Aromatherapy advice for London Marathon runners

AS runners complete their final few weeks of training for the London Marathon, I've put together my top professional tips and natural remedies to help boost runners’ performance and ease that inevitable post-training discomfort!

My sister is a national level triathlete and fell runner and has run the marathon several times so I am used to being asked for advice on this subject by her and her friends as well as clients via the Potions & Possibilities website. Apart from the practical problems which I’ll discuss below, one of the biggest issues is training and working really hard at the same time, to the point where you become tired and it starts to compromise your immune system.

In normal circumstances, the immune system does a great job of keeping people healthy and preventing infections. Intense physical exertion however can sometimes compromise the immune system and lead to illness and infection. This is why athletes and marathon runners routinely use Tea Tree essential oil, which is a well known immunostimulant.

Tea Tree is renowned as the most powerful antiseptic know to man and has a natural affinity with the skin and immune system. I am just about to launch a new Tea Tree range which, as well as being wonderfully therapeutic for general use, is ideal for Marathon runners in training. The range includes Tea Tree & Mint Foot Spray – the ultimate natural refresher. Tea Tree & Mint Bath & Shower Gel for stimulation, Tea Tree & Lime Bath & Shower Gel for concentration and energy, Tea Tree & Lavender Bath & Shower Gel for pre-race nerves and Tea Tree & Geranium Shampoo for Tea Tree with a touch of luxury!

In addition to using Tea Tree, I also have advice for the more practical problems experienced:-

To keep your spirits up and remain mentally strong during training I’d recommend Potions & Possibilities’ Courage Balm (15g £4.99) with Cedarwood for strength and courage, Jasmine to calm the nerves and Chamomile, which in the language of flowers, stands for ‘patience in adversity’. The balm should be applied to the pulse points as required.

During a marathon, every moving body part that can chafe will chafe. And nothing is more irritating and painful than itchy skin rubbed raw. Many runners use Vaseline in sensitive areas but I’d also recommend adding 3 drops of Tea Tree and 1 drop of Benzoin to every tablespoon of Vaseline to help stop the soreness and soothe the itching. Alternatively our Finger & Heel Relief Balm (15g £4.99), which contains Tea Tree and Benzoin, can be used not only on sore feet but also in more sensitive areas such as the groin and underarm.

If your training schedule involves dieting, try adding a few drops of Fennel to your running vest. Fennel Oil has also long been used as a slimming aid - Roman soldiers used to chew fennel seeds on long marches to ward off hunger pains and enhance their fortitude and willpower. I make up a cheery blend of Lime, aniseedy Fennel and a touch of mind soothing Frankincense to help reduce my intake.

If you’re worried about wearing running shorts and exposing your dimply thighs try mixing our Detox Massage Oil (200ml £9.99) with sea salt (or baby rice for sensitive skin) and massaging into the thighs whilst in the shower. Also, leave out the fabric conditioner from your towel wash and regularly rub your thighs vigorously with the non-softened towels – you will soon notice the difference and save money on your laundry too!

It is a well known fact that most marathon runners go through the “wall” at about the halfway mark – they feel it physically and also mentally to the point where some are know to simply pull out. The “wall” is a formidable challenge for most marathon runners. I recommend a technique that harnesses the power of smell which is the most powerful and primitive of all the senses.

You need to choose a stimulating essential oil that you like the scent of - my suggestions for women are Green Mandarin, Grapefruit or Lemon Eucalyptus and for men, Rosemary, Basil, Lemon Eucalyptus or Spearmint. On your training runs, tune into your mind and body and identify when you are feeling euphoric and on top form physically and mentally. At that stage take out of your pocket a tissue that has had several drops of your chosen oil on it and smell it. Repeat regularly (only when you are feeling really good and on form) and as you do there will be a physical and psychological association between those smells and feeling on form. During the marathon when you hit the “wall” take out the tissue, smell it and you will be amazed how your sense of smell can have a remarkable effect in terms of re-energising you both physically and mentally.

To aid your warm up and help loosen your muscles I suggest mixing Almond Oil with Ginger, Tea Tree and Spearmint (2 drops of each essential oil per tablespoon of Almond Oil). This will not only help warm up the muscles but the oil will also offer some protection against chafing and wind burn. Always spot test the skin first and remember that this is NOT an alternative to you’re your physical warm up and stretch routine!

For stiff and painful joints and muscles I recommend adding 3 drops of Chamomile (nature's steroid) to your after-training bath along with 3 drops of Lavender for the pain and 3 drops of Frankincense to encourage deep breathing and relaxation. If you’re cold after training you can also add Rosemary to warm the muscles and joints. Add the oils to a tablespoon of milk before adding to the bath to help them disperse. Alternatively try Potions & Possibilities Joint Ease Clinical Bath Oil (150ml £10.99) with Lavender, Rose, Sandalwood, Chamomile, Bergamot and Evening Primrose, our Joint & Muscle Relief Massage Blend (200ml £9.99) or our Heavy Duty Relief Gel (60g £7.99) which can both be massaged into the affected areas.

Potions & Possibilities are innovative producers of natural toiletries and aromatherapy health and wellbeing products. Our products can be purchased online at http://www.potions.co.uk/ or by telephoning 01394 386161.

Good luck with the training!

Julie