Happy Fibro Friday! I’m playing catch-up with my posts, because I’ve posted a number of Fibro Friday videos on YouTube that I never shared over here.
A few years ago, I posted a recipe to a pain balm that I used to help with nerve and muscle pain connected to fibromyalgia. This all natural pain balm was unique, in that it used essential oils and it went beyond muscle pain (the usual target for pain) and addressed nerve pain, too. I love this balm and make it a few times each year. But, sometimes I need relief quickly, and I don’t want to wait for the balm to cool and set. So I decided to try a pain relief oil instead. It wouldn’t need the setting time that the balm required, but it also had the potential to be messier if I needed to transport it. I decided it was worth a shot, since I wasn’t planning any immediate travel AND I needed some fast pain relief.
I combined my main actives – copaiba essential oil and dried arnica that I infused into avocado oil (arnica oil works, too) – into a clean amber jar with dropper. I then added a new ingredient, marjoram oil, since I was out of davana essential oil. I then added some orange essential oil, and filled the rest of the bottle with apricot oil. The oil has the same smell: herbal, medicinal, and a little citrus. However, instead of waiting for it to cool and set into a semi-solid state, it remained liquid.
I tried the new formulation on some muscle pain I had in my feet and ankles (a common sore spot for me, since I’m fairly active every day). I noticed that it not only relieved the pain, but it also calmed the tingling I experience in both my hands and feet. For those that don’t know, I experience some idiopathic peripheral neuropathy symptoms, including tingling and itching on the palms of my hands and soles of my feet. Sometimes I’m awakened by the nerve sensations, which usually feels like either pins-and-needles pain, or intense itching. And the oil actually gave me some relief! That confirms my suspicion that my nerve discomfort continues to be responsive to copaiba, and the relief can be experienced regardless of whether the product is liquid or semi-solid.
I always try to back up my Fibro Friday recommendations with peer-reviewed research, so here are the articles I used when figuring out exactly which oils to include in this recipe:
Marjoram essential oil – Efficacy of Topical Essential Oils in Musculoskeletal Disorders: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Sweet Marjoram: A Review of Ethnopharmacology, Phytochemistry, and Biological Activities
And, if you prefer to listen to my discuss the oil ingredients further, here is the YouTube video:
If you experience fibromyalgia or neuropathic pain, what remedies have you found helpful? I’d love to hear your solutions in the comments below!
FYI: none of the information on this or any other post is medical advice. Please consult with your doctors before beginning any home remedies or other treatment.
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