HEALTH: Address your aches and pains

Address your aches and pains


Nurturing
Ellen Cox

I winced watching the brave souls of Gael Force (the 65k multi-sport adventure race) on what seemed like one of the worst afternoons of the, eh, summer. Weather aside, what about all those tired, aching muscles and joints?
Of course you don’t need to be as fit as a flea and embarking on extreme sports to suffer from aches and pains. There is  a myriad of reasons why we suffer with them, and activities that are worlds apart can bring them on. Computer operators, receptionists, hair-dressers, painters, gardeners, hill walkers even ballet dancers can all suffer! Staying in the one position for long periods of time or repeating the same movement over and over are a sure fire way to bring them on.

Epsom Salts
To enhance aromatherapy treatments for aches and pains it would be a crime not to mention Epsom Salts. The main active ingredient, magnesium sulphate helps to reduce inflammation and relax muscles. Renowned for its ‘drawing properties’ it helps the body to eliminate toxins. Add two mugs of Epsom Salts to the bath and soak for at least 12 minutes. Due to the strong drawing action, drink plenty of water to avoid becoming dehydrated. Try a salt bath each week to ward off or reduce aches and pains. The Epsom Salt Industry Council has a good website with various recipes and information – see www.epsomsaltcouncil.org.

Common sense
Staying free from aches and pains involves using a bit of common sense too. Before embarking on an activity, ask yourself if you are fit enough. And remember to try to alternate tasks to avoid repetitive strain – the classic case is charging out to the garden and spending a whole day at the one job and crippling yourself for several days afterwards.
Loosening up and warming up are essential prior to and during activities, even desk work, one minute stretching every half hour can do wonders. A yoga class is of course a wonderful way to embrace and explore the flexible potential of your body and help to prevent or address aches and pains.
The Alexander Technique is described as ‘a gentle and effective method for improving posture and for alleviating back pain, stress and many common ailments’. The technique is practiced worldwide, and it’s simple and easy to learn and suitable for all ages. See www.stat.org.uk for more information. Yoga and/or the Alexander Technique are both extremely affordable and sensible ways to invest in long-term wellbeing.

SPECIFIC ACHES AND PAINS
>  Cinnamon
>  Ginger
>  Black pepper
>  Lavender
>  Sweet marjoram

Select four of the above oils and dilute 16 drops (total for an adult, half for children) into 10ml of sweet almond oil or arnica oil (or 5ml almond and 5ml arnica). Rub well into to the affected area.
Alternatively a Sports/Aches and Pains Massage oil with 20 per cent arnica is a blend of warming spices and available from Atlantic Aromatics.

GENERAL ACHES AND PAINS
>  German Camomile
>  Geranium
>  Juniperberry
>  Lavender
>  Wild marjoram
>  Rosemary

General aches and pains can be effectively addressed and reduced by regularly massaging with a combination of essential oils. For prevention apply before activities, and for relief apply after.
The above oils offer properties to help – they reduce pain, inflammation and spasms and increase blood flow (warming). Select four of the oils and dilute 16 drops (total for an adult, half for children) into 10ml of sweet almond oil or arnica oil (or 5ml almond and 5ml arnica). Rub well into the affected area.
Alternatively, for convenience, a massage balm blend, made using a selection of the above oils is available from Atlantic Aromatics. This mix of essential oils from the Mediterranean has an extremely pleasant herbaceous aroma and has been tried and tested by the company since 1992.

Next time More on aches and pains