Understanding Muscle Cramps: Symptoms, Causes, and Herbal Home Remedies

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Muscle cramps are common among people, regardless of gender, geographic region, type of food or work schedule. Those who engage in long walks, stand for extended periods or exercise their legs or other muscles more frequently are more likely to experience cramps.

Even though muscle cramps are not life-threatening, they can hinder your routine and interfere with your work. Ayurvedic medicine for muscle pain is a treatment for muscle cramps that can provide relief in severe cases.

Common causative factors for muscle cramps:

• The presentation may vary from mild twitching to excruciating pain. Forearm, Thigh, Abdominal wall, Arms, Flanks, Jaw etc
• Abrupt onset of pain in the localized muscular area
• Fatigue
• Inability to do the proper and routine muscular actions
• Bulging lump etc
• Common lesions of Muscle cramps
• Forearm, Thigh, Abdominal wall, Arms, Flanks, Jaw etc

Clinical features of muscle cramps:

• Dehydration – Lack of sufficient body fluids/water.
• Imbalance of electrolytes (calcium, sodium, potassium, magnesium etc.)
• Muscle strain/ overexertion
• Poor circulation
• Wrong shoes/tight wears
• Uninterrupted monotonous work
• Stable position for a prolonged period etc.

Why does it occur?

Muscle cramps result from the involuntary and forcible contraction of a muscle. In this case, the muscle does not relax, so when it contracts again, it is stiffened and swollen, which produces a series of twitching. It may result in severe pain on sudden actions (e.g., yawning) or when it happens as a result of fatigue.

Ayurvedic understanding of muscular cramps/spasms: In Ayurveda, Mamsagata Vata and Mamsasthita/Mamsasthayi Vata/Mamsashrita Vata conditions have been explained. The cause is prolonged factors that provoke Vata dosha (food-habit-medicine-age-cold geographical area-cold season, etc.). Further, vitiated Vata takes shelter in the debilitated muscles and vitiates the Kapha dosha. Thus, a painful condition followed by spasm/bulging is caused by declining muscular strength. Hence, it is termed as Mamsagata Vata or, depending upon the location if the Mamsa predominant part is affected, ‘Pindikodveshtana’ word is also used in this respect.

 Muscular cramps Remedies:

Vata-pacifying measures are undertaken to calm the excessive movement of the Kapha dosha. As the Kapha kshaya is also found even though not directly contributing to the causation of this complaint, effort should be carried out to give strength to the muscular tissue, which is the Ashraya (site) of Kapha. Pitta dosha can be alleviated by the Manda (slow) and sthira (stable) drug substances, while Rasayana is most appropriate for all the aforementioned therapeutics.

Beneficial Ayurvedic medicine for Muscle cramps:

• Bala-Sida cordifoila
• Amalaki-Gooseberry-Emblica Officinalis
• Kooshmanda-Ash gourd-Benincasa hispida
• Shunthi-Dry ginger-Zingiber officinale
• Rasna-Pluchea lanceolata
• Kashmiri-Gmelina Arborea
• Gokshura-Tribulus terrestris etc

Formulations of choice in Muscular spasms/Cramps:

• For external application
• Lakshadi taila
• Ashwagandha Bala lakshadi taila
• Ksheerabala taila
• Maha Narayana taila
• Masha taila
• Mahamasha taila etc

How to use Ayurvedic oil for muscle cramps:

Any of the above oils are warmed slightly to just above room temperature. Then, gently rubbed over the cramped area for 5 minutes. If required, gentle steam therapy is administered.

For internal administration-

• Narasimha rasayana
• Balaguduchyadi kashaya
• Balarishtha
• Ksheerabakla taila(101 avartana)
• Maharaja prasarini taila
• Jeerakarishtha
• Drakshasava
• Sarivadyasava
• Usheerasava
• Chandanasava
• Yogaraja guggulu
• Goksuradi guggulu etc

Wholesome diet and habits:

The Ayurvedic diet recommends the following foods: oily and easily digestible food, protein-rich eatables like milk and ghee, sour and sweet food and beverages, limited exercise, Ragi (a whole grain), adequate rest and sleep.

Unwholesome diet and habits:

Night awakening, spicy food, stress, heavy exercise, etc., all can cause cramps in the legs and arms. Cramps are more likely to occur in extremely cold or hot conditions. A calf muscle cramp that suddenly manifests itself among the main painful symptoms of periodic paralysis in calves. The painful uttering of the sufferer makes most family members panic and seek medical help. Relief from muscle pain usually occurs within 15-20 minutes of gentle, relaxing massage over the affected muscle. Complete rest is necessary for relief from muscular cramps.

For more information, contact Amandeep Group of Hospitals[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]