- 1. Apply ice
- 2. Alternate cold with heat
- 3. Place hot salt compresses
- 4. Massage with essential oils
- 5. Rest and stretch
- 6. Have herbal tea
- 7. Apply arnica to the skin
- 8. Take saffron
- 9. Bath with Epsom salts
Muscle pain, also known as myalgia, is a pain that affects the muscles and can occur anywhere on the body such as neck, back or chest.
There are several home remedies and methods that can be used to relieve muscle pain, or even treat it, and include:
1. Apply ice
The best way to relieve acute muscle pain is by using ice, which has an analgesic effect, helps to reduce swelling and stretch the muscles. The ice should be applied by wrapping it in a compress, so as not to hurt or burn the skin, for 15 to 20 minutes. Learn more about when and how to properly use ice to relieve muscle pain.
2. Alternate cold with heat
In the first 48 hours after the injury, it is recommended to apply an ice pack for 20 minutes, 3 to 4 times a day, but after that, alternate with the application of hot packs, as shown in the following video:
3. Place hot salt compresses
An excellent home remedy for muscle pain is the hot salt compress, as it helps to decrease pain and stimulates circulation, accelerating the muscle recovery process.
Ingredients
- 500 g of salt; Thick stocking.
Preparation: heat the salt in a frying pan for approximately 4 minutes and place in a clean stocking, of thick fabric, so that it is soft. Then apply the compress to the sore muscle and let it act for 30 minutes, 2 times a day.
4. Massage with essential oils
Regular massages with essential oils help to reduce muscle pain. The essential oils of Rosemary and Peppermint stimulate circulation, and the essential oil of St. John's wort has analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties.
Ingredients
- 15 drops of Rosemary essential oil; 5 drops of Peppermint essential oil; 5 drops of St. John's wort essential oil; 1 tablespoon of almond oil.
Preparation: mix the oils in a dark glass bottle. Shake well and massage the muscle with a little of the mixture, every day until it gets better. Find out more health benefits that massage has.
5. Rest and stretch
After a muscle injury, it is very important to let the affected region rest.
However, when the initial intense pain and swelling become smaller, you should gently stretch the affected area, moving it to avoid progressive stiffness. Stretching helps stimulate circulation and prevents scarring. See which stretching exercises are ideal for back pain.
6. Have herbal tea
Taking valerian tea, ginger, white willow, philipendula or devil's claw, also helps with muscle pain due to its sedative, anti-inflammatory and anti-rheumatic properties. In the case of the white willow, it contains in its composition salicin, a molecule very similar to acetylsalicylic acid, the active substance in aspirin, which reduces pain and inflammation.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons of valerian extract; 1 tablespoon of white willow bark extract; 1 dessert spoon of ginger extract.
Preparation: mix the extracts and store in a dark glass bottle. Take half to a teaspoon, diluted in 60 ml of warm water, about 4 times a day.
See other tea options for muscle pain.
7. Apply arnica to the skin
Arnica is a plant that helps control swelling, bruising and inflammation and reduces bruising due to its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. It can be used in cream, oil or even compresses that can be prepared as follows:
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon of arnica flowers; 1 cup of boiling water.
Preparation: add the arnica flowers in a cup with boiling water and let it rest for 10 minutes. Then strain and dip the compress into the tea and then apply to the affected region. Learn more about this medicinal plant.
8. Take saffron
The inflammation of the muscle can be alleviated with the help of turmeric, which is a medicinal plant with a long orange root, which can be made into a powder and used as a spice in several countries, especially in India.
The recommended dose is 300 mg twice a day, but turmeric powder can also be used and added to food, such as curry dishes, soups and egg, rice and vegetable dishes. See more benefits of saffron.
9. Bath with Epsom salts
Epsom salt is a mineral compound that can be used to relieve muscle pain, as it is responsible for regulating the levels of magnesium in the body and thus lead to increased production of serotonin, which is a hormone that helps to relax and to calm down.
To make the bath with Epsom salts, just fill a bathtub with warm water and put 250 grams of salts and then do an immersion bath for about 20 minutes, with muscle relaxation.
