AROMATHERAPY

A-Z of Dance and Sports Injuries - 5

Groin Strain

Competitive sports- Contact sports- Dance (male)

An injury to the muscles or tendons in the lower abdominal area.

Use the ice method over the tender area and afterwards use the following oil to massage gently all over the lower abdominal area, the thights and groin, but taking care to avoid the genitals.

Hyssop	10 drops
Geranium	10 drops
Chamomile	10 drops
Diluted i 30ml vegetable oil
Do this three times a day for two days and then continue with the massage only.

 

Hand ContusionContact sports-Falls

Bruising of the skin and underlying tissue. Place the hand in a bowl of ice and leave it there for ten minutes. Do this three times a day over a fourty-eight hour period. Also massage as often as possible - the whole of the hand and fingers with the following

Peppermint	30 drops
Diluted in 30ml vegetable oil

Hand Ganglion

Hand Sprain

See Foot Sprain

Head Injuries

A blow or jar to the head should always be checked by a doctor. Until then, keep the head up, apply ice and 2 drops of neat lavender to the area.

Hip Strain

Contact sports- Dancers-Aerobics-Running

Injury to the muscles and tendons that join the hip joint to the thigh bone. Rest and take a cold sitz bath three times a day.

Apply ice to the area and massage allover both hips and thighs using the following

Ginger	10 drops
Clove	12 drops
Nutmeg	10 drops
Diluted in 30ml vegetable oil.
After forty-eight hours start to take alternate cold and hot sitz baths, in which you have placed 4 drops of rosemary and 2 drops of lavender. Spend ten minutes in each bath.

Knee Cartilage Injury

Contact sports- Football-Rugby-Dancers-aerobics-Jumping

Damage to the cartilage in the knee. Apply ice to reduce swelling and inflammation. The knee should be bandaged to prevent further injury and keep elevated when the patient is sitting.

Use the ice method three times a day, alternating with hot flannels, and then massage the area with the following

Clove	8 drops
Ginger	12 drops
Nutmeg	10 drops
Diluted in 30ml vegetable oil.

 

Knee Synovitis (Water on the knee)

Contact sports-Dancers-Aerobics

Massage four times a day with the following

Juniper	10 drops
Marjoram	10 drops
Tagetes	10 drops
Diluted in 30ml vegetable oil
Massage from the ankle to the knee and then from the knee to the top of the thigh. If the pain and inflammation do not subside use the ice method.

The Fragrant Pharmacy: Valerie Ann Worwood