Doctor in pharmacy and specialist in essential oils, Françoise Couic-Marinier was on Tuesday the guest of "Sans Rendez-vous" on Europe 1. She notably praised the virtues, sometimes unsuspected, of essential oils to help young and old athletes to treat some injuries.
INTERVIEW
There are different natural ways to support athletes on a daily basis.
Herbal medicine - herbal treatment, in the form of capsules, drops or herbal tea - is generally well known.
But aromatherapy is a little less so.
However, essential oils can prove to be particularly effective allies in the fight against minor inconveniences and certain injuries linked to more or less intensive practice.
Guest Tuesday of
Sans Rendez-vous
, the health program of Europe 1, Françoise Couic-Marinier, doctor of pharmacy and specialist in essential oils, details the virtues of certain essences to get rid of aches, bruises and other inflammations.
Against blisters and irritations
A nightmare for runners and hikers, blisters, once installed - and regardless of the quality of your shoes or the thickness of your socks - can force you to stop all activity for a few days while it heals. To speed up healing, consider
lavender essential oil
, which promotes regeneration and prevents the risk of infection. "It suffices to place one or two drops on the bulb, without piercing it", explains Françoise Couic-Marinier. The result is impressive.
Lavender oil also works very well to soothe irritation caused by friction with synthetic materials, a phenomenon that athletes, especially runners, are familiar with and which often affects the nipples. To avoid this type of inconvenience, rather than using plasters, consider shea. "We will use creams based on shea butter, which we can possibly enrich with lavender oil, and which will avoid friction, with clothes but also in shoes", indicates our pharmacist, author of the
Sports
book
: The complete guide to natural treatments
published by Terre vivante.
>>
Find all of Sans rendez-vous every day from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Europe 1 as well as in replay and podcast here
Against stiffness
Allowing yourself a little preparatory massage before exercise is a good way to protect yourself from muscle soreness. By activating the blood circulation and heating the tissues, we limit the production of lactic acid, at the origin of these muscle pains which are sometimes very bothersome, especially if it is a resumption of activity after a longer period. or shorter downtime. If stiffness sets in, generally 24 to 48 hours after exercise, turn to massage balms made with
essential oil of camphor
. "It is applied to the affected area going up towards the heart, that is to say from the bottom of the legs to the root of the limbs, from the hands to the shoulders, etc.", specifies our specialist.
If you are dealing with deep and particularly painful contractures, try
wintergreen essential oil
instead
. However, it should be handled with care: its fluidifying properties are contraindicated for people with hemophilia or on an anticoagulant. "A 10ml bottle is the equivalent of 14 grams of aspirin", warns Françoise Couic-Marinier. "On the other hand, it is analgesic and anti-inflammatory. It is very effective."
Above all, it is the maintenance of an activity that will quickly get rid of muscle aches, lactic acid being eliminated by breathing.
A brisk walk or a short jog, despite the pain that you may feel during the first few minutes, will have more effects than staying immobilized on your sofa.
Against bruises and sprains
In France, some 7,000 people are sprained every day, an injury which is therefore far from only affecting athletes. In this kind of situation, a medical consultation is necessary, and the first advice to follow will be that of your doctor. However, and with its agreement, you can use
essential oil of Italian helichrysum
, also called immortelle. "It is extremely vulnerable, that is to say, it resolves blood problems, a bit like arnica but more effectively. Italian helichrysum essential oil helps reduce edema and pain. can combine it with cold, ”explains Françoise Couic-Marinier.
This essential oil is also formidable against bruises, especially bruises that can form on the toes when they hit against the shoe.
Relax before a competition
If the practice of sport helps to clear the head, in particular by releasing endorphins, it can also be a source of stress, for example on the eve of an important competition.
But also frustration, when an injury comes to put an end to months of training, not to mention the cancellations of sporting events which have multiplied over the past year due to the health context.
"To deal with this kind of situation, the
essential oil of Roman chamomile
is very effective", slips Françoise Couic-Marinier. "It is even used in the hospital as a pre-anesthetic, it is a very great relaxant that allows you to avoid ruminating." You just need to put a few drops on a handkerchief, and breathe deeply to feel an immediate feeling of soothing.