Cooling oil from Australia makes a perfect muscle massage recipe

4 min to read
Karen Williams
09/20/2021

A cooling oil that's perfect for a massage blend

This oil is in several Australian products for muscles and joints.

Are your muscles objecting after a strenuous workout or hike?

Reward them for their hard work with a relaxing self-massage session!

This muscle massage oil recipe is made with Kunzea essential oil (Kunzea ambigua)—a unique oil from Australia that's sometimes known as "Tick Bush oil."(It's said that ticks don't like Kunzea's fresh scent, so animals sometimes lay down under the plants to keep the pests away.)

Kunzea's fresh, crisp, penetrating aroma can really clear the head! 

It may remind you of the most famous Australian oil, Eucalyptus. That's because Kunzea contains the main component found in Eucalyptus (globulus), which is called 1,8-cineole.

It's also rich in a-pinene, found in Frankincense essential oil.

Kunzea essential oil loves your muscles!

Kunzea is cooling, comforting, and physically relaxing without making you feel sleepy.

On the contrary—Kunzea oil gets fresh energy flowing through the body, encouraging muscles to release tension.

Kunzea is so effective that it's the main ingredient in several Australian topical products for muscles, joints, and inflammation.

Kunzea can both relax you and bring a fresh infusion of energy at the same time. It's a multi-talented oil! In this muscle rub recipe, we're blending Kunzea with a few other essential oils that encourage muscles to release tension.

Use it as needed to massage your legs, arms, shoulders, and back, or when you have a "crick" in your neck.

Muscle Rub with Kunzea, Spike Lavender, and Frankincense

A cooling and comforting massage oil that helps your muscles relax.

Ingredients
  • 1 fl oz (30 ml) Jojoba wax (Simmondsia chinensis)

  • 6 drops Kunzea essential oil (Kunzea ambigua)

  • 5 drops Frankincense Frereana essential oil (Boswellia frereana)

  • 5 drops Spike Lavender essential oil (Lavandula latifolia)

Equipment
  • One 1 oz (30 ml) Amber Glass Bottle with Coned Cap

Directions
  • Pour the Jojoba oil into the glass bottle.

  • Add the essential oils and tighten the cap.

  • Gently shake the bottle to combine.

Why this muscle rub works

Let's go over why the other oils in this muscle rub recipe are so helpful.

Frankincense Frereana (Boswellia frereana)

If you're a fan of Frankincense, I highly encourage you to try Frankincense Frereana! 

It's a unique species of Frankincense (different from Boswellia carterii) that has its own distinct, earthy, musky, irresistible aroma. 

Frankincense Frereana is so highly prized in the Middle East that it's rarely made into an essential oil. I want to deeply respect it (as with all essential oils!) and use it in blends that bring out its best properties. This muscle rub recipe is the perfect example.

Frankincense frereana can bring profound physical and mental relaxation. It can also calm the heart so that emotions won't translate to physical stress in the body

Spike Lavender (Lavandula latifolia)

All species of Lavender are profoundly soothing.

Most are also relaxing, like "true"Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia).

Spike Lavender is unique. 

Spike Lavender is energizing instead of relaxing. 

While it's still gentle on skin and contains one of the main components found in "true" Lavender (linalool), Spike Lavender also includes 1,8-cineole, found in Eucalyptus and Kunzea. 

Take a whiff of Spike Lavender, and you'll notice its fresh, floral, Eucalyptus-like scent. It can clear your head, support natural breathing, and feels intensely comforting when massaged over tension or spasming muscles.

I hope this massage oil keeps your muscles happy!

And I hope you have fun working with Kunzea essential oil. 

It has a wonderful array of uses and is a unique, practical oil to keep in your collection.

Expand your bodywork practice by learning to use essential oils safely and effectively. Our course, Aromatherapy for Massage Therapists, will teach you new ways to benefit your clients and grow your practice with aromatherapy. You’ll learn how to make blends that increase relaxation, ease muscle tension, and deliver pain-relieving benefits, as well as how to incorporate them into your practice.

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About the author

Karen Williams - Aromahead Institute

Karen Williams

R.N. Certified Aromatherapist, Educator

I love to create amazing blends that inspire and promote a healthier lifestyle. I got my start many years ago as a registered nurse working in the hospital system. I wanted to help people more holistically. Then, I discovered essential oils, and my approach to life changed forever. Now, I’ve made it my mission to share what I’ve learned about aromatherapy with my friends, family, and the world. Because - life is so much better with health, happiness, and community.

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