I’m so happy to be able to work part time from home while raising my little ones, but it seems to also come with a lot of muscle aches. On the days I’m with my kids I feel like I never sit down and my back pays the price. On the days I’m working I feel like I never stand up and my shoulders pay the price. So, I decided I needed something to help my sore, aching muscles…homemade muscle rub salve!
As you probably know, I prefer to find natural remedies before resorting to conventional medications. Natural remedies, when used correctly, work with your body to support it’s functions so that you can heal. Conventional medicine tends to focus on fixing a symptom instead of taking a holistic approach to health. That’s why I like to make my own remedies like my healing salve because it heals without causing harm. The same goes for this homemade muscle rub salve recipe. It uses warming herbs to ease muscle tension and relieve the pain associated with it. It can even help reduce joint pain and inflammation. All done safely and effectively.
How Does This Homemade Muscle Rub Salve Work?
The following herbs and essential oils in this salve work together in perfect harmony to support muscle health and soothe your sore, tired, achy muscles.
Ginger
Ginger is an excellent herb for sore muscles and joint pain. I first thought of ginger because of its anti-inflammatory properties when eaten, so I thought it might be helpful topically, too. Ginger contains oils called gingerols which give ginger it’s excellent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Ginger soothes muscles and is antispasmodic, which means it can ease muscle spasms.1
You can purchase organic dried ginger root here, but fresh (if you have it) is best here.
Comfrey
Comfrey is well known for it’s healing properties. It’s been used to heal pulled muscles and ligaments, fractures, bruises, sprains, strains, and even osteoarthritis. I love the healing properties of comfrey and it’s safe for everyone.2
You can purchase organic comfrey leaf here.
Essential Oils
Lavender, cypress, and rosemary essential oils are great additions due to their muscle recovery properties. Lavender is an all around great oil because it’s an anti inflammatory and an analgesic. I use it in almost all of my homemade products from deodorant (baking soda free recipe here) to hand sanitizer (learn about commercial hand sanitizer) because it’s incredibly safe for everyone. You’ll find a TON of DIY and informative recipes here on Scratch Mommy that feature lavender essential oil (click here to see TONS of lavender posts).
Cypress oil is an antispasmodic oil that helps relieve muscle cramping, tension, and pain. Rosemary oil is an excellent analgesic and supports the healing of sore muscles and arthritic joints. Leave the rosemary oil out if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, or plan to use this muscle salve on children.
You can purchase sustainably sourced, organic essential oils from Mountain Rose Herbs here. See the recipe below for individual oil links.
When it comes to natural remedies I like them to be as simple as possible, which is why I love this easy and effective homemade muscle rub salve. It’s super easy to make and can last for months!
- ⅔ cup coconut oil (organic, virgin, hand-pressed, sustainably sourced coconut oil)
- ½ cup olive oil (organic, sustainably sourced virgin olive oil)
- ½ cup fresh ginger root, grated
- ¼ cup dried comfrey (organic dried comfrey leaf)
- ½ cup cocoa or shea butter (organic cocoa butter &/or organic shea butter, both sustainably sourced)
- ½ cup beeswax (naturally processed and sustainably sourced beeswax)
- 40 drops cypress essential oil (organic cypress essential oil)
- 40 drops rosemary essential oil (organic rosemary essential oil)
- 40 drops lavender essential oil (organic lavender essential oil)
- Place oil, comfrey, and ginger into the top of a double boiler. Warm the oil on low for at least an hour. Be sure that the oil is just warming and not a full simmer. Strain the oil using cheesecloth, a metal sieve, or mesh produce bag.
- Add cocoa butter and beeswax to the oil and stir until all is melted. You may need to return to heat to fully melt beeswax and cocoa butter. Add essential oils when mixture has cooled enough to touch.
Looking for more DIY salves, creams, and balms? We’ve got you covered…
Check out our favorite DIYs below ANDÂ Scratch Mommy Founder Jess’s products over in the Pronounce Skincare Shop!
Pronounce Skincare Skin Salve – Coconut Oil*, Avocado Oil*, Beeswax**, Cocoa Butter*, Tamanu Oil*, & Vitamin E***. Essential Oils: Lavender*, Sandalwood*, & German Chamomile*. | *certified organic | **naturally-processed | ***non-GMO soy
Pronounce Skincare Softening Skin Scrub – Epsom Salt, Dead Sea Salt, Coconut Oil*, Jojoba Oil*, Avocado Oil*, Lavender Herb*, & Vitamin E**. Essential Oils: Cedarwood Atlas*, Sandalwood*, & Lavender*. |Â *certified organic | **non-GMO soy
* More Soothing DIY Recipes *
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DIY Jalapeno Coconut Oil Sore Muscle Rub Recipe
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What Are Herbal Liniments (and a soothing muscle liniment recipe)
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DIY ‘Kitty Balm’ Recipe (like Tiger Balm®) for sore muscles AND My New Kitchen Scale!
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Soothing DIY Foot Bath Recipe
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DIY Herbal Bath Teas (recipes for stress relief!)
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Easy DIY Heating Pad