By michael - January, 20th 2015

For many people, joint pain and stiffness are the first symptoms of lupus, or a sign that a flare is coming on. Joints in the hands, wrists and feet get stiff and painful to move, sometimes so much so that it is hard to get up from a chair or button a shirt. The shoulders, knees and ankles also get stiff sometimes. A doctor called a “rheumatologist” specializes in treating these achy joints (“arthralgias”) as well as swollen and painful joints.

Heritage Essential Oils' Sweet Birch is grown and distilled in the Adirondack region of Canada – Apparently true steam-distilled Birch oil is no longer produced commercially on a large scale because it is not economically feasible to compete with other products such as wintergreen oil which, in terms of chemistry, is practically identical. Recently though, we have located some amazing quality Adirondack Birch oil that is produced by a family distillery on a very small scale, and it is the only authentic birch oil known to be on the market today.

Once you move beyond the basic, everyday essential oils that we all know and love, it becomes time to explore some of the more esoteric oils that solve specific ailments.  In my own exploration of essential oils, a specific ailment high on my list was relief from muscle and joint pain.

The oil of choice?  Birch essential oil for arthritis and other aches and pains of the muscles and joints is perfect!

Not only is Birch effective against common, everyday aches and pains, but it is superior if not outstanding in providing relief from arthritis joint pain and those deep, spasmodic cramps that only seem to visit in the dead of night.

What is Birch Oil? 

Not surprisingly, Birch essential oil comes from the bark of birch trees.  The scientific name is Betula Lenta and sometimes the oil is referred to as …

I can ride my Harley, play golf, do my chores, and simply get through the day with minimal discomfort.

Replicating the formula I made for Shelly is easy.  Here are my two “arthritis busting” recipes.  That is what I call them; although, of course, they are used for other aches and pains as well.

Arthritis Busting Roller Ball Formula

• 6 drops Birch Essential Oil
• 6 drops Geranium Essential Oil
• 6 drops Lemongrass Essential Oil
• Add the oils to a 5ml roller ball bottle. Top with enough fractionated coconut oil (FCO) to fill the bottle. If you are using a 10ml roller ball bottle, just fill half way.  (I find that the 10ml size is more common.)

Arthritis Busting Salve

• 30 drops Birch Essential Oil
• 30 drops Geranium Essential Oil
• 30 drops Lemongrass Essential Oil
• Add the oils to a 1 ounce jar (I use both these and these).  Top with either Plain “Simple” Salve or DIY Miracle Healing Salve and mix well with a small stick (I use a coffee stir stick).  Use twice daily or as needed.

A Word of Caution 

Birch essential oil is a strong oil and if used undiluted may cause irritation.  In addition, Birch should be avoided by those who use blood thinners, have epilepsy, or women who may be pregnant.

If you do use blood thinners, I suggest substituting the birch essential oil with additional drops of lemongrass oil. While not quite as effective as Birch, Lemongrass EO is an amazing pain reliever in its own right.  It is also a very inexpensive oil.

About Essential Oils 

After a significant amount of research, for health, first-aid, and wellness purposes I use essential oils from Spark Naturals.  There are a lot reasons, the most important being their commitment to both quality and value.  I am satisfied that the raw materials used in Spark Naturals products are tested and authenticated to be of pharmaceutical grade purity.

The Final Word 

As I have mentioned, we call our Arthritis Busting formulas, “The Birch”.  In reality, the title of this article could have been “Using Essential Oils for Joint and Muscle Pain”. Still, with Birch essential oil being a key component, I wanted to introduce the oil to you along with some of its beneficial properties so that you can explore more uses on your own.

Because of Birch's affect on muscles, it is recommended to avoid/use with caution during pregnancy. Undiluted use may cause skin irritations. Avoid contact with the eyes and other sensitive areas. Essential oils are both lipophilic and hydrophobic. Lipophilic means they are attracted to fat—like the membranes of your eyes and skin. They are also hydrophobic, meaning they do not like water. Flushing with water will only send the essential oil back to the eye's membranes. Applying a carrier oil will create another fat for the essential oil to be attracted to other than the membranes of the eyes or skin. We’ve not known this to cause permanent injury or long-term discomfort, but if you feel concerned, please call your health care provider.

Please Read this Article at NaturalBlaze.com

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