Muscle Cramps
Muscle cramps are a common occurrence and most people experience them at some point in their lives. Maybe your leg cramps up after a long run, or your back spasms as you lift a box. Cramps happen as a result of muscles contracting involuntarily and they can be a mere annoyance or they can be very painful. Cramps occur most frequently in the legs, arms and back.
Causes
Most cramps are caused by overuse, strain, dehydration or after a long period of remaining inactive. All of these causes stem to the muscle not getting enough oxygen. Some doctors also attribute cramps to an imbalance of potassium, magnesium or calcium.
Cautions
Seek assistance if you have cramps occurring at regular intervals throughout the day or cramps that render you incapacitated for any period of time. If you feel tender in areas or especially if you have a temperature and this is tenderness is accompanied by a pain in the neck or shoulders, chest or back, hips, buttocks you should be seen by a professional. If you have any muscle spasm occurring in the region of your back or neck that makes you feel numb or tingly, get it checked out. If your muscle spasms have not improved in three days, make an appointment.
Herbal Treatments
Internal Applications
- Feverfew – eating a few feverfew leaves mixed with your salad can help with cramp pain. They can also be made into capsules and taken with water.
- Valerian – this herb is a natural sedative and muscle relaxant. It has been shown in tests to help ease muscle cramping. Follow the directions on the label with this herb.
- Yarrow – this herb has compounds that help ease muscle spasms, particularly uterine cramps.
- Meadowsweet - soothes muscle spasms - drink an infusion of 1 tablespoon herb in 1 cup water 3 times a day.
- Horse chestnut – take the capsules containing horse chestnut root as a preventative for muscle cramps. Take two pills per day for a few days. Once they are relieved, you don't need to take them any longer unless the cramps begin again.
- Ginkgo biloba – this herb increases blood flow. This provides more oxygen to the muscles and thus may prevent cramping.
- Peppermint – drink peppermint tea to find relief from cramping.
- Cramp bark - take in liquid extract or tablet form to treat musculoskeletal cramping.
- Passionflower - a gentle remedy for treatment of muscle cramps and spasms.
External Applications
- Arnica – apply arnica cream or ointment to the affected areas to relieve cramps and spasms.
- Eucalyptus – use the essential oil of this herb to relieve the pain of cramps. Mix a few drops into a carrier oil and apply to the affected region. Do not use this oil at full strength or if you are pregnant.
- Garlic – crush 10 to 15 cloves of garlic and add to 50 ml of cooking oil. Cook slowly until the oil is reduced by half. Filter out the garlic remains. Apply to the affected area with massage for relief.
- Calendula – dilute a tincture of calendula or make a salve containing this herb to relieve muscle cramps, sprains and pulled muscles. Apply topically to the affected area.
Aromatherapy
– combine 3 drops of German chamomile essential oil, rosemary essential oil and ginger essential oil to 1 ounce of almond oil. Now add 8 drops of lavender oil. Massage this mixture into the affected muscles after a warm bath. Another blend would be Roman chamomile, bay, peppermint and safflower oil. Marjoram and Clary sage may also benefit this blend.- Cinnamon - the oil is useful in rubbing onto areas to reduce cramps.
- Nutmeg - dilute 3 drops of essential oil in 50ml carrier oil - massage into affected area OR add to bath to help treat muscle pain.