Essential Oils to Heal Joint Pain in Fall

Fall is a breathtaking time of the year. The beautiful and mesmerizing change in color and hues of leaves and chilly mornings make your environment so pleasant. Since the season is finally here, and while families prepare for the upcoming celebrations, some of us are confronted with far more physical obstacles, such as joint pain, muscle stiffness, and fatigue.

As the summer shifts into fall and the seasons change, it is usual for patients to complain of joint pain and muscle sores because of the changes in temperature. The colder months of the year typically contribute to intensify pain and drastically increase sensitivity in patients who have arthritis. You can easily overcome these timely health problems by managing your lifestyle and taking good care of yourself.

Joints and Muscular Complications in Fall

In addition to other health issues such as the common cold, influenza, asthma, skin, and allergy symptoms, a severe type of joint inflammation, muscular pain, or sores can be brought on by the fall. Muscle sores, often known as muscle aches, are quite frequent.

Nearly everyone has at least once felt some discomfort in their muscles at some point in their lives. They are commonly caused by overuse and injury. Because there is muscle tissue in almost every portion of the body, it is possible for you to experience this kind of discomfort almost anywhere in your body. Muscle weakness is one of the earliest indications of this illness. Some other symptoms are:

• Localized Pain
• Twitching of the muscles
• Trembling
• A Feeble Grip
• Muscular Cramps

Joint discomfort or inflammation is another common problem that can be carried by autumn, and it can eventually develop into arthritis in its chronic stage. It is usually observed in the arms, legs, hips, and knees, as well as the spine. Pain might be occasional, or it could be there at all times. The joint will occasionally feel stiff, achy, or painful. Some patients describe a "grating," "throbbing," or "scorching" sensation.

Furthermore, the joint may feel stiff when you first move it in the morning, but eventually relaxes and feel better as the day progresses. On the other hand, if you put too much pressure on yourself, the discomfort may become even more severe, and it may even progress to arthritis. The discomfort felt in a joint can interrupt its regular function and make it difficult for a person to do even the most basic activities. Joint discomfort of a severe nature can be harmful to one's quality of life. It can range from somewhat innocuous to severely painful. In the absence of cartilage, the bones that make up a joint will directly rub against one another.

Some common symptoms include:

• Numbness
• Noisy and snapping sounds when moving the joints
• Difficulty in bending or straightening the joints
• Swelling
• Stiff or enlarged joint

Why Fall Intensifies Joint and Muscle Pain?

When the temperature starts falling in autumn, circulation to our limbs and extremities is reduced, contributing to increased joint pain. This happens because the body starts to save heat and concentrates on keeping vital parts of the body warm. Since changes in barometric pressure also accompany the cold, and because we know that the synovial fluid that is found in the joints is sensitive to alterations like these, it is also possible that a change in the weather simply triggers joint pain.

In either case, minimizing your exposure to low temperatures and working to improve your circulation are just two easy things you can do to alleviate the joint and muscular pain that comes with fall and winter.

The following is a list of many suggestions to think about:

1.   Improve Blood Circulation and stay warm

If you think that the cold could be the source of your joint pain, the most obvious solution would be to dress in several layers. To keep warm does not necessarily mean just wearing more layers of clothing or putting the thermostat up higher. You may maintain a comfortable body temperature by increasing blood flow via your arms and legs, limbering up with a few fundamental stretches and exercises, and breathing deeply.

Endorphins are released into your system when you engage in daily physical activity with the goal of enhancing circulation throughout the body. Blood circulation can also be improved with gentle rubbing of the area and the application of some essential oils. This can help ease pain in inflamed joints, relax muscles, and reduce fatigue.

Lavender essential oil is best known for its ability to induce feelings of peace and tranquility. In addition to this, it reduces inflammation and pain¹. You can topically apply Harmony's Essential Oils – Lavender after mixing it in some carrier oil at the pain-affected areas. It will relax your muscles and visibly reduce fatigue.

You can also use Harmony's Essential Oils – Relaxation for acupoint stimulation and acupressure to increase circulation. It is a blend of lavender essential oil, bergamot essential oil, and orange essential oil. These essential oils have been extracted from the stream distillation of flowers and cold compression of the rind. Regular use of these blended essential oils can play a significant role in relieving pain, inducing relaxation, and uplifting your energy.

2.   Apply Heat on the Affected Area

If you find that getting yourself warmed up or curling up next to a warm location at home isn't enough to alleviate the discomfort in your joints, you might want to think about using heat in a more localized method. You can either warm up your joints or give yourself the sense of being wrapped in heat by massaging the target area with an essential oil having anti-inflammatory properties.

You can take a few drops of Harmony's Essential Oils – Ginger, mix it with a carrier oil like mustard or olive oil and massage the target area. It will give you instant relief from joint pain due to swelling. According to a study massaging a few drops of ginger essential oil on joints and wrapping them with tight clothe reduce swelling in rheumatoid arthritis and relieve pain².

3.   Manage the Inflammation with Diet

Inflammation is the main cause of joint pain associated with arthritis. It can become more severe throughout the winter months of the year because of the changes in barometric pressure that were discussed previously. Even if you can't influence the seasons to shift or change, you can take more active action against your inflammation to make up for the difference caused by the shift in the weather.

By decreasing the quantity of 'inflammatory foods that are consumed on a daily basis, a person following an anti-inflammatory diet plan can help reduce the negative consequences that inflammation has on their body. By removing processed foods and additives from the diet and replacing them with vegetables, legumes, grains, and fresh meats, an anti-inflammatory diet can typically help reduce chronic pain and improve longevity. The effects are different from person to person, but in general, this type of diet is beneficial.

4.   Take Vitamin D Regularly

Vitamin D deficiency is related with a number of adverse health effects and have a negative impact on joint pain in people who suffer from arthritis; it can also result in muscle stiffness and cramps³. This is because vitamin D has been connected to sensitivity to pain in cases of arthritis and muscle sores.

A vitamin D deficiency is something that frequently affects people during the fall and winter months. This is due to, during these seasons, there is less sunshine available due to cloudy and gloomy days, longer nights, and shorter daytime hours. You may feel less encouraged to spend time outside due to the chilly weather, which makes perfect sense. Vitamin D is a useful supplement that can help compensate for a lack of exposure to natural sunshine.

5.   Get Massage Regularly

Research studies show that getting a massage that is suited to your preferences and the level of discomfort you are experiencing can help improve circulation, reduce pain, and promote flexibility⁴. This seems to be applicable regardless of the types of massages that you enjoy getting. Massages have been effective for a long time in helping relieve the pain associated with arthritic conditions, muscle sores, and fatigue. Their value should be emphasized during the months when the pain associated with arthritic conditions is at its highest point.

Clove is a champion spice and is rich in many magical properties. It has been in use for quite a long time as an anti-bacterial agent, as well as for digestive disorders and as a help for respiratory conditions such as coughs and asthma. Its essential oil can also do wonders to ease your pain and fatigue caused during the fall season. It will relax your muscles and can work to improve circulation, which can ultimately reduce swelling of your joints⁵. You can use Harmony's Essential Oils – Clove to get a massage on your legs, arms, hands, and painful joints. The essential oil of this plant is collected from the tree's stem and leaves.

Muscle sores and elevated fatigue in fall can also be lessened by massaging your body with peppermint oil. Studies show that menthol, which is present in peppermint, has a calming impact on aching muscles. In addition to that, it has qualities that make it analgesic, antispasmodic, and anti-inflammatory⁶. Iron, calcium, and potassium are a few of the minerals and nutrients that can be found in this incredibly popular oil. You can use Harmony's Essential Oils – Peppermint to massage and relax your muscles and body and get rid of additional fatigue in autumn.

Furthermore, massage Harmony's Essential Oils – Cinnamon to the target area. The essential oil of this plant is produced from its bark using steam distillation. It has been found to have qualities that are astringent, anti-clotting, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-microbial. It is traditionally utilized as a brain tonic, as well as for improving circulation, relieving pain, controlling blood sugar levels, and assisting in the acceleration of the healing process. According to a study, cinnamon is rich in anti-inflammatory properties, and getting a massage with cinnamon essential oil mixed with some carrier oil can visibly reduce pain in joints and muscles⁷.

6.   Stay Hydrated

To keep yourself away from joint pain and muscle soreness in the fall, you must maintain a good hydration level by drinking plenty of water. According to several research studies, even a moderate degree of dehydration can make joint pain, inflammation, and muscle soreness significantly worse⁸.

Always keep a water bottle nearby at all times, and encourage yourself to take a sip of it at regular intervals. Although the amount of water that should be consumed each day is different for everyone because it is determined by parameters such as food, size, gender, and activity level, a decent rule of thumb is to aim for consuming around 2 liters, which is equivalent to roughly half a gallon, each day.

The Bottom Line

The fall comes with beautiful colors and mesmerizing views all around, but it might become problematic to you regarding health issues. This season's chilling cold breezes significantly impact your muscles and joints, causing considerable pain and swelling. You feel twitching, and cramps in your muscles, and your joints become swollen, and a snapping sound starts coming from them. It becomes worse for people already suffering from arthritis and muscle fatigue.

You need to gear up and take precautions and remedies to ease pain and enjoy the season at its full. Keep yourself warm, active, and well-hydrated. To ease more pain, improve blood circulation by gently massaging and topically applying Harmony's Essential Oils mentioned above.