Recently, staying warm has been a major concern for many of us. Another challenge we all face at one time or another is muscle pain and soreness. January finds more folks increasing physical activity to meet wellness goals. Increased exercise combined with cold have the capacity to increase the challenges. This month our essential oil guest blogger, Connie Scheel, brings us her unique insights into a multi-talented essential oil blend from Young Living®. Hint: It’s not just for athletes. Follow Connie and her wellness journey on Facebook: Catalysts to Connie’s Wellness.
by Connie Scheel
The polar arctic freeze of January is soon coming to a close. Did you use essential oils (EO) in any way to warm yourself? A warm EO bath to increase your circulation makes many people feel warm and cozy. Others may find a warm foot bath easier yet equally soothing. I soaked in a warm bath of Epsom salts with peppermint and wintergreen EOs a couple times with great pleasure and gratitude.
Warm EO baths also feel wonderful on sore muscles. Perhaps you’ve experienced some muscle soreness as you’re striving towards your New Year resolutions?
Sometimes we just don’t have time for a bath or foot soak, though. Good news, there’s a Young Living® essential oil blend with potential to warm you up and relieve your sore muscles! Ortho Sport™, while aimed at athletes, offers a wide range of benefits. I find it literally warms up as I rub it into the achy and inflamed parts of my body.
Don’t let the name fool you. It’s not just for people who play sports. A couple of my Survivor Sisters use it daily on their backs. A friend’s husband massages a small pump into his knees twice a day and no longer needs narcotic pain-killers! A dear friend uses Ortho Sport™ to ease his arthritis pain. I massaged this into my legs many many times during my half marathon training last year.
Ortho Sport™ has been wisely blended as a pain-killer and anti-inflammatory with a warming sensation. There are 8 different essential oils in it:
1. Peppermint to help block pain and boost the other EOs
2. Vetiver often brings a warming sensation and has potential antispasmodic properties. It also reportedly relieves arthritis and sprains.
3. Thyme may be helpful in bringing an anti-inflammatory and warming sensation.
4. Wintergreen often brings more warming to the mix. It contains methyl salicylate which has a cortisone-like effect that reduces pain and inflammation from muscles and joints.
5. Elemi is helpful in bringing in more anti-inflammatory power, and is reported to be good for sore muscles, stimulating nerves and protecting skin.
6. Oregano brings in even more warming and potential anti-inflammatory power. It’s also believed to be a very strong antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, antiparasitic, allergy reliever, and helpful in promoting digestion. (Because of the reported benefits of Oregano, when we ran out of Thieves™ EO, we used Ortho Sport™ to help boost immunity with the children in our home, rubbing it on their feet each evening before bed.)
7. Lemongrass potentially brings ligament and tendon repairing power.
8. Eucalyptus brings potential warming and antimicrobial action to the blend.
And then, yes, there’s more of nature’s power in here! There are 5 different vegetable oils:
1. Fractionated Coconut Oil (distilled from pure coconut oil) is easily absorbed into the skin, odorless, colorless, and easily washes out of fabrics.
2. Wheatgerm Oil is rich in vitamin B and E, and lecithin. It is an antioxidant, and has been reported to reduce scarring from tissue damage and stretch marks.
3. Grape Seed Oil, potentially helpful as an antioxidant, may be very good for the skin.
4. Olive Oil contains the antioxidant squalene and has great potential as a skin moisturizer.
5. Almond Oil is high in phytonutrients and vitamin E, and therefore potentially beneficial to the skin.
It took me several months to give Ortho Sport™ a try, but it quickly became my go-to EO blend. I love that it’s already mixed for me and comes with a very handy pump. Pre-mixed with the carrier (vegetable) oils makes it a very economical purchase, as well. It has the potential to work wonders for sore muscles and joints, and may also be an immune system booster thanks to the oregano EO. If I feel a little tickle in my throat, I rub a pump’s worth of this beautiful, powerful, lovely blend into the bottoms of my feet before I go to sleep. I almost always wake up feeling well.
Ortho Sport™ is a powerhouse massage oil blend. Consider experiencing it yourself and warming up in a new way this winter.
Products may be purchased by contacting Connie through her Facebook page or by visiting her Young Living website.
Disclaimer: This post is for informational purposes only. Reflexologists and users of essential oils do not diagnose, treat, or prescribe for any health challenges. Please consult your healthcare professional.
Photo from Can Stock Photo
