 |
| Muscle Cramps |
More often than not, most of us have experienced occasional painful instances of having muscle or leg cramps. Though it is not a serious illness, yet it can be very painful for that short span of time. There are people who particularly experience these cramps during night mainly because of dehydration. These muscle cramps or leg cramps occur due to spasm like muscle contraction. Muscle cramps, usually followed by a sharp, intense pain, happen to be the most common physical issues among those involved in strenuous physical activities often claim to suffer from. Usually an internal wound, muscle cramps are nothing but a certain, sudden contraction of tissues in the muscles of the affected area.
How the Muscle Cramps are Caused?
It is believed that the muscle cramps result either from less consumption of water or from mineral imbalance in your body. An injury to the muscle, poor blood circulation, dehydration, stress, fatigue etc. among other causes, can also lead to a muscle getting cramped up. However at all times, these muscle cramps can be extremely painful, making us to think of some reliable home remedies to lessen the experience. Generally the sports persons, athletes etc. involved in strenuous workouts often tend to face such issues. Besides, a prolonged lack of major physical activity, followed by a sudden participation in something exhaustive can also lead to these cramps. The muscles tend to tighten up as their natural lubrication is lost.
Effective Home Remedies for Muscle Cramps
At the exact time of a muscle cramp it is significant to stretch your leg, massage it gently, or apply hot and cold water to slowly relax the cramped muscle.
Warm Compresses - This happens to be one of the most effective pain relievers ever known to mankind. Soon after having suffered from a cramp, try applying a heating pad on the affected area, although only for a few minutes. This would help to prevent the swelling from occurring in the first place. Even a nice, warm water shower does the job for you.
At the exact time of a muscle cramp it is significant to stretch your leg, massage it gently, or apply hot and cold water to slowly relax the cramped muscle.
Warm Compresses - This happens to be one of the most effective pain relievers ever known to mankind. Soon after having suffered from a cramp, try applying a heating pad on the affected area, although only for a few minutes. This would help to prevent the swelling from occurring in the first place. Even a nice, warm water shower does the job for you.
Cold Compresses - Once the pain subsides, frequent, continued application of cold compresses is usually regarded as the best thing to do in order to ease up the sore muscles from the inside. By acting like a local anaesthesia, and constricting the blood vessels in the affected area, cold compresses are particularly helpful in preventing swelling that usually follows the muscle cramp.
Sometimes the cause behind frequent muscle cramps could be mineral imbalance. In this case, you need to know and understand some simple home remedies to correct the mineral imbalance in your body:
One of the prime reasons is low potassium level in your body. You could therefore improve this health condition by taking potassium rich food such as leafy green vegetables, yoghurt, mushrooms, bananas, potatoes, etc.
You also need to increase calcium in your diet to help combat the muscle cramps. Rich source of calcium can be found in the foods including, milk, yoghurt, almonds, tofu etc.
Yellow mustard vinegar or apple cider vinegar contain small proportions of acetic acid which acts like a neuro transmitter, that significantly helps to reduce swelling and helps to relax your tensed muscle.
What Else Could Help?
It is, any given day, a good idea to keep yourself involved in moderate physical activities on regular basis so as to keep the natural flexibility among the muscles alive. But you would need to make sure that you attempt the things in the right way, and not simply play around with your body. There is indeed a reason why proper warming-up and cooling-down exercises are recommended. Also, try to keep your muscles and your overall body well-nourished with a good, healthy diet that is balanced on the nutrient quotient. Most importantly you need to avoid any circumstances that could leave your body into getting dehydrated. It is thus endorsed that you have plenty of water and electrolytes whole day long. Also, the rehydration drinks, fruit juices, or a sports drink, would balance the intake of fluids and minerals in your body and save you from the problem of acquiring muscle cramps or leg cramps. These preventive measures go a long way in allowing your muscles a quick recovery, if you ever happen to suffer from a muscle cramp.
Watch Video - 20 Natural Painkillers in your Kitchen Here
About the Author:
Dr Sonica Krishan is Author and Speaker in the areas of Healthy and Joyous Living through Ayurveda, Meditation, Yoga and other Contemplative practices. She is a leading Ayurveda Professional in India. She is also Health Writer, Columnist, Editor, Ayurveda Consultant and Holistic Healing Coach. Dr Sonica is open for National as well as International Collaborations with interested people / institutions in fields of Ayurveda, Meditation and Yoga.
Dr Sonica Krishan's Books are available at Amazon
Related Posts: