Do you have a busy bunch at your house? If you’re the type of person who likes to stay active, sometimes that leads to overworked and tired muscles. This Homemade Muscle Rub cream is amazing for soothing normal, everyday aches and pains. It’s also a wonderful massage cream to help with normal growing pains (for kids over 6). Or use it to ease discomfort after sitting in front of your computer for a while.
The essential oils are the key to this cream’s power. Panaway Essential Oil Blend is the main power-packed oil in our recipe. It has an energizing and uplifting aroma that will help you relax your tired muscles.
Panaway is a blend of:
- Wintergreen Essential Oil (Gaultheria procumbens – leaf)
- Helichrysum Essential Oil (Helichrysum italicum – flower)
- Clove Essential Oil (Eugenia caryophyllus – bud)
- Peppermint Essential Oil (Mentha piperita)
The other key ingredient is Copaiba Essential Oil. Copaiba is gathered from the resin of trees in South America. This oil supports the body’s natural response to irritation. It helps your body do its job! Copaiba contains the highest amounts of beta caryophyllene (55%) of any known essential oil. Copaiba essential oil can also amplify the effects of other topical essential oils.
Bring it all together with solid coconut oil, which we use for many reasons. This is a multi-purpose oil that we use in our kitchen and our beauty recipes so we always have some on hand. No need to go out and buy special ingredients. Coconut oil also helps keep the essential oils on the skin longer so the essential oils don’t evaporate before they can be absorbed into the skin.
We keep this Homemade Muscle Rub Cream in the refrigerator. This keeps the coconut oil solid since it melts at room temperature. The cool cream feels wonderful when you first apply it straight out of the fridge. Just take a small amount with a spoon or your finger. A little goes a long way so start small. You can always grab another dab if you need more.
Note about strength: You can play with the ratios in this recipe if you want a stronger blend. It’s easy to add more essential oils to this recipe. Just melt the entire batch of muscle rub cream over a very low double boiler. Then add in more oils to your liking. Allow it to cool and put it back in the glass jar. Experiment and have fun!
New to essential oils? Learn more about how we use them and why you should use them as well.
Homemade Muscle Rub Cream
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup of coconut oil
- 30 drops Panaway Essential Oil Blend
- 10 drops Copaiba Essential Oil
- 4 oz. glass jar
Directions
- Melt the coconut oil in a double boiler or microwave until just melted.
- In a small bowl, combine the essential oils with the melted coconut oil. Mix until completely blended.
- Pour into a 4 oz glass jar for storing.
- Store in a very cool, dark place where the cream will become solid. If your home stays around 75 degrees then just store at room temperature and enjoy your creamy muscle rub any time. If your home (like mine) is almost always warmer than 75 degrees then you’ll want to consider storing the rub in the refrigerator. In the refrigerator the cream will harden and become very solid. This is normal. I just scoop out a tiny spoonful when I’m ready to use it straight from the fridge and it quickly softens right in my hand.
- This mixture will last for at least 12 months while still maintaining its power.
Please note: PanAway is not intended for children under the age of 6 without the advice of a health professional.
Linda says
August 30, 2015 at 7:22 pmThanks Dez!
Stephanie G. says
March 5, 2017 at 6:31 pmIs this able to be put in a tin instead of a glass jar?
Jenn says
March 5, 2017 at 7:15 pmI would be careful about placing essential oil recipes in tin/metal jars unless you know exactly what it’s made out of.
Umi says
April 12, 2017 at 8:09 amWhy need to melt the coconut oil? Isn’t it in liquid state already? I mean by cooking coconut oil. And can I use sunflower oil also?please advise.
Beth K says
April 22, 2017 at 9:00 amIn this recipe we don’t use fractionated coconut oil which is liquid. We simply use the solid coconut oil that has been cold pressed from the meat of the coconut. You are welcome to use another carrier oil that better suits your needs.
Kathy says
April 19, 2017 at 5:45 pmCan this just be whipped instead of melting & mixing? Thanks!
PS—-I enjoy & greatly appreciate all these YLEO recipes you so willingly share with us! Blessings!
Beth K says
April 22, 2017 at 8:54 amYes, that should work great as long as you keep the mixture cool enough to maintain that frothy texture. Let us know how it turns out for you!
Carly says
May 10, 2017 at 11:04 pmHi!
Love this and want to make it!
If I used 2oz jars just half the recipe?
Thanks!!!
Beth K says
May 19, 2017 at 10:31 pmYou got it!
Autumn says
July 23, 2017 at 1:22 pmHow many 4 oz glass jars does this recipe fill?
Beth K says
July 23, 2017 at 4:05 pmThis recipe yields 4 ounces of muscle rub.
Jackie says
October 2, 2017 at 12:19 am1/2 cup coconut oil — before or after melting ? I ended up with more then 4 oz. Measured solid form with 1/2 cup measuring cup.. then melted in microwave to liqud state..did I melt to much ??
Beth K says
October 4, 2017 at 9:37 pmThat’s a great question. I measured liquid because I knew the volume of the container in fluid ounces. How did it turn out for you?
Joanna says
March 25, 2018 at 4:44 pmI use the panaway and lemongrass in a roller bottle for sore muscles and joints, would it be ok to add the lemongrass to this mix???
Agnes says
October 8, 2018 at 6:22 amWhere can I get these in UK or is it only homemade? I would be interested but problem I can’t get the things you have specified to make the cream.
Diana M says
January 23, 2019 at 12:30 pmHi Agnes! We get most of our recipe supplies through Amazon. Young Living is availabe in the UK, so you should be able to get the oils we used in this recipe. You would just select your country at the sign up page – – – > https://www.recipeswithessentialoils.com/get-started/