Any muscle in your body can be pulled, and at nearly any time. Causes of a muscle pull can range from a fall, over using the muscle, fatigue or a more serious injury. Although uncomfortable, most people have to deal with a muscle pull at some point in their life. Depending on the muscle involved this can be a mild pain, easily alleviated by using a natural pain relieving cream, like Arnica to the more severe which require professional medical care and physical therapy to help get the muscles back in top condition.

Some common muscles that athletes often pull are the calf and arm muscles, and usually it is caused by over extending or over use. One of the best ways to treat a muscle pull that has been caused by over use or fatigue is to soak in an Epsom salt bath and then applying essential oils on the affected area. There are a number of essential oils that are effective in relieving pain, including chamomile, lavender, rosemary and many more.

An alternative to such creams is creating your own rub called a liniment. You can make your own using essential oils and then add the oils to some unscented lotion, or Arnica cream. The end result is a product that is more effective than the smelly creams you find at the drug store, and it smells better too. For the heating element that is often needed to really ease the injured muscles you can also include essential oils like cinnamon, clove, eucalyptus, or peppermint. This can be massaged into the sore area multiple times a day as needed.

You can also add the oils to your bath water to soak the sore muscles fully. The ingredients are all natural so there is less risk of irritation on delicate skin, which makes them ideal for people who are sensitive to artificial products, or for children. Let's not forget that children can suffer from pulled muscles, or "growing pains", just as much as adults, especially if they participate in sports.

Depending on the muscle pulled, the care you take when rehabilitating it, a pulled muscle can take anywhere from 1 to 8 weeks to heal fully. During this time it is important to refrain from using the injured muscle and allowing it to rest, while still using your home made cream or ointment daily. This can be especially difficult for athletes who are used to training on a nearly daily basis; however, it is very important to allow the muscles to heal properly prior to continuing on with any training regimen. If the muscles are not allowed to heal entirely prior to training the risk of irreparable damage is much greater.

Essential oils have been used for millennia to treat a variety of problems, and pulled muscles are no different. When combined with therapeutic massage, essential oils are often more effective than other "conventional" medical treatments. So the next time you pull a muscle while running or cleaning out the garage, grab some essential oils and relax. You'll be back to normal in no time.