Homemade Pain Relief Cream

Shannon Francis and Susan Hass

I recently took a class with Shannon Francis and Susan Haas of Green Goddess Gardens. They not only make natural and organic body care products, they teach how to make them.  These ladies put on a fun and interesting class. 

I’ve been using the cream we made and it does work. It helps with the runner aches and pains I get as I am getting ready for Boston and it helps with the neuropathy pain I get in my hands at night.

If you don’t want to make your own they sell their products at the Greenfield Farmers market in the summer and at Esty at www.etsy.com/shop/greengoddessgardens

They are also working on a book they expect to publish soon through Henschel House.

Shannon is also the Founder of Resilency Training LLC offering team building programs. Her web sit is Resiliencytraining.net

1 tsp Peppermint Essential Oil

1 tsp Wintergreen Essential Oil

1 ¼ tsp camphor Essential Oil

1 tsp. Cajuput Essential Oil

¼ tsp Cinnamon Essential Oil

¼ tsp Clove bud Essential Oil

2 Tbs Beeswax, shaved

2 Tbs Grapeseed oil

¼ tsp vitamin E

Combine all essential oils in a small glass container.

Heat beeswax and grapeseed oil. Heat in a double boiler by placing a pint size glass canning jar in a kettle of water. Slowly heat the water.  Take of heat when beeswax off of heat when it liquefies. Add essential oils one teaspoon at a time. Stir continuously until the batch reaches a smooth consistency. Pour into a 2 oz container.

If you want to make more, just increase the size of the ingredients.

Why you should make your own Pain Relief Cream

Most commercial cosmetics contain a substance called petrolatum.  Tiger Balm has this substance.  Petrolatum is a by product of petroleum.  It is a soft paraffin or wax mixture sold as a topical skin ointment.  It can have side effects including being found in breast tumors, skin suffocation, premature aging and aggravated acne.  Can cause skin photosensitivity or promote sun damage. It may interfere with the body’s ability to moisturize, leading to dry skin and chapping.  Petrolatum is found in one of every 14 products as well as 15 percent of lipsticks and 40 percent of baby lotions and oils.

This cream has a strong smell similar to Ben-Gay. I don't mind the smell and the cream works well for the minor pain I get in my hands from my CMT and the pain I get in my legs after a tough running workout.

************************

Chris Wodke

Founder & Manager Team CMT

www.run4cmt.com

Chris is a triathlete and long distance runner. She is a two time participant of the Boston Marathon.  She was the 2012 National Champion Paratriathlon Open Division. In 2013 she qualified as a member of the Team USA Duathlon Team. She will compete in 2014 at the Age Group World Duathlon Sprint Championship in Pontevedre Spain.

She is the author of the book, “Running for My Life” that details her experience as a CMT affected athlete.

http://www.henschelhausbooks.com/catalog/memoir-biography/215-running-for-my-life-winning-for-cmt-9781595982827.html

You may visit her author page at:
http://www.amazon.com/Christine-Wodke/e/B00IJ02HX6

Team CMT is a group of athletes and supporters working to raise awareness and to find a cure for CMT. We have 143 members in 28 states. We also have members in Australia, Canada, Vietnam, Turkey, Finland and Iran. If you wish to join us visit our web site; www.run4cmt.com or www.hnf-cure.org

CMT or Charcot-Marie-Tooth is the most commonly inherited peripheral neuropathy. It affects over 155,000 Americans (as many as MS).  It is a disease of the nerves that control the muscles. It is slowly progressive, causing loss of normal function and or sensation in the lower legs/feet and arms/hands.

Symptoms include; muscle wasting in the lower legs and feet leading to foot drop, poor balance and gait problems Atrophy in the hands causes difficulty with manual dexterity.

Structural foot deformities such as high arches and hammer toes are common.

Poor tolerance for cool or cold temperatures and many people have chronically cold hands and feet.

Additional symptoms may include fatigue, sleep apnea, breathing difficulties and hearing loss.

Additional Link

Follow CMT affected Paratriathlete Timmy Dixon
http://cmtamputee.wordpress.com/

CMT and running, CMT and triathlon, CMT and athlete, Charcot-Marie-Tooth and running, Charcot-Marie-Tooth and triathlon, Team USA and Team CMT.