The Aromatherapy Edge - 3 Essential Oils in Battle Balm to Boost Athletic Performance

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Aromatherapy and the Athlete
• The Natural Versatility of Battle Balm
• The 3 Essential Oils in Battle Balm to Boost Your Athletic Performance
• Conclusion
• WHICH VERSION OF BATTLE BALM SHOULD I USE?
• Frequently Asked Questions About Essential Oils
• References

Introduction

Athletes continue to seek ways to enhance performance and recovery. They are willing to try new and novel things to get any extra edge over the competition. They know that every second matters and every additional watt of power output improves chances of a podium finish. No matter the sport, peak performance is always the champion's goal and tapping into that performance is paramount.

One avenue towards enhanced performance uses the body's olfactory system. The nose is one of our sensory inputs and can modulate the nervous system. It is connected to cranial nerve I (CNI) and links directly to the brain and brain stem. The olfactory system helps us detect dangerous environments, sniff out rotten food, and track an animal's scent. Nice smells can bring up fond memories, while putrid smells can trigger us to evacuate a toxic area.

In the world of sports, most people have heard of "smelling salts" being used by athletes. FDA-approved for the treatment of fainting, these "salts" ignite the "fight or flight" mode of the nervous system and causes strong inhalation to increase the uptake of oxygen in the body. Athletes believe they can kick their nervous system into high gear with a whiff or two on the playing field. Unfortunately, "smelling salts" typically contain ammonium carbonate, can burn nasal passages, and can mask brain injury when used in certain scenarios.⁽¹⁾ 

Though the research is still unclear on whether or not "smelling salts" provide a boost, there are safer alternatives.

Aromatherapy and the Athlete

Aromatherapy is a type of therapy that uses fragrant compounds to stimulate the smell receptors in the nose. It is thought that these smell receptors send signals to the brain to help trigger the nervous system⁽²⁾.

Usually lumped into the complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) category, aromatherapy is mostly seen as a natural therapy. Plants are the most popular aromatherapy source and people have gone to great lengths to extract essential oil from these sources for this particular application. From depression to insomnia, to stress management and pain relief, there are a wide range of claimed uses.

The use of essential oils in sports has recently skyrocketed. Athletes are now seen rubbing essential oil blends on the skin (or jersey) as well as using them near the nose for their perceived benefits in readying for competition. 

The Natural Versatility of Battle Balm

Enter Battle Balm, our flagship topical analgesic. You may not think that our product could be used for aromatherapy, but you would be mistaken. Battle Balm contains 20 plant ingredients and collectively, they emit a pleasantly minty, herbal smell.

The powerful combination of plants in Battle Balm all natural and organic pain relief cream can also be used to prepare the body both physically and mentally for athletic competition.

The 3 Essential Oils in Battle Balm to Boost Your Athletic Performance

Aromatherapy requires the nose, so the simple answer is to: put it where you can smell it.

Some athletes will apply a small amount of Battle Balm to the inside of their nostrils. Other athletes will apply it to their neck, or upper chest. Depending on your sport, you may need to experiment with various locations to find the one that works best. Understand that repeated rubbing or physical contact with the treated area may spread the Battle Balm further on the skin.

Now that you've gotten a feel for the power of herbal medicine, we'll share 3 of the aromatic essential oils in Battle Balm that will boost your athletic performance.

1. Peppermint Oil

Benefits

• Increases Energy and Alertness: Peppermint oil is known for its invigorating scent, which can help improve mental clarity and boost energy levels⁽³⁾.
• Enhances Breathing: Its cooling effect can open up airways, making it easier to breathe deeply during intense workouts.
• Reduces Muscle Pain: Peppermint acts as a natural muscle relaxant and pain reliever.
• Provides a cooling sensation to skin: Peppermint targets cold receptors and can make your body feel cool.

How to Use

• Aromatically: Rub Battle Balm on the upper chest or put a small amount on the inside of the nostrils before competition to increase energy, alertness, and enhance breathing.
• Topically: Apply to sore muscles for relief or apply to skin that overheats during training effort.

2. Lavender Oil

Benefits

• Promotes Relaxation and Sleep: Lavender oil is renowned for its calming properties, making it perfect for post-workout relaxation and improving sleep quality.
• Reduces Stress and Anxiety: Calming the mind can significantly impact overall performance and recovery and lavender can help.
• Anti-Inflammatory and Pain Relief: Lavender helps reduce inflammation and muscle soreness.

How to Use

• Aromatically: Rub Battle Balm on the upper chest or put a small amount on the inside of the nostrils before competition to calm the mind and reduce stress and anxiety.
• Topically: Apply to temples, neck, or sore muscles with a carrier oil.

3. Menthol Oil

Benefits

• Clears Congestion: Menthol oil can help clear nasal passages and improve respiratory function.
• Reduces Muscle Pain: Menthol acts as a natural muscle relaxant and pain reliever.
• Provides a cooling sensation to skin: Menthol has a cooling effect which can provide immediate relief from the heat and discomfort of intense physical exertion.

How to Use

• Aromatically: Rub Battle Balm on the upper chest or put a small amount on the inside of the nostrils before competition to clear congestion, improve respiratory function, and reduce stress and mental fatigue.
• Topically: Apply to sore or swollen muscles to help relieve pain and spasm due to heavy training.

Conclusion

Incorporating essential oils into your athletic routine can provide a natural way to enhance performance, aid recovery, and improve overall well-being. Adding peppermint, lavender, and menthol to your game plan is a great idea. But adding Battle Balm to your game plan is the superior choice to boost energy, reduce muscle soreness, and improve your mental focus. Battle Balm provides that one-two punch for any athlete to knockout the competition.

If you want to learn about how versatile Battle Balm is for the athlete, you can find 20 other uses for Battle Balm here.

Which Version of Battle Balm Should I use?

In most cases, the red Extra Strength Battle Balm can handle opening the airways, decongesting the sinuses, and relieving the chest congestion. It would be our recommendation as your all natural aromatic chest rub.

For children under 10, we would recommend the black Original Strength Battle Balm to handle the same tasks. The Original Strength version is just a little more gentle for the young ones.

If you are a high level athlete, or someone who just needs that blast of aromatherapy, look no further than the green Demon Strength Battle Balm.

Frequently Asked Questions About Essential Oils

Who should not use essential oils?

We do not recommend essential oils for children under 3 years old. Those with sensitive skin should test a small area of the skin before using essential oils. Note that essential oils should be diluted in a carrier oil before being used on the skin to avoid a strong reaction.

Are all essential oils the same?

The short answer is no. There are grades of essential oils that help determine quality. High quality extraction methods produce higher quality oils. Unfortunately, there are a lot of fake fragrance oils that are being sold on the market. If you are not sure, buy from a reputable brand or retailer.

What other things can aromatherapy and essential oils treat?

Essential oils have been used to help with anxiety, depression, indigestion, insomnia, and more. Clinical studies continue to come out about the valuable use of essential oils in aromatherapy!

References

1. What Smelling Salts Do to Your Body - Cleveland Clinic

2. What is Aromatherapy? - Cleveland Clinic

3. What is Aromatherapy? - WebMD

4. Aromatherapy: Do Essential Oils Really Work? - Johns Hopkins

5. Aromatherapy for sports and fitness - BMJ Journals. Sharma, P., Meena, T.