It is Markham Fair week and I have popped my hip out. Talk about pain and bad timing!
I have so many things to do including planting spring bulbs, taking shifts at the fair to answer questions, walking around protecting peoples' flowers and plant entries so curious fingers do not damage them , set-up and take-down, clearing off old growth and closing up some things for the winter. Very bad timing for my sciatic joint to act up.
What am I doing about it you ask?
Rest is important, getting things done in small blocks and then resting again, it does nothing for my stress level about the situation but it does help my hip immensely. My chiropractor taught me that rocking back and forth gently and slowly helps. It does. I have to be very careful getting up and sitting down or bending so as to not to knock it out further. With the use of essential oils the swelling is down and so is the pain. Bending down can be excruciating, however I am so grateful that sleeping is not a problem.
Again I can hear you say "What are you doing about it?"
Well here it is. I am using Peppermint, Marjoram, Frankincense, and believe it or not the seasonal combo of Lemon, Lavender and Peppermint.
Let's break down how I am using them and why they help.
As you may know I love Frankincense so let's start there. Frankincense is both emotionally and physically soothing. So it is not only helping as I use it topically to calm pain and swelling in my hip joint, it is also helping my stress level and to stop and be still. I am using it Neat, which means no dilution, directly on my hip where it hurts. I am also rubbing some over my heart and a drop or two occasionally sublingually, meaning under the tongue. I feel the effect almost immediately.
Along with Frankincense to help my stress level I am using Adaptiv essential oil. This is in addition to the Adaptiv capsules I take daily for my PTS. Being still when you have commitments and things you are excited to do, is really hard and the oils help.
Markham fair only comes around once a year and it is mainly walking on cement. I went and did my shift volunteering in the flowers and plants section yesterday and it was so amazing to be with everyone again, painful, but enjoyable. Missing my shift today does not make me happy but my hip needs some rest.
Next let's talk about something I do everyday. I usually take a Deep Blue Polyphenol for my normal aches and pains but today I considered taking an extra one part way through the day. I however did choose to use topical oils. My sciatic joint went out on Tuesday morning and my activity yesterday aggravated it, taking another might have been good but I decided to take a second Deep Blue Polyphenol at bedtime like I did on Tuesday.
I use Peppermint right away when pain starts or comes back, to help sooth. Remember essential oils are used in small amounts often. I love how fast it works. Peppermint is used in aromatherapy to help relieve joint and muscle pain associated with aches, pains and strains and rheumatoid arthritis. That claim is supported by Health Canada. Also supported claims about NHP Peppermint are: Peppermint is refreshing, stimulating and an energizing aroma. Used in aromatherapy as a nervine and calmative. You can see why it is a go-to for pain. There are other supported claims for Peppermint but they do not apply to my current situation.
Next we have Marjoram which is my favorite oil to take to massage sessions. Marjoram is calming, relaxing and refreshing. I love how it feels as it calms knots under the skin.
The last combo I am using is the seasonal essential oil blend of Lemon, Lavender and Peppermint. I carry it with me all the time for drippy nose, sore throat, sore eyes, etc, issues caused by a plethora of allergies. The cool thing is Lavender is everything calming and also is an NHP (Natural Health Product) and has approved health claims. Lavender is also used in aromatherapy to help relieve joint and muscle pain associated with spain, strain and rheumatoid arthritis, as a nervine and calmative and helps to relieve headaches as well as others that do not pertain to this situation I am in. Those claims are supported by Health Canada. To move on, Lemon is emotionally uplifting, and we already talked about Peppermint.
So you can understand why that combo works. There are lots of other essential oils I could have chosen. Each person will find their best combo in every situation. Everyone's body chemistry is different so even though the chemical make-up of an essential oil determines the properties it has, one may work better for you than another. My mom and I have a different set of essential oils that we like best.
Which essential oils do you like best if you are in pain? Please comment below with your experience and you may just be helping someone else find their best natural solution.
Remember I am here to help you on your road to renew you. Have a great week.