Making Your Own Herbal Bath Salts For Back Pain Relief Using Essential Oils

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Eight years ago, I tore the meniscus in my left knee while squatting down to dust the furniture in my living room. Initially, I assumed the pain would subside in a few days. Unfortunately, the pain, and swelling, only got worse over time. So, I underwent surgery to remove the part of my meniscus that was torn. Unfortunately, I’ve developed osteoarthritis in this knee during the years since my surgery. I’ve tried several home treatments to relieve my symptoms. Sadly, none of them have worked. Because I miss my active lifestyle, I’m considering making an appointment with an orthopedist. On this blog, you will discover the latest trends in osteoarthritis treatment.

Making Your Own Herbal Bath Salts For Back Pain Relief Using Essential Oils

9 October 2015
 Categories: , Blog

If you suffer from chronic back pain, you may already be undergoing medical treatment and physical therapy with a back pain specialist. However, you may still experience muscle spasms, tension and soreness. If so, make your own bath salts using herbal essential oils and Epsom salts to find added relief.

What You Will Need

To make your herbal bath salts, first gather the following supplies and ingredients. 

  • Small glass bowl
  • Large metal spoon
  • One cup of Epsom salts
  • 10 drops of camphor essential oil
  • 8 drops of lavender essential oil
  • Plastic wrap, enough to cover the bowl
  • Glass jar with lid

Camphor oil has a cooling, menthol quality to it. It helps soothe inflammation in the muscles and relieves tension. The lavender oil relieves both nerve and muscle pain, helping to calm your muscles spasms and relieve your discomfort.

The above amounts make enough bath salts for one bath. If you wish to make up to a week's worth, simply multiply the measurements by the number of days. When mixing and storing the salts, make sure you use glass and not plastic. Plastic is porous and can absorb the oils, diminishing the amount available for the salts.

Directions

Once you have everything you need, follow the directions below to make and use the salts.

  1. Pour the Epsom salt into the small bowl.
  2. Add the camphor oil to the salt, mixing thoroughly with the metal spoon.
  3. Mix in the lavender oil, stirring it in one drop at a time. As the moisture increases, the salts will try to stick together. Constant stirring helps to keep them separate.
  4. Cover the bowl with the plastic wrap and set aside for about an hour to let the oils infuse into the Epsom salts.
  5. Remove the plastic wrap and stir one more time with the spoon. If the salts have stuck together, chisel them gently with the tip of the spoon.
  6. If you are making the salts ahead of time, let them sit for an hour without the plastic wrap so they can air out slightly. Then, put them in the glass jar and replace the lid.
  7. When you are ready to use the salts, add them to warm bath water and let them dissolve for about five minutes.
  8. Soak in the tub for 10 minutes or until the water begins to cool. 

Using the above bath salts once a day should help relieve some of the pain and tension in your back muscles. However, if you notice yourself having an increase in symptoms or cannot seem to find any relief, you may want to discuss your options with your back pain specialist.