Joint Pain? This 3-Ingredient Cream Is a Lifesaver

A woman with long blonde hair and pink pants applies homemade arthritis pain relief cream from a small glass bowl onto her wrist, wearing a navy floral top.

This DIY Pain Relief Cream Works Wonders On My Achy Hands

I deal with achy hands on an almost daily basis (courtesy of bothย Dupuytrenโ€™s contractureย and run-of-the-mill arthritis). And while over-the-counter pain relievers do help, Iโ€™d easily exceed the recommended dosage if I took them every time my hands started bothering me.

Luckily, I have a secret weapon for those moments: my homemade pain relief cream! Itโ€™s completely natural, safe to use as often as I need it, and surprisingly easy to makeโ€”Iโ€™ll show you exactly how below.

A person in a floral shirt holds a round glass container with a metal clasp and an orange rubber seal, viewed from aboveโ€”perfect for storing homemade arthritis pain relief cream.

How to Make a Homemade Arthritis Pain Relief Cream

The pain-relieving properties come fromย my Restore Essential Oil Blend. This blend features wintergreen, camphor, peppermint, ylang-ylang, helichrysum, blue tansy, blue chamomile, and osmanthus essential oilsโ€”ingredients known for their soothing, cooling effects on sore muscles and joints.

And if youโ€™d rather not make this yourself, I do have a couple of ready-to-use versions of Restore that work just as wellโ€”Iโ€™ll tell you more about those below.

When Iโ€™m at home, I often find myself reaching for this homemade version. Itโ€™s perfect for applying to larger areas, and it moisturizes my skin at the same time!

Patricia, a fellow Dupuytrenโ€™s sufferer, is also a fan of the cream:

โ€œLike Jillee, I have Dupuytrenโ€™s contracture in both hands, as well as arthritis. As a fan of her website, I swear by many of her recipes, so I had to try her DIY pain relief cream. I love that itโ€™s just three simple ingredients, and it actually helps relieve my pain.โ€

Hereโ€™s how you can make it at home!

A jar of Spectrum organic virgin coconut oil, a small bottle of essential oil, and a clear bag of shredded coconut on a marble surfaceโ€”perfect ingredients for crafting homemade arthritis pain relief cream.

Ingredients:

Two images: On the left, a hand stirs clear liquid in a glass bowl over a pot on the stove. On the right, homemade arthritis pain relief cream is poured from the bowl into a smaller bowl using a spatula.

Directions:

Start by melting the coconut oil and beeswax together in a double boiler. If you donโ€™t have one, a heat-safe bowl set over a pan of simmering water works just as well.

Stir occasionally until everything is melted and well combined, then remove from heat and let it cool for about 5 minutes.

Add the essential oils and stir again, then pour into a container with an airtight lid.

Let the cream cool completely before using. You can refrigerate it to speed things up, or whip the set cream with a hand mixer for a lighter, fluffier texture!

To use, scoop a small amount from the container and apply it to areas where youโ€™re feeling aches and pains. The warmth of your skin will soften the cream, making it smooth and easy to spread.

A hand pours essential oil into a glass bowl; next to it, a woman in a floral top holds a small jar of homemade arthritis pain relief cream and smiles at the camera.

The Life-Changing Pain Relief Of Restore

A lot of what I share on my blog and in my shop are things that have worked for me or my family (you may have read about my sonโ€™s journey with Rheumatoid Arthritis), so it means the world to me when I hear from readers and customers whoโ€™ve had similar experiencesโ€”especially when those experiences make a real difference in their day-to-day lives, like they have for so many people whoโ€™ve tried Restore.

Norma has lived with severe arthritis in her knees, left hip, shoulder, and lower back for nearly six years. She had her hip replaced four years ago, but continued to deal with pain and swelling.

She told me she had tried just about everythingโ€”having fluid drained from both knees, getting numerous steroid injections, going to massage therapy, and completing hundreds of physical therapy sessions. But her pain kept getting worse, and day-to-day life became increasingly difficult. She even had to give up her long-arm quilting business!

She ordered Restore after a friend suggested she try essential oils. Hereโ€™s what she shared about her experience:

โ€œLIFE CHANGING! I’m able to do my own shopping, housework, etc. again. If I get a pain anywhere, I immediately put some Restore on it, and the pain is gone within a few minutes. I panic at the thought of running out of my Restore!โ€

A person with pink nails applies homemade arthritis pain relief cream from a glass bowl to their hands while wearing a floral blouse and pink pants.

Brenda wrote to tell me that after a fall a couple of years ago, she was dealing with ongoing pain in her wrist and knee. At 76 years old, she said this was a kind of pain she had never experienced before. She had tried injections in her knees, but they didnโ€™t offer much relief.

After trying Restore, she said:

“I have to tell you how much Restore has saved my sanity. I am now back to having NO PAIN.ย Your product saved me from thinking I would live with the pain and feel old for the rest of my life.”

Jane has a condition called Erythromelalgia (EM), and after exhausting prescription pain relief options over the years, Morphine was presented as her only option. That wasnโ€™t a path she wanted to take, so she began searching for a non-addictive alternative.

She shared that before trying Restore, she had come across a lot of products and solutions that didnโ€™t deliver on their promises. But hereโ€™s what she had to say about Restore:

โ€œAll I can say is this little miracle in a bottle is a game-changer for me.ย Now, Iโ€™m not sitting in tears through the burning agony of this condition.ย It soothes and, if I apply it at the onset, can stop it in its tracks. All I can say is aย MASSIVE THANK YOU.ย This has changed my life in ways I could not imagine.โ€

A person holds two small bottles labeled

Try Restore For Yourself

If youโ€™re dealing with aches and pains of your own, Restore might be worth trying for yourself.

As I mentioned earlier, Restore comes in three versatile formulas. Whether you enjoy making your own remedies, need quick relief on the go, or want something easy to apply over larger areas, thereโ€™s an option that fits.

Restore Essential Oil Blend

This undiluted version ofย Restoreย is a mix of wintergreen, camphor, peppermint, ylang-ylang, helichrysum, blue tansy, blue chamomile, and osmanthus essential oils.

Itโ€™s perfect if you like to make your own remediesโ€”like the cream I shared aboveโ€”and want something you can customize to your needs.

Restore Blend Ready-to-Apply Roll-On

This customer favorite features the same blend of essential oils, pre-diluted in fractionated coconut oil and packaged in a convenient roller bottle.

Itโ€™s ideal for quick, mess-free relief on smaller areasโ€”especially when youโ€™re on the go.

Restore Blend Muscle & Joint Soothing Balm

This richer formula starts with a base of coconut oil, beeswax, shea butter, and cocoa butter. I also added menthol crystals to my Restore essential oil blend for an extra cooling, soothing effect.

Itโ€™s a great option for more intense discomfort or for covering larger areas.

A woman with long blonde hair sits on a bed, wearing a white polka dot blouse and purple pants, holding a small black and silver bottle of homemade arthritis pain relief cream toward the camera.

No matter which formula you choose, Restore has helped provide relief for all kinds of aches and painsโ€”from arthritis and fibromyalgia to neuropathy, headaches, tennis elbow, bone spurs, bruises, carpal tunnel syndrome, menstrual cramps, jaw pain, and more.

All of my Restore products are currently 20% off during my Birthday Sale! Or if youโ€™d like to try all three versions, you can grab my Restore Kit for 30% off. Youโ€™ll also get to choose a free gift with any $60 purchase.

And the good news doesnโ€™t stop there.

Restore is backed by my 100% money-back guarantee. If youโ€™re not completely satisfied for any reason, just contact me within 90 days for a full refundโ€”no questions asked.

That means thereโ€™s really no risk in giving it a tryโ€”and you might just get some life-changing pain relief.ย 

SHOP RESTORE NOW โžœ

NEW! Can you guess the 5-letter word related to today’s post?

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Jill Nystul Photo

Jill Nystul (aka Jillee)

Jill Nystul is an accomplished writer and author who founded the blog One Good Thing by Jillee in 2011. With over 30 years of experience in homemaking, she has become a trusted resource for contemporary homemakers by offering practical solutions to everyday household challenges.I share creative homemaking and lifestyle solutions that make your life easier and more enjoyable!

About Jillee

Jill Nystul

Jill’s 30 years of homemaking experience, make her the trusted source for practical household solutions.

About Jillee

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26 Comments

  1. Just to clarify this being called a “cream”, it is more ointment than cream. Creams are usually made by mixing oil and water with an emulsifier. Ointments are butters and oils mixed. With than being said, there are a multitude of benefits with using essential oils in either of these.

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
  2. I’m very interested in making this cream. Is it greasy when applying?

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
  3. There is non surgery treatment for Dupuytren contracture. UCLA Dr Blenheim does enzyme injections to break up the scar tissue. Much less invasive than surgery.

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
    • Linda, thank you so much for this information! I will definitely look into it. :-)

      Please log in or create a free account to comment.
    • Thanks thatโ€™s for this information. Iโ€™ll have to tell my Sister. About 2 years ago I was reading the contracture post and showed it to her. Her husband actually has it like in the pictures. Weโ€™ll have to see if thereโ€™s a place in the Midwest that does the treatments.

      Please log in or create a free account to comment.
  4. I love the Restore essential oil. It is very effective for aches and pains. However, I take a shortcut when using it by putting a dollop of unscented lotion in my hand and then putting a drop or two of the oil directly onto it, then stir it up with my finger and rub it on my lower back. It’s probably much stronger than making a salve but I’ve never had trouble with skin sensitivity. I do this for the other girls at work, too, when they have an achy shoulder, back, whatever. They call me ‘Dr. Feelgood’ here, lol.

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
    • I’m so happy that you love Restore blend! What a great idea, “Dr. Feelgood”! I love it. :-)

      Please log in or create a free account to comment.
  5. I’m living in France, and it’s impossible for me to buy your restore oil blend……. Could you please tell me what essential oil I can use instead? Thank you so much

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
    • Corinne, I wish we could ship to France, but unfortunately, the cost for shipping would be more than the cost of our products. In the meantime, here are the essential oils used in our Restore Blend:

      Restore is a blend of wintergreen, camphor, peppermint, ylang ylang, helichrysum, blue tansy, blue chamomile, and osmanthus essential oils.

      Please log in or create a free account to comment.
      • Thank you!

  6. Hi Jillee, do you know if this works well for arthritis? I have terrible arthritic pain in my hands, so bad that my knuckles swell and eventually fuse so they only bend a little.

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
    • Nita, I know your pain all too well. For me and my OGT Plus manager, Stacie, it definitely helps with pain from arthritis. I would give it a try. Hope it gives you some relief. :-)

      Please log in or create a free account to comment.
  7. Jillee,
    Can you post the original recipe, that i saw ages ago… I still have all the stuff from that recipe (it was more yellow in color i guess from the bees wax pellets). I hate to buy something new (the pain oil mix mentioned in this post), when I still have a lot left of the variety.
    I just cant find the recipe!!
    (a link would suffice, if it is easier–
    Thanks

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
  8. Jillee – my husband suffered from that same condition – Dupuytrens, until he found a doctor here in Boise that does an amazing outpatient, minimally invasive procedure that uses a needle to release the bands that are tightening. It was amazing! HIs procedure was several years ago and the contractures have not come back. I’ve included a link to the doctor’s site if you want to look into it. Boise’s not too far a drive! :) https://www.dupuytrenscenter.com

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
    • Wow Lisa! This sounds very promising. Thank you so much for sharing this with me. I am definitely going to look into this. :-)

      Please log in or create a free account to comment.
  9. When children have “growing pains” as a nutritionist I always wanted to consider if they were getting enough calcium and vitamin D. Teenagers can put down an enormous amount of bone growth during a “growth spurt” Many of the parents I asked to consider having their child’s vitamin D level checked if other blood work was being done have come back to thank me as their child had a low Vitamin D level. Our bones are not static but can get weaker as adults if we do not exercise and provide the correct nutrients in the correct amounts.

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
  10. I have a cream that has coconut oil (moisturizing cream) and vitamin e can I use that for this recipe?

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
  11. Do you think I can use emu oil in place of the coconut oil?

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
  12. I just made the Vitamin E cream version. I should make this when I’m sick!!! My hands feel great, with the cream!

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
  13. Hello! Thank you so much for this! How long does this typically last you spoilage wise? Thinking of making it but was thinking of putting some type of natural preservative in it. Thoughts?

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
    • It will last 4-6 months without preservatives, and you can even store it in the fridge for a shelf life closer to 2 years! :-)

      Please log in or create a free account to comment.
  14. Great idea Jillee! Using the vitamin E cream is really a good way to make this for me personally. I’ll try it! Thanks for posting! As always good things posted from you!

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.

Leave a Comment

26 Comments

  1. Just to clarify this being called a “cream”, it is more ointment than cream. Creams are usually made by mixing oil and water with an emulsifier. Ointments are butters and oils mixed. With than being said, there are a multitude of benefits with using essential oils in either of these.

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
  2. I’m very interested in making this cream. Is it greasy when applying?

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
  3. There is non surgery treatment for Dupuytren contracture. UCLA Dr Blenheim does enzyme injections to break up the scar tissue. Much less invasive than surgery.

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
    • Linda, thank you so much for this information! I will definitely look into it. :-)

      Please log in or create a free account to comment.
    • Thanks thatโ€™s for this information. Iโ€™ll have to tell my Sister. About 2 years ago I was reading the contracture post and showed it to her. Her husband actually has it like in the pictures. Weโ€™ll have to see if thereโ€™s a place in the Midwest that does the treatments.

      Please log in or create a free account to comment.
  4. I love the Restore essential oil. It is very effective for aches and pains. However, I take a shortcut when using it by putting a dollop of unscented lotion in my hand and then putting a drop or two of the oil directly onto it, then stir it up with my finger and rub it on my lower back. It’s probably much stronger than making a salve but I’ve never had trouble with skin sensitivity. I do this for the other girls at work, too, when they have an achy shoulder, back, whatever. They call me ‘Dr. Feelgood’ here, lol.

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
    • I’m so happy that you love Restore blend! What a great idea, “Dr. Feelgood”! I love it. :-)

      Please log in or create a free account to comment.
  5. I’m living in France, and it’s impossible for me to buy your restore oil blend……. Could you please tell me what essential oil I can use instead? Thank you so much

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
    • Corinne, I wish we could ship to France, but unfortunately, the cost for shipping would be more than the cost of our products. In the meantime, here are the essential oils used in our Restore Blend:

      Restore is a blend of wintergreen, camphor, peppermint, ylang ylang, helichrysum, blue tansy, blue chamomile, and osmanthus essential oils.

      Please log in or create a free account to comment.
      • Thank you!

  6. Hi Jillee, do you know if this works well for arthritis? I have terrible arthritic pain in my hands, so bad that my knuckles swell and eventually fuse so they only bend a little.

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
    • Nita, I know your pain all too well. For me and my OGT Plus manager, Stacie, it definitely helps with pain from arthritis. I would give it a try. Hope it gives you some relief. :-)

      Please log in or create a free account to comment.
  7. Jillee,
    Can you post the original recipe, that i saw ages ago… I still have all the stuff from that recipe (it was more yellow in color i guess from the bees wax pellets). I hate to buy something new (the pain oil mix mentioned in this post), when I still have a lot left of the variety.
    I just cant find the recipe!!
    (a link would suffice, if it is easier–
    Thanks

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
  8. Jillee – my husband suffered from that same condition – Dupuytrens, until he found a doctor here in Boise that does an amazing outpatient, minimally invasive procedure that uses a needle to release the bands that are tightening. It was amazing! HIs procedure was several years ago and the contractures have not come back. I’ve included a link to the doctor’s site if you want to look into it. Boise’s not too far a drive! :) https://www.dupuytrenscenter.com

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
    • Wow Lisa! This sounds very promising. Thank you so much for sharing this with me. I am definitely going to look into this. :-)

      Please log in or create a free account to comment.
  9. When children have “growing pains” as a nutritionist I always wanted to consider if they were getting enough calcium and vitamin D. Teenagers can put down an enormous amount of bone growth during a “growth spurt” Many of the parents I asked to consider having their child’s vitamin D level checked if other blood work was being done have come back to thank me as their child had a low Vitamin D level. Our bones are not static but can get weaker as adults if we do not exercise and provide the correct nutrients in the correct amounts.

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
  10. I have a cream that has coconut oil (moisturizing cream) and vitamin e can I use that for this recipe?

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
  11. Do you think I can use emu oil in place of the coconut oil?

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
  12. I just made the Vitamin E cream version. I should make this when I’m sick!!! My hands feel great, with the cream!

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
  13. Hello! Thank you so much for this! How long does this typically last you spoilage wise? Thinking of making it but was thinking of putting some type of natural preservative in it. Thoughts?

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
    • It will last 4-6 months without preservatives, and you can even store it in the fridge for a shelf life closer to 2 years! :-)

      Please log in or create a free account to comment.
  14. Great idea Jillee! Using the vitamin E cream is really a good way to make this for me personally. I’ll try it! Thanks for posting! As always good things posted from you!

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.