Tried everything in the book to help your sports injuries heal faster? (Or maybe nothing at all?) Here's some "secret" ingredients that are likely getting overlooked because so many sports enthusiasts think that "natural" can't possibly be very effective. Well, this article likely won't change your mind, but mixing up and using one of the recipes in it almost surely will. We're talking here about essential oils -- yes those same oils used in "aromatherapy" -- but we're not talking about the smell. Did you know Wintergreen oil is pure liquid aspirin? Well, here's some MUCH more effective oils, that will not only relieve pain, but can have a dramatic effect on healing times and injury severity as well.
A quick look at why essential oils work might convince you to at least give them a try. The physiologic aspects of injury are very similar, whether it be tendonitis, a tweaked ankle, a jammed wrist, or even an impact injury. You'll find inflammation and oxidative radicals around the site. Inflammation may be the body's way of actually protecting the area, but in the long run it slows the healing process. The oxidative radicals just happen to be associated with tissue damage -- and your body needs to mop these up. Well, there's a growing body of evidence noting the efficacy of essential oils managing these two processes: reducing the inflammatory response and moping up free radicals. On top of that, certain ketones found in very specific essential oils are known to stimulate tissue regeneration. Put all these actions together and you'll have something that really might speed healing of your injuries.
Essential oils are really easy to use. You won't be inhaling them -- you'll just be massaging them in. In most cases, they're mixed up into a massage formula, though these formulas are generally stronger than what you'd be getting a full-body massage with. They're made for spot treatments. Because essential oils pass through cell walls so quickly, they're very readily absorbed. This is one of the things that makes them so effective, but also makes them leave the body fairly quickly as well -- meaning you'll want to apply them a few times a day for best results. Also, your essential oils, the "active ingredients" will be based in a common plain massage oil base like Almond oil for chronic injury care; in some rare cases you'll use the essential oils undiluted.
Essential oils will work for both chronic -- injuries that you've been feeling for awhile, or acute -- one that's just happened. Get kicked in the shin on the soccer field? Catch an elbow somewhere playing basketball? This is when you'll use an oil at 100% strength, to limit the initial hematoma from forming. This speeds the healing process significantly by preventing the stoppage of nutrients in, and waste products out of the injury site. But there's only a couple oils you'll want to do this with, which we'll get to shortly.
The most important essential oil for the athlete is called Helichrysum, but also goes by the names Immortelle and Everlasting. The oil has an amazing synergistic natural chemistry, that makes it anti-inflammatory, regenerative and pain-relieving all at the same time. Many people feel its effects nearly instantly, both for acute and chronic injuries (as well as other "kinks" in the system like low back and neck pain). This is THE oil that's called for undiluted in the case of acute injuries -- just apply a thin layer over the injured area as quickly as possible, and repeat this every hour or so until the initial localized shock has diminished. Helichrysum will then be mixed with a carrier oil, and perhaps other essential oils, for continued use to speed the healing process along.
The first root oil well look at is Plai (yes, we pronounce it "play", and no one has corrected us yet!). Plai has been studied as both an anti-inflammatory and an analgesic, with very positive results. It is also an antioxidant -- so you can see, except for the specific tissue regeneration component, its right up there with Helichrysum. Some users are also applying this oil at 100% strength in acute cases; otherwise its most commonly used at 10% strength based in a carrier oil. Plai is frequently combined with other essential oils in the formula to enhance its efficacy.
Two more oils are at the forefront of sports injury treatment: Ginger and German Chamomile. Both these oils can be found as carbon dioxide extracts (CO2's), and this cold process will make the most potent anti-inflammatory oils for healing purposes. If one had to be chosen, Ginger would be it, if only due to the significant body of research noting its potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. At the same time, they likely work together producing a synergistic healing action.
Making your own formula is very simple. A highly effective recipe for tendonitis or shin splints is as follows: 10-20% Helichrysum, 3% Ginger and 2% German Chamomile. (The Helichrysum is given in a range, as it is a relatively costly oil -- 10% concentration is very common, though 20% MAY work even better in some cases -- also, do not use more than 2% Chamomile, as it is thought to become "pro-inflammatory at concentrations greater than this). One ounce of this formula is calculated like this: one ounce = 30 milliliters; 10% of this = 3ml, 3% = 1ml, 2%= 2/3ml. You may multiply these numbers up to make 2, 4, or more ounces. Measure the essential oils to an empty container first, then fill the bottle the rest of the way with your carrier oil (Jojoba is an excellent choice, with its long shelf life). This formula may also be made with Plai in place of the Helichrysum for a lower cost, yet still highly effective blend.
Many users notice nearly instant pain relief with these essential oils. That doesn't mean the injury has instantly been healed, but because these are not "pain making agents", it does in fact indicate that some healing is occurring. It's important to consider what might be causing your chronic injury in the first place -- if that's what you're working on -- and address that too. Though by adding the oils (along with a new pair of shoes if you were dealing with shin splints, for example), you might really speed things along, and be able to get back in the game much more quickly -- and start having fun again, 'cause that's what it's all about!
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