Make This DIY Muscle Soothing Rub At Home With Just 4 Ingredients
Olive and coconut oil, beeswax, and essential oils are all it takes to make this all natural muscle soothing salve.
Why is it that every spring we forget that we can't just jump right back into the old warm-weather workout routine? That's what I asked myself last weekend, after logging 20,000 steps (and numerous blisters) on a hike when I should have cut myself off miles earlier.
Afterward, my feet were aching and I felt muscles that hadn't been active since last October—and I knew that stretching could only alleviate the pain to a point. With no Bengay or Icy Hot in my medicine cabinet, I did a little research and discovered that I could whip up my own muscle soothing salve with ingredients I already had: olive oil, coconut oil, beeswax, and essential oils.
The olive and coconut oil allow the mixture to smoothly blend into skin, the essential oils provide pain relief, and the beeswax helps everything stick (and not just rub off on your clothes).
For this particular blend, I chose 2 warming and 2 cooling essential oils. Clove and black pepper are warming, while peppermint and eucalyptus are cooling—providing a similar sensation to those OTC muscle rubs. (There are a number of other warming and cooling oils you can use, like camphor and cinnamon, so do your research if the ones in this recipe aren't in your collection.) All 4 oils also have proven anti-inflammatory properties.
Here's the simple step-by-step process on how to make it.
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What you'll need
¼ cup virgin coconut oil
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons beeswax pellets
Warming and cooling essential oils (clove, eucalyptus, peppermint, black pepper)
1 4-ounce mason jar
Small saucepan
Wooden skewer or chopstick, for stirring
Step 1: Combine oils and beeswax
First, add your coconut oil, olive oil, and beeswax to the mason jar (it will be very full).
Step 2: Place in a warm water bath
Place the mason jar in a small saucepan filled with enough water to reach 3/4 up the side of the jar. Set burner to medium-low and wait for ingredients to melt, stirring periodically with a wooden skewer or chopstick.
Step 3: Add essential oils
One your oils and wax are completely melted, carefully remove the mason jar from the sauce pan and place on a heat-safe surface or cutting board. Then add 40 drops of clove essential oil, 40 drops of eucalyptus essential oil, 20 drops of peppermint essential oil, and 20 drops of black pepper essential oil; stirring well with your wooden skewer or chopstick. (Here are 5 essential oils you should always have in your medicine cabinet.)
The quantity of warming and cooling essential oils in this salve should provide a subtle soothing, tingling sensation for sore muscles and joints.
Step 4: Allow to set
Set aside your jar in a cool dry place for 12 hours to fully set. The end product will be smooth and creamy, and easily rub into skin. Use it as needed on sore muscles and joints, and tired feet, but never near open wounds, eyes, or mucous membranes. This will be a relatively potent mixture, so be sure to wash your hands after application. Keep out of reach of pets and kiddos, too.
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