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Arthritis and Muscle Pain Blend

Arthritis and Muscle Pain Blend

Both my parents have a mix of osteo and rheumatoid arthritis and over the years I have made various aromatic blends to help them with aches and pains. There is quite distinct differences between both of these conditions and the other types of arthritis. The Arthritis NZ website has some great resources for families and sufferers. The following information is a suggestion for a blend I have found helpful over  the years with some new information. Please note it does not replace medical advice or aid in a medical diagnosis. Any unexplained source of pain needs to be assessed and investigated to find the cause. I alwys recommend letting your doctor know if you are taking or using any complemetnary therapies or remedies.

This therapeutic blend contains six essential oils which have constituents whcih have specific actions. by combining them the overall effect is analgeisc (pain reliving), soothing, warming through increased blood flow to an area and anti inflammatory. This blend is for EXTERNAL use only and is to be diluted before use.

Kunzea ambigua(kunzea) essential oil is an Australain native oil which is approved for use by the TGA (Therapeutic Goods  Association) for teh temproary releif of arthritis and muscular aches. It contains more than 30% alpha terpineol along with other beneficial constiutents.

Zingiber officinalis (ginger) CO2 extracted oil- as a CO2 extracted oil the chemcial consistuents are closer to the whole plant, as ooposed to the ginger essential oil. This increases the potential benefical effects. The main active ingredient in ginger is gingiberene which gives it the unique analgesic effects. At >38% in the CO2 extracted oil compared to up to 22% in the essential oil it is easy to see why it is in this blend

Zingiber cassumunar (plai) essential oil is a rhizome from the same family as ginger and is widely known in Thailand where it comes from. It has a high amount of sesquiterpenes along with sabinene at yp to 34%. This gives it its own uunsual analgesic properties. Whereas ginger has a warming action, Plai works by a cooling effect. It is included in this blend as a counter balance to ginger, rather than negating the effects of each other they can each work in their own way. Many arthritis sufferers note the variable nature of their disease and how some days heat helps and some days coolness helps.

Leptospermum scoparium (manuka oil) -this essential oil is distilled from wild grown trees on the West Coast of the South Island. Many people dont know ther are over 11 identified chemotypes of Manuka grown in NZ with very differnt chemical constituents whcih change the further south the trees are grown. This oil is distilled by Estate Aromatics using a vacuum distillation process. This oil has geranyl acetate and beta elemene which have anti inflammatory and analgesic actions. It also imparts a lovely aroma to the blend and is less sharp than the North Island East Coast oils commonly sold.

Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary)- like Manuka above rosemary actually has differnt chmeotypes depending on where it is grown. I prefer to use NZ grown rosemary as it is high in 1,8 cineol along with other valuable constituents. It is warming and stimulating.**Avoid in pregnancy and caustion in hypertension, epilepsy**-this can be omitted from blend if required.

Lavandula angustifiolia (lavender) essential oil -I use a NZ grown oil high in linalyl acetate which also has analgesic properties and is calming and relaxing

If you are interested in learning more about the technical side of essential oils and aromatics please have a look at the home study packages I have put togther based on my more than 20 years of teaching aromatherapy.

The final stage of this blend is making an infused oil using fresh tumeric which I bought from my local supermarket. I peeled and chopped up 100 grams of the tumeric and added to 200gm of extra virgin olive oil (1:2 ratio). I am going to leave this for at least a week on a sunny windowsill. The colour of the oil will turn red/orange. Tumeric applied topically has a lot of benefits due to the presence of Curcumin. Taken internally as a supplment is also belived to be of benefit. Please note it will stain the skin orange.

So taking the above knowledge and ingredients this is the blend I have put together.

  • Take 100gm of strained infused tumeric oil (the surplus solid tumeric can be stored in the fridge in oil and used in cooking or add more oil and keep infusing.
  • Into this 100gm of infused oil add 40 drops kunzea oil (2ml), 60 drops SI Manuka (3ml), 40 drops ginger CO2 (2ml), 40 drops Plai oil (2 mls), 30 drops rosemary oil (1.5 ml), 30 drops lavender oil (1.5ml)

DO NOT USE THIS AT THIS POINT AS IT TOO CONCENTRATED AN CAN CAUSE IRRITATION TO THE SKIN

Choose which base you would like such as a balm base or a cream base or a gel base or an unscented massage oil. Add 20% of the tumeric infused aromatic blend to 80% of your unsctned base. It is then at a sutiable dilution for topical application.

It can mixed directly into a cream or a gel, or added to a softened balm and mixed then wait for it to reset, or add direclty to the massage oil and gently shake.

Apply 2-3 times per day to the affected areas and can be covered with a warm pack (not hot as the curcumin can cause burning if not careful). 

Cautions
Do not apply to broken skin

Discontinue use if irritation occurs

Always dilute the formula down

Do not use on the face

Wash hands after use as may irritate mucous membranes and eyes if rubbed or touched.

Let me know how you find this :) Best Wishes Wendy

Posted: Friday 5 July 2019

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