Aromatherapy Tennis Ball Massage for Back Pain

by Debby
(Clayton, IA)

Back pain is something that seems to be hereditary for me. My father has really bad back problems and my mother was just diagnosed with arthritis of the back.

For me, my pain started when I was in high school. I have what is called a uterus didelphys and two cervix. This has given me horrible back pain that sometimes is so debilitating that I cannot get out of bed in the morning.

When nothing else seems to work I get out the old heating pad but it never seems to do much to relieve my pain. I have tried almost every medication under the sun, without relief. Then one day my grandmother told me about an old remedy she used for muscle pain that she swore worked.

I was a little skeptical but thought at this point I would give it a try.

Her recipe was to mix petroleum jelly with peppermint oil and lavender oil that you can pick up at pretty much any craft store or herbal shop. So I got my ingredients and took them home to mix.

I combined 1 cup of the Vaseline (the brand I bought) and 1 tablespoon each of the oils and then heated them in a pot until liquid. Next you need a tennis ball and an old clean sock.

You want to soak the tennis ball in the oil and absorb as much as you can. Now you will want to put and keep gloves on for the next few steps. If you have someone to help you out it will be more relaxing and easier on you.

With gloves on remove the tennis ball and place it inside the sock. Tie it off and create a second knot like a loop to hold onto with your hand. Remember to keep gloves on. It can be messy but it works like you wouldn’t believe.

You want to rub wherever your pain is in a firm rolling motion - in my case the lower back muscles. Like I said, if you have someone to help its more relaxing for you. Once you feel like you have it nice and coated lay and relax and let it soak in. Breathing the aromatics is very relaxing and seems to really help me when my back pain is acting up.