There are many reasons why we may experience muscle spasms and muscle pain, and these feelings can be prompted by a variety of causes. These uncomfortable sensations can be extremely mild, or they can be very painful. There are plenty of options for natural muscle relaxants and herbal muscle relaxers that we will go over below. This article outlines some amazing natural muscle relaxers that you can make at home.
The cause of muscle pain and muscle spasms can include strains, injury, nerve compression, muscle contraction, vitamin deficiency, or simply plain old stress. They may also be a result of underlying conditions such as multiple sclerosis, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, hypothyroidism, lupus, or other conditions.
Although many people choose to use synthetic prescription drugs for muscle tension, synthetic drugs can be very questionable, to say the least, and may have troubling side effects. They also may fail to help long-term, and instead, offer only short-term relief.
As an alternative to these synthetic drugs, natural muscle relaxers can be an excellent choice for easing your muscle pain and soreness. These remedies can be found easily and can act as safer alternatives to prescription drugs and their possible side effects.
Following is our list of natural muscle relaxers which will help to treat sore and tight muscles, and will help with treatment of muscle spasms.
This well-known herb has provided relief for many ailments since ancient times and is a great option for helping your muscles to relax. It is one of the best essential oils for pain, of which you will find a lot of essential oils on this list for muscle aches and pain relief from muscle cramps.
Chamomile has significant anti-inflammatory properties and contains 36 flavonoids, which are great for your body’s overall health. Chamomile is also helpful for relaxation and has a calming effect on both the mind and body.
There are a couple of great options for making use of chamomile for muscle relief. You can use a chamomile essential oil and massage your aching muscles and sore areas with it.
Alternatively, you can drink chamomile tea 2-3 times a day. For chamomile tea, you may choose to purchase chamomile tea bags, or you may choose to steep 1 tablespoon of chamomile flowers in a cup of hot water. Drink the tea warm.
Another herb and essential oil variety that is perfect for dealing with muscle tension, peppermint is great to use for muscle relief.
Peppermint has many helpful properties which are great for soothing the muscles and helping with inflammation. It also has a good effect on improving blood circulation, meaning it will help relieve muscle spasms and pain. Peppermint also has menthol, meaning it has anti-inflammatory properties and works as an analgesic.
To use peppermint, you may choose to drink 2-3 cups of the tea daily. You can use fresh, dried peppermint leaves or a tea bag.
You can also use it to massage the sore areas with peppermint oil. To do this, you’ll want to mix 2 drops of peppermint oil with 2 drops of sandalwood oil and 1 tablespoon of sweet almond carrier oil. Massage gently.
Tart cherries help to soothe muscles naturally and also have a lot of antioxidants. While other types of cherries have some health benefits, tart cherries, in particular, provide even more benefits and a natural source of muscle relaxation properties.
They also have a significant amount of anti-inflammatory properties. Tart cherries have been known to be beneficial for sufferers of arthritis, fibromyalgia and other types of muscle pain.
You should try to consume 1 cup of tart cherries daily to improve your muscle soreness. You may also want to buy some tart cherry juice which you can easily drink daily to reap the numerous health benefits.
If you’re looking for a bit more heat in your diet, cayenne pepper may be just what you’re looking for. This delicious pepper includes benefits to your health and is great for reducing muscle spasms and muscle soreness.
The pepper has analgesic properties as well as strong anti-inflammatory benefits, while the capsaicin in the pepper works to relax muscles. Interestingly, cayenne pepper even works to prevent pain transmitters in the brain, meaning that your perception of pain will decrease after eating some of this pepper.
To use this natural relaxer, you can apply it directly to your affected area. To do this, add 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper powder to 2 tablespoons of warmed extra-virgin olive oil. After applying, leave on for 30 minutes.
Epsom salt is a natural muscle relaxer that has a great effect on the muscles and works by increasing the magnesium in your body. Magnesium is essential for good and healthy muscles. Often muscle spasms or cramping is the result of a deficiency of magnesium.
When your body absorbs the magnesium of Epsom salt, your muscles will become more relaxed. It also has helpful effects on the nervous system and will work to remove pain-inducing toxins from your body.
To use Epsom salt, you’ll want to take a bath with the substance. Fill your bathtub with warm water. Add 2 cups of Epsom salt and stir into your bath. Bathe in the Epsom salt bath for 15 to 20 minutes. Repeat weekly.
Another useful herb that has marvelous health effects on the body, rosemary helps to reduce inflammation in muscle tissue while minimizing pain and soreness.
Used as one of the best essential oils for pain from muscle aches and muscle contraction, rosemary works to increase blood circulation activity and also has intensive anti-inflammatory qualities. You can use rosemary both to ease headaches and soothe muscle pain and soreness. The herb has been known to can help with arthritis and rheumatism as well.
To use rosemary, you may choose several methods. First of all, you can drink rosemary as a tea. Add 1 teaspoon of dried rosemary to a cup of hot water. Steep for 10 minutes, then strain. Drink 2-3 times a day.
You may also use a rosemary essential oil. Mix several drops of the essential oil in with 1 tablespoon of warm olive oil or warm coconut oil. Massage the affected area several times a day.
The final option is to take a rosemary bath. Add 1 teaspoon of the rosemary essential oil to a bath filled with warm water. Soak for 15-20 minutes. Repeat as necessary.
Valerian root is another one of those natural smooth muscle relaxers that are great for helping with several different health problems. You can use it to relieve muscles, and it has often been used to reduce neck tension as well.
Valerian has oils in it which help to relieve tension in the body. Valerian root also has a sedative effect on the body and works as a stress reliever, and also improves sleep.
Valerian has also been shown to be useful for treating muscle spasms related to sciatica pain. Interestingly, valerian has also been shown to help improve the effects of aspirin.
To use valerian, add 1 teaspoon of dried valerian root to a cup of hot water and steep for 10 minutes.
Arnica is available in multiple forms and can be used to help the body in a variety of ways. This flowering plant is in the sunflower family and is known by many different names. You may know it best as wolf’s bane, leopard’s bane, mountain arnica, or even mountain tobacco.
This flower has analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and blood circulatory properties and helps to reduce pain and inflammation in the muscles. Arnica promotes quick recovery in our bodies and helps to reduce pain in our muscles.
There are several ways to use arnica. Use the arnica essential oil by mixing a few drops into a carrier oil. Massage the affected areas a few times a day.
You can also choose to purchase an over the counter arnica ointment or balm.
Lavender is known for its refreshing scent and is useful for creating a feeling of calmness in our bodies. It has natural pain relief and anti-inflammatory properties and can reduce swelling.
The calming herb helps to prepare our bodies for sleep and is often used before bed. You may choose to use lavender to treat headaches, soothe sore muscles, or ease neck pain, leg pain, or arthritis.
To use lavender, place a few drops of the essential oil into warmed coconut oil or warmed olive oil. Massage the affected areas with soft circular motions.
You may also choose to take a warm bath that has a few drops of the essential oil in it. Repeat daily.
The passion flower is an excellent natural remedy for muscle pain and spasms and has sedative properties. Chemicals that are in the herb help to relieve a variety of ailments and can work as a solution for tension headaches and menstrual cramps. The herb can also reduce anxiety and stress.
To use passion flower, you can make a passion flower tea. Steep 1 teaspoon of dried passionflower in a cup of hot water for 10 minutes. Drink once a day for natural pain relief.
The bark and root bark of cramp bark are stilled used for natural remedies and herbal medicine. The bark is native to Europen, central Asia, and northern Africa, but also is grown in North America. It has antispasmodic benefits which is why it works so well as a natural muscle relaxer. It can help to soothe sore muscles, relieve pain from muscle cramps, and stop muscle spasms quickly and effectively.
To use cramp bark you will want to use a tincture form which is made after the bark is peeled from the root. As one of the best natural smooth muscle relaxants, you can take a half of a dropper or 3o to 50 drops every 30 minutes until you feel it helps with pain relief, and then 30+ drops every 1 to 3 hours after.
Lemon balm is another one of the great herbal muscle relaxants that help to relieve muscle pain. It has antibacterial and antiviral properties that make it have plenty of wide natural uses for more than just relaxing muscles and soothing pain.
To use, take the essential oils of lemon balm and rub it over affected areas of muscle pain to help to relax the muscles.
Aches in the muscles can be very uncomfortable, but they are quite common after exercise, particularly if the type of activity is unfamiliar.
If you are experiencing any reduced range of motion, or any sudden, sharp pains, you should see a doctor or a physiotherapist.
Before trying any new methods to relax the muscles, you should discuss any possible side effects with a doctor.
If you’re looking for a way to soothe your muscles, it’s not necessary to get an over the counter muscle relaxer or to use a potentially dangerous synthetic drug. Mother nature has created plenty of natural tools that can fight muscle spasms.
The above natural remedies for natural muscle relaxants and herbal muscle relaxers may be perfect for you if you’re suffering from muscle pain or soreness. All of the above are great options, so be sure to try some of these remedies the next time you’re experiencing muscle discomfort and irritation.
