Get Rid of Growing Pains! Growing Pain Relief Bath & Massage Oil

As a parent, one of the most common ailments we see, are growing pains. It starts at bedtime (or even in the middle of the night), and keeps the whole house awake until they go away! It's rough seeing your child go through pain, no matter the severity. Especially in the middle of the night, when everyone in the house needs their sleep! It was around three years old that Syfy would wake up in the middle of the night crying in pain because his legs hurt.

With small children, their sleep patterns are always changing as they grow, but we, as parents, tend to get used to the times when they are sleeping well. At this time, Syfy had been sleeping 12 hour nights with no issues waking up in the middle of the night. I was getting used to sleeping so well and began to let the routine feel comfortable until the growing pains began, and my 8 hours of sleep went down to 3. I was desperate to find a natural solution that could help us all get back to those prized nights of sleep. 

What are growing pains and what causes them?

Though they are called growing pains, the tell-tale pains that children between the ages of 3-12 get in the muscles of their arms and legs, aren't actually from "growth spurts". While doctors aren't really sure the reason behind the pains, the general consensus is that they are most likely caused from all of the minerals and vitamins that children deplete from their bodies while running, playing, jumping, and otherwise exerting a lot of energy throughout the day. A normal adult will need a certain amount of vitamins and minerals to keep the body running and help the muscles repair and regrow, but a child is also growing at the same time and has a need for more vitamins and minerals more often, to help their bodies replenish what is lost while they play and grow.

Natural remedies that help soothe your child

While many doctors will suggest a pain reliever such as children's Tylenol  or children's Advil, there are more natural ways that can help relieve the pain of growing pains and even prevent them from coming back. The easiest way to help your child through growing pains is through their diet, bath, and massage. These are some of the many options that can really help relieve and get rid of growing pains for good:

• Magnesium - The majority of the population is magnesium deficit, causing a whole host of problems from muscle pains to sleeplessness. Getting more magnesium in your diet can really make a big difference in the aches and pains that your child experiences. While you can find magnesium in dark leafy greens, nuts, seeds, fish, beans, whole grains, avocados, yogurt, bananas, and even dark chocolate, you can also get a good quick dose of magnesium with an Epsom salt bath!
• Vitamin D - A recent study has shown only 6% of children who suffered from growing pains had proper levels of vitamin D. Another study examined this relationship by supplementing thirty-three children affected by growing pains with vitamin D for three months. Eight of the children were completely pain-free, while others experienced a significant reduction in symptoms. Moral of the story, get outside and get your daily dose of vitamin D!
• Salt baths - Epsom salts aren't the only salts that can help give your body the minerals it's missing. Pure sea salts including my favorite, dead sea salt, contain a plethora of needed minerals, including magnesium, potassium, sodium, calcium, and more! I like to add 1 cup dead sea salt to 2 cups Epsom salt for a mineral boosting bath that will soothe even the worst of muscle pains!
• Bone broths - Bone broth contains amino acids and both vitamins A and D, which improves the body's ability to absorb minerals that the body needs to build healthy strong bones.  Bone broth is awesome because, like bone meal, it also contains highly bio-available forms of much-needed minerals including calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, and potassium. It's fairly easy to make your own at home too! I make mine in my crockpot overnight and keep it in my fridge for all my cooking needs!
• Grass-fed gelatin - Gelatin, a great natural source of dietary collagen, is mostly made up of amino acids, glycine, and proline. Found in bones, fibrous tissues, and organs of animals, most people do not get enough of these amino acids. Gelatin consumption has been known to protect your joints and reduce joint pain, including arthritis and other inflammatory joint or bone diseases. Gelatin can also help you sleep better. One study found that 3 grams of glycine (found in gelatin) eaten before bed, “produced measurable improvements in sleep quality.”
• Massage - There are many benefits to massage, including to reduce the pain and helping to soothe your kiddo to sleep. Our nightly routine always ends with a leg/foot massage using my growing pain relief oil below! It helps to calm and soothe growing pains, restless legs, and even a restless mind.
• Electrolyte replenishment - Electrolyte replenishment is another great prevention method that can help keep your mineral levels balanced and helps prevent growing pains and muscle spasms later. Most electrolyte beverages sold in the grocery store, contain awful ingredients that are not healthy in the least. I prefer to make my own electrolyte beverages, and they taste far better anyway!
• Essential Oils - Essential oils can be very helpful at reducing inflammation, relieving pain, and soothing nerves. It's important to use safety when using essential oils around babies and children!

Growing Pain Relief Bath

Growing pains aren't the only types of pains that this bath can help. Any muscle aches, pains, and strains will all benefit from both the bath and the oil! This bath can also be beneficial for adults experiencing all sorts of aches and pains too! I always like to follow this bath with a massage, using my growing pain relief oil (see below).

INGREDIENTS

• 4 cups Epsom salt
• 2 cups dead sea salt (optional - substitute with more Epsom salt if not using)
• 1/2 cup rosemary leaf
• 1/2 cup lavender buds
• 1/2 cup chamomile flowers
• 1/2 cup lemon balm
• 10 drops rosalina essential oil
• 10 drops lavender essential oil
• 5 drops roman chamomile essential oil
• an old sock or a large cloth tea bag

DIRECTIONS

1. In a glass bowl, combine Epsom salts and essential oils. Using a spoon, stir salts until essential oils are evenly distributed.
2. Stir herbs into the salts, until combined.
3. Store in a glass mason jar, in a cool dark place. I prefer to keep mine under my bathroom sink, so they are close at hand when I need them!

TO USE

Add 1-2 cups of herbal salt mixture to your old sock (or large cloth tea bag) and tie off a knot at the end. Throw sock into the bath with the kiddos and let steep throughout the bath!

Growing Pain Relief Oil

This oil can either be stored in a lotion pump bottle or you can make it and put it in little roll-on bottles to carry with you as a spot-treatment stick (this can be very handy when you are on the go, or your kiddos travel back and forth between multiple houses!)

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup Muscle Mender herbal infused oil (you can substitute unrefined EV olive oil if you don't have the Muscle Mender herbal infused oil on hand!)
• age appropriate essential oil blend (see below)
• 20 drops vitamin e (optional - helps the oil from going rancid longer!)

AGE APPROPRIATE ESSENTIAL OIL BLENDS

under 2 years

• 10 drops lavender essential oil
• 10 drops rosalina essential oil
• 5 drops roman chamomile essential oil

2+ years

• 15 drops rosalina essential oil
• 10 drops lavender essential oil
• 10 drops marjoram essential oil
• 8 drops juniper berry essential oil
• 5 drops roman chamomile essential oil
• 4 drops turmeric co2

6+ years

• 20 drops juniper berry essential oil
• 15 drops rosalina essential oil
• 15 drops marjoram essential oil
• 15 drops lavender essential oil
• 5 drops roman chamomile essential oil
• 5 drops turmeric co2

10+ years

For children 10+ years of age, it's safe to use the adult Muscle Mender salve instead!

DIRECTIONS

1. In an 8 oz. bottle, combine carrier oil, essential oils, and vitamin E. Store in a cool dark location, such as a bathroom cabinet or drawer.

TO USE

After getting out of the bath, use a small amount of oil and massage arms and legs to relieve growing pains. Works even more effectively in combination with an Epsom bath beforehand, but it's not needed!