarity and function. For a grounding experience, breathe them in deeply to maintain clear airways and breathing during a workout.
If you do meditation or yoga, try Saje’s Yoga Transition Mist to gently clear the mind in preparation for your practice, or at the end of your session to help your body absorb the benefits of your nourishing movements.
These essential oils promote a healthy metabolism and can even help manage hunger cravings—perfect for any healthy weight-management program. Grapefruit oil metabolizes fat, while ginger and coriander oils break down and absorb fats and cholesterol, aid digestion, increase metabolism, give you energy and help you focus. They can also calm your stomach, stabilize blood sugar, lift your mood and act as a calorie-free diuretic and stimulant. For a revitalizing energy boost, add them to water or tea and drink before working out.
Some, like Saje’s Cellutone, can also be used topically on areas with cellulite and stretch marks, while Saje’s Little Feel Better Bag can help with everything from headaches to digestive discomforts and natural cleansing.
One of the most popular and versatile oils, tea tree (melaleuca) oil can be used for a variety of athletic needs for its cleansing and rejuvenating effects on the skin—it can even protect against environmental and seasonal threats. Add one or two drops to water, citrus drinks or veggie capsules to support healthy immune system function. You can also assist your lymphatic system by using a combination of lavender, bergamot, lemon and tea tree oils.
This combination is a natural pain reliever with methyl salicylate and lemongrass for inflammation. Wintergreen provides temporary relief of muscle or joint pain caused by strains, sprains, arthritis, bruising or backaches. Apply these oils to feet and knees before and after exercise. Try combining cyprus and peppermint essential oils to topically treat muscle soreness, or cyprus and eucalyptus oils for joint injuries. These oils are perfect for a soothing massage into the lower back after an energizing day on the mountain or in the great outdoors.
Saje’s amazing Home Pharmacy kit is a must-have with every therapeutic roll-on remedy you need for stress and pain relief.
