Our muscles alternately contract and relax as we move our limbs. A muscle cramp is forcibly contracted unrelaxed muscle. Muscle cramps cause is visible or palpable hardened muscle. Muscle cramps are extremely common in all age groups and each individual experiences a cramp at some time in their life with most frequently with aged ones. However children may also experience cramps.
Muscle cramps are caused by excessively excited nerves that stimulate the muscles. This can occur due to nerve and/or muscle; dehydration injury, low blood levels of calcium, magnesium, or potassium. Deficiencies of certain vitamins, including B1, B5 and B6, can also cause muscle cramps.
Following are symptoms of Muscle cramps:
• Local pain
• Tenderness
• Firmness in the muscle involved
• Tenderness
• Firmness in the muscle involved
Natural Home Remedies for Muscle Cramps
Electric Heating Pad
Placing an electric heating pad or a hot wash cloth on the muscle which relaxes the muscle by increasing blood flow to the affected tissue which help to get relief from pain in about 20 to 30 minutes.
Warm Shower
Taking a long, warm shower, or soak in the bath. Pouring a half-cup of Epsom salt to water helps more since the magnesium present in Epsom salt acts as a muscle relaxant.
Epicenter
Another remedy of great use is first to find the epicenter of the muscle cramp and then to Press into this spot with your thumb for about 10 seconds. Repeat this procedure again and again after a number of repetitions the pain from the cramp should starts diminishing.
Taking a Good Diet
As discussed above low levels of minerals like potassium, sodium, calcium and magnesium which act as electrolyte to our body contributes to muscle cramps. Taking a good diet rich in magnesium like whole-grain breads and cereals, nuts and beans really helps. A rich source of potassium are fruits and vegetables, especially bananas, oranges and cantaloupes. Dairy foods are rich in calcium.
Exercise
If one usually gets muscle cramps during exercise then talking about 2 cups of water two hours before each workout and then drinking about 125 to 250 mL every 15 minutes during exercise sessions is very beneficial. If one sweats a lot during exercise then ingesting a sports drink like Red Bull helps in replacement lost sodium and other electrolytes.
Avoid Tucking
Some people do get nighttime calf cramps. In order to prevent them one should try not to sleep with ones pointed toes. One should avoid tucking ones bed sheets too tightly which tends to bend the toes downward and finally results in cramps.
Wintergreen oil
Another natural remedy is to Mix one part of wintergreen oil and four parts of vegetable oil. Massaging the muscle cramp with this mix is very beneficial. Wintergreen contains methyl salicylate which is a pain reliever. It also stimulates blood flow in the blood vessels. Try to use mixture several times a day.
Vitamin E
Studies indicate that vitamin E improves blood flow through the arteries helps in prevention of nocturnal leg cramps.
Dehydration
A major cause of cramps is dehydration so taking more water helps to prevent cramps.