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Essential oils have been used in everything from medicine to fragrances for thousands of years. But with roughly 400 different essential oils extracted from plants around the globe, it can be difficult to know which oils can best meet your needs.

Many manufacturers address this issue by creating essential oil blends that target specific health concerns. PanAway oil is one such blend. It’s marketed to relieve muscle aches and pains. But to date, no evidence exists to support the manufacturer’s marketing claims.

We’ll look into the key ingredients of PanAway oil, along with its purported benefits and uses. We’ll also explore what other essential oils may offer similar benefits.

PanAway oil is an essential oil blend made by the Young Living company. It contains the following essential oils:

  • wintergreen
  • clove
  • helichrysum
  • peppermint

PanAway oil is meant to be applied topically to alleviate sore muscles after exercise. It’s also marketed as a product that can soothe the skin and improve its appearance. However, there are no clinical studies that verify these claims.

Precautions

Because it can cause photosensitivity, you should avoid direct sunlight and ultraviolet rays for up to 12 hours after you apply PanAway oil to your skin.

PanAway oil is a mixture of essential oils, meaning it’s possible to create your own “PanAway” formula by mixing its listed ingredients. However, you’ll need to experiment with the percentage of each oil to include in your mixture.

Better yet, you might consider using pure essential oils that may provide similar benefits in terms of muscle pain relief and skin care. Read on to learn about some of these oils, and the benefits they bring to the table.

There are a number of essential oils that can be used to soothe sore muscles. Some essential oils can even be used to treat joint pain and inflammation, which are symptoms associated with conditions like rheumatoid arthritis.

Best practices for essential oils

Before you start experimenting with essential oils, here are some best practices to follow:

  • Always dilute essential oil with a carrier oil (such as coconut or jojoba oil) before applying to your skin.
  • Do a patch test before using (apply to a small area of your skin, and wait 24 hours to see if irritation occurs).
  • Many essentials oils are toxic so don’t ingest and keep out of reach of children and pets.
  • Use pure essential oils from reputable manufacturers.
  • Check in with a doctor to make sure the essential oil you’re considering does not interact with any medications you’re taking.

Peppermint oil

In terms of reducing inflammation, peppermint may be the essential oil of choice. It naturally contains menthol and limonene, which can promote healing. The oil may also potentially help with pain spasms, and some evidence suggests it may be helpful for headaches, as well.

Peppermint oil is known for its anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-infectious, antimicrobial, and antiseptic properties. However, it’s worth noting that peppermint can cause side effects, such as heartburn or nausea, and may interact with certain medications.

Orange oil

Orange oil is another option that you may want to consider if you’re looking to reduce inflammation. It also has natural antioxidants, but can cause photosensitivity. For this reason, you’ll want to avoid applying it to exposed skin before going out in the sun.

Eucalyptus oil

Eucalyptus oil includes cineole, aromadendrene limonene terpinene, cymene, phellandrene, and pinene. While these oils are thought to help with issues like headaches, they’re also believed to help with muscle and joint pain.

Eucalyptus oil has also been proven to be an antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties.

Lavender oil

With characteristics similar to eucalyptus, lavender may be able to provide relief for general aches and pains. It’s also believed to alleviate headaches.

If you’re looking for a way to soothe your skin and improve its overall appearance, there are several essential oils you can try.

Lemon oil

Lemon essential oil has antioxidants, which can help brighten and rejuvenate dull skin. It also has antiseptic, astringent, and detoxifying properties that can help eliminate blemishes associated with oily skin.

Tea tree oil

Tea tree oil can potentially help if you’re looking to relieve oily skin as well. Tea trees, in general, have antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, insecticidal, and immune stimulant properties.

Clary sage oil

Finally, don’t rule out clary sage essential oil. It may be able to help with everything from acne to wrinkles, and even reduce cellulite.

Regardless of which essential oils you choose to try, it’s important to use caution. Essential oils are not regulated, meaning it’s difficult to determine the actual concentration of active ingredients in each bottle.

You may also be allergic to certain ingredients, or they may interact with medications you’re taking.

Always use essential oils according to label directions, and remember to safely store them after use. Stop using your oils immediately if you experience a rash or other skin reaction.

If you or a child accidentally swallows an essential oil or a product containing an essential oil, seek immediate medical attention.

PanAway oil is marketed as a topical essential oil for relieving muscle pain and soothing skin. However, there are no studies or academic research to support these purported benefits.

You can also try pure essential oils — which have some research behind them — to treat muscle pain and skin conditions. Lemon, eucalyptus, and tea tree oil are all options you might consider.

Remember to use essential oils with caution:

  • Do a patch test prior to using to check for allergic reactions.
  • Consult with a doctor to be sure the essential oil you’re considering does not interact with medications you’re taking.
  • Store oils safely to keep out of reach of children and pets.