What Can You Use for Muscle Pain (That Isn’t Just Ice and Ibuprofen)?
Natural muscle relief you can actually feel—no pharmacy required. Plant-powered support for tension, inflammation, and daily strain.
The past couple of weeks, I’ve had muscle tension in my upper right back—tucked between my spine and shoulder blade. It crept down into my shoulder, shot through my arm, and ended up causing numbness in my middle and ring fingers. The pain got so intense, it made me stop mid-stride on the treadmill during my daily run.
I ended up seeing my doctor for anti-inflammatories, muscle relaxers, and a referral to physical therapy. But the truth is—I kept thinking: What if I had caught this sooner? If I’d started with targeted support before it spiraled, I might have avoided the prescriptions altogether.
Along with the tennis ball massage against the wall and those awkward-but-magical PT stretches, I started leaning into natural remedies I already had around: anti-inflammatory herbs, essential oils, and healing baths. They’re not just effective—they’re incredibly pleasant to use. (Frankincense, lavender, and ylang ylang? Heaven. Also amazing in a candle, FYI.)
This post rounds up the tools I now consider essential—and in future editions, I’ll take you deeper into each plant and oil so you can learn all the ways they support your daily life.
How Natural Remedies Help Your Neck + Back Feel Better
Whether it’s tension from stress, poor posture, or pushing your body too hard (hello, fellow overachievers!), the neck and upper back are where tightness likes to settle in and stay awhile.
Here’s how plant-based remedies can help:
Boost Circulation – Oils like ginger and marjoram bring blood flow to stiff tissue, which helps flush out tightness and speed up recovery.
Ease Inflammation – Ingredients like turmeric, blue tansy, and lavender calm the swelling that makes muscles feel tender and achy.
Relax the Nervous System – Plants like ylang ylang, tulsi, and St. John’s Wort work on both the muscles and the nervous system, signaling to your body that it’s safe to let go.
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April Signature Series Recipe Card – Kitchen Wellness
Pre-sale: $7 until March 31
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🕰️ This card retires after June 30—no restocks.
This month’s card features turmeric as a wellness hero ingredient—designed to support your kitchen flow from the inside out.
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Also in the Shoppe:
✨ Not Your Grandmother’s Recipe Cards
🎬 Movie Night Bucket List
🍽️ Curated Menus for Seasonal & Themed Meals
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🔜 Coming soon: Matching meal planners, grocery lists, and more wellness tools to complete your kitchen kit. Not to mention Travel Guides & Itineraries for Traveling Like A Local…With Kids! From Solo and 1/2 Traveler in The Earth & Flame