Petite Mint & Chamomile: Essential Oil Recipe for Muscle Cramps

How to use essential oils to calm muscle cramps.

Muscle cramps are involuntary spasms that can often be relieved with essential oils.

Cramps can be repetitive—such as when you can't stop coughing or you get waves of menstrual cramps—or a spasm can seize hold of a muscle and not let up, causing it to tighten painfully.

Sometimes muscle cramps aren't a big deal. (Hiccups, for example, might be inconvenient, but they're not usually uncomfortable.)

But an intense cramp like a Charley horse is more painful. 

And if you have a "crick in your neck", that can limit your movement throughout the entire day.

Muscle spasms are not usually a serious medical issue. You can relieve them at home, or with the help of a massage therapist. It's the perfect opportunity to get out your essential oils and make a massage blend!

Here's an essential oil recipe for muscle cramps that I love . . .

Petite Mint and Chamomile Spasm Soothing Oil

Relieve muscle cramps and feel better with this soothing body oil.

Ingredients

• 1 fl oz (30 ml) Jojoba wax (Simmondsia chinensis)

• 6 drops Petitgrain essential oil (Citrus aurantium var. amara or bigaradia)

• 5 drops Bergamot Mint essential oil (Mentha citrata)

• 5 drops Roman Chamomile essential oil (Chamaemelum nobile)

Equipment

• One 1 oz (30 ml) Amber Glass Bottle with Coned Cap

Directions

• Pour the Jojoba oil into the glass bottle.

• Add the essential oils and tighten the cap.

• Gently shake the bottle to combine.

All you have to do is pour your jojoba wax into a 1 oz (30 ml) amber glass bottle.

Then add your essential oils. Close the bottle and shake gently. You're done!

Jojoba wax is often called an oil. However, jojoba is technically a natural liquid wax (not a true oil). This means it's very stable, with a shelf life of about 20 years (or longer)! Its chemical structure also closely resembles your skin's natural oil, which is called "sebum."That's why it's so deeply moisturizing and why it's a great choice for sensitive skin.

So whether you want to call it "jojoba oil" or "jojoba wax", it's an excellent carrier for essential oil blends!

Use your Petite Mint and Chamomile Spasm Soothing Oil to massage your legs, neck, shoulders, and anywhere else that a cramp sets in. You can use it as needed. Just be sure to keep it away from your eyes, mucous membranes, and other orifices.

Here's why I chose these oils for my natural spasm-calming blend.

Petitgrain essential oil

Citrus aurantium var. amara or bigaradia

Petitgrain essential oil has a lovely, citrusy, sensual aroma. A lot of people use it in natural perfumes!

This oil helps calm spasms because it's rich in two muscle-relaxing components—linalool and linalyl acetate. These natural constituents have been well researched (they're the two main components in Lavender, so we know a lot about them!) Oils rich in linalool and linalyl acetate can release tension from both the body and mind, as they help to calm the nervous system.

This makes Petitgrain a good ally when you can't get to sleep, too.

Bergamot Mint essential oil

Mentha citrata

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A little minty, a bit fruity, and a touch floral, Bergamot Mint oil combines the best of some of our favorite essential oils!

Just like Petitgrain, it's rich in both linalool and linalyl acetate. Perfect for relaxing muscles! 

This oil is distilled from a member of the mint family. Yet it shares some qualities with Bergamot oil (a citrus), and has a warm, citrusy aspect. That's why it's called "Bergamot Mint".

Roman Chamomile essential oil

Chamaemelum nobile

A classic cramp-calming essential oil!

Roman Chamomile has been used for generations to ease cramps and muscle spasms. It's a super-soothing oil that helps to release tension from the body, heart, and mind—allowing for total, whole-system relaxation. 

Its effects are largely due to its rich ester content. Esters are a group of natural chemical components that often have serene, comforting effects for the body.

I hope you never need this blend.

But if you do, I hope it brings you fast relief!

Expand your bodywork practice by learning to use essential oils safely and effectively. Our course, Aromatherapy for Massage Therapists, will teach you new ways to benefit your clients and grow your practice with aromatherapy. You’ll learn how to make blends that increase relaxation, ease muscle tension, and deliver pain-relieving benefits, as well as how to incorporate them into your practice.