Soothing aches and pains with aromatherapy
There are as many pains as there are muscles and bones, and producing a comprehensive aromatherapy index for everything would require a much weightier volume than this one, and assume diagnostic skills not communicable via the written word.
Aches and pains have many and complicated causes, so let us stick here to a general approach, hoping to provide some relief where there is a problem, and some flexibility and a smile where there is stiffness and a grunt and a wince. To soothe our ills, we have at our disposal aromatic baths, massage, and a little battery of oils which will make life a bit more fun than it was.
A good general kit for pain and stiffness in muscles and joints would include:
chamomile, eucalyptus, lavender, rosemary and sweet marjoram
More specifically, for cramp:
chamomile, cypress, juniper, rosemary, sweet marjoram, tangerine
For strains and sprains:
ginger, lavender, rosemary, sweet marjoram
For rheumatic and arthritic pain: where there is inflammation and swelling (be very gentle):
chamomile, cypress, eucalyptus, juniper, lavender, lemon, rosemary
Where you need relaxing warmth, use:
black pepper, ginger, sweet marjoram
For bruises and knocks:
geranium, lavender, rosemary, cypress
Other oils with beneficial qualities in this area of treatment include:
cajeput, naiouli and vetivert