Like a certain store brand that rhymes with Icy-Yacht, this homemade muscle rub creates a soothing, warming sensation, then transitions to a refreshing, cooling sensation. It’s perfect for soothing tense muscles after an uncomfortable night’s sleep, or sore muscles after strenuous activity.
Cayenne Powder
Cayenne stimulates circulation and increases blood flow to the affected area, which supports healing. It also contains capsaicin, which reduces the amount of Substance P – a chemical pain transmitter in the body. (source 1, source 2)
Obviously, pain is good thing because it’s our body’s way of communicating that we need to slow down and take time to heal, but I’m fine with lowering the volume on the signal once I’ve gotten the message. (Quick note: According to WebMD, capcaicin should be avoided two weeks before surgery and two weeks after.)
Essential Oils
Peppermint, eucalyptus, wintergreen, copaiba and juniper berry extracts and essential oils have long been used to soothe sore muscles, and research is beginning to support their traditional applications.
Coconut Oil & Shea Butter
Short answer: This muscle rub recipe is a better option for pregnant/nursing mamas and children.
Long answer: There isn’t enough safety data on topical cayenne during pregnancy/breastfeeding to say for sure, but WebMD says it is likely to be safe. However, for children they recommend taking a break after two days of consecutive use. Wintergreen, which is an optional essential oil in this recipe, is not recommended for pregnant/nursing women or children.
Peppermint and eucalyptus are considered fine for pregnancy, but peppermint is not recommended during breastfeeding as it may reduce milk supply. Additionally, both peppermint and eucalyptus may cause respiratory distress in young children and are not recommended for use in their presence. That’s a lot to keep track of, which is why I’d go with the recipe I mentioned earlier.
The blends below start at a 5% dilution, which combined with the cayenne-infused oil should be sufficient for most situations. However, in some cases you may find that more is needed to relax and soothe. A 10-20% dilution is considered appropriate for very sore muscles if used only on an occasional basis. To increase the dilution ratio to 10%, simply double the number of drops. To increase it to 15%, triple the number of drops. To increase it to 20%, quadruple the number of drops.
*Note About Wintergreen Essential Oil: This oil should be avoided by pregnant and breastfeeding mamas, children, anyone on anticoagulant medication, anyone who has recently undergone surgery or will soon undergo surgery, individuals with hemophilia or other bleeding disorders, and anyone who has a salicylate sensitivity (this often applies to individuals with ADD/ADHD). (Source: Essential Oil Safety)Individuals with the MTHFR mutation may also have a problem with wintergreen due to it’s high salicylate content. If this applies to you, replace the wintergreen with 50 more drops of peppermint or eucalyptus globulus essential oil.
I recommend storing this rub in the fridge to preserve shelf-life, which should be around 6-12 months.
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