Home remedies for muscle pains.

Home remedies for Muscle Pain

Muscle pain or soreness could occur due to tears in the muscles at a microscopic level. These tears could be due to physical injury, heavy intensity exercise or as a result of overexertion. Whatever the reason behind muscle pain, there are certain home remedies for muscle pains or aches which are safe and effective.

Use of Epsom Salts

Epsom salts contain Magnesium and Sulfate. Epsom salts break in these two components when they come in contact with water. Magnesium Sulfate acts as a muscle relaxant by getting through your skin. Epsom salt helps to decrease built up tension in the muscles and soothe them. Soaking in warm water having Epsom salts is also supposed to loosen out the stiff joints by reducing inflammation.

If you pulled a muscle while working out at the gym or have muscle ache due to arthritis, you can pour a cup of Epsom salts into a tub full of warm water and soak in it for 30 minutes or so. Repeat this procedure a couple of times in a week. One of the most frequently used home remedies for muscle pains.

Heat or Cold Application to the affected area

This simple remedy really works to ease out muscle pain. For acute pain and swelling, application of ice packs really helps. Cold temperature works by reducing inflammation and thus the associated symptoms like heat, redness, pain and immobility. Ice packs or cold compresses should not be placed on the skin directly and must be used within 48 hours of injury at an interval of 6 hours or so. Do cold compress treatment for 10 to 20 minutes in one go.

For chronic and dull muscle aches, application of mild to moderate heat to the affected area helps to increase blood flow by dilating the blood vessels. It also relaxes sore and tightened muscles.

Light Stretching

It could seem like the best option to just sit around with muscle ache but that can, in fact, lead to the muscle getting stiffer. So, unless advised otherwise by your healthcare practitioner, try doing some light stretches and moving around. Stretching leads to an increased flow of blood to the affected muscles and their lengthening. This leads to better flexibility of muscles and a greater range of motion.

Hydrate yourself

While you exercise, your body tends to lose a lot of water via sweating. This dehydration is also a major reason behind muscle soreness and pain. Therefore, it is very important to replenish and replace the water and electrolytes that are lost. Drinking enough water would help to flush out the toxins from your muscles.

Sleep

While we sleep, our body switches to repair mode. The Muscle ache that occurs due to muscle tears also undergoes repair work at a cellular level when you sleep. This is because your body secretes Growth hormone while sleeping.

Light massage

Muscles often pain after any sort of strenuous activity. Due to exertion, the oxygen supply to muscles gets reduced because of a biochemical reaction that involves the conversion of Glycogen into Glucose. Gentle massage helps to increase the blood circulation in the affected area. This, in turn, is considered one of the prominent home remedies for muscle pains

Ginger Juice

Grate some Ginger and squeeze out its juice in a bowl. Apply this juice on the part affected by muscle pain and gently massage for a minute. Apply this juice for three to four times in a day.

Turmeric Milk

Turmeric has excellent anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. Therefore, when consumed it helps to heal muscle pain quickly. Add one teaspoon of Turmeric powder to One glass of milk and drink it up before retiring to bed.

Essential oils for soaking

You can add 5 to 10 drops of certain essential oils to your bathing water. The temperature of the water is best kept lukewarm. Essential oils like Peppermint, Camphor, Chamomile and Birch could be great options. These help to reduce oedema, relieve aching muscles and reduce swelling.

Alternatively, these can be used for topical application by mixing with a carrier oil such as Olive oil or Coconut oil and used for gentle massage. One of the very effective home remedies for muscle pains.

Drink Juice of Tart Cherries

Tart cherries contain a lot of antioxidants which help to fight the free radical damage and accelerate the process of recovery from sore and tired muscles. You can have freshly squeezed juice of Tart Cherries or consume them in the form of a smoothie.

Conclusion

Have you ever tried any of the above home remedies for muscular pain? Which one works the best according to you? If there are any more home remedies that you have heard of and tried please, let us know in the comments section below!