When a person goes through the agony of a muscle cramp, even if it is for a couple of minutes, it can be very disconcerting. Extreme cold weather, inappropriate movements during work or exercise also triggers it. We often hear elderly women and even growing children complaining of being rudely awakened from their peaceful slumber with an excruciating pain in their calves. Surely, each one of us has experienced these bothersome cramps at one time or the other.
A muscle cramp is defined as an involuntarily and forcibly contracted muscle that does not relax. It is not known exactly why muscle cramps develop. Insufficient stretching before exercise, exercising in the heat, and muscle fatigue may all play a role in their causation. Imbalances in the levels of electrolytes (sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium and phosphate) in the blood can also lead to muscle cramps. [Source]
Usually a cramp disappears of its own in a few minutes. But if you experience cramps frequently and also to get over that numb feeling after the sudden spasm, you can try massaging your affected muscles with garlic oil.
Just crush 10-20 garlic clove an add it to 50 ml of any vegetable oil and heat it over a low flame till the oil is reduced to half. Massaging with this oil can be very soothing on your muscles after the sudden spasms. Also, you can massage with sesame/gingelly (Til) oil before a bath, if your spasms are too frequent.
Exposure to sun or excessive exercise releases sweat. Sweat contains fluids as well as salts and resulting in electrolyte imbalance. Electrolyte depletion can increase the incidence of muscle spasm. Such a deficiency can be corrected with intake of fluids and a high calcium (milk, yogurt) and potassium (bananas, tender coconut, potatoes) die
ReplyDeleteA mineral deficiency involving potassium, calcium, magnesium and/or sodium.Dehydration, which can occur in athletes when they exercise hard in hot conditions and do not drink sufficient liquid.Excessive intake of fluid (drinking 2-3 litres or more of water in addition to your daily fluid intake) - this can ‘wash’ the above-mentioned minerals out of your body and lead to cramps.Lack of fitness - well-trained muscles are less likely to cramp. Although this mainly applies to athletes, people who are not fit and get too little exercise often develop cramps because their muscles are so poorly used.Wearing tight constrictive clothing, especially in bed. Try to wear comfortable, loosely fitting clothes at all times (be comfortable, rather than stylish if you are plagued by cramps), as constriction of the blood supply to muscles can cause them to contract painfully.
ReplyDeleteMuscle cramps occur most often in the legs, arms and back. They happen due to muscle overuse or strain, injury or dehydration, or after a prolonged period of inactivity, such as sitting in the same position for too long. If you suffer from muscle cramps, If you have muscle cramps often, your body may be lacking certain minerals such as calcium and potassium. Consume high-calcium foods like skim milk and yoghurt. Additionally, include potatoes and bananas in your diet to increase your potassium levels. Consult your doctor or nutritionist for advice on a balanced diet plan. Dehydration is a common cause of muscle cramps. Drink plenty of water throughout the day to continuously replenish lost fluids.Mustard and pickle juice have acetic acid, which helps produce acetylcholine, a stimulant for your leg muscles. Take a spoonful (15 ml) of mustard or a few ounces (grams) of pickle juice to prevent leg cramps. Apple cider vinegar is rich in potassium. Mix one teaspoon (5 ml) of honey and two teaspoons (10 ml) of vinegar in a glass of warm water and drink this mixture.
ReplyDeleteWhat I've been doing to cure my cramps is to stay hydrated and drink a lot of water.
ReplyDeleteFor muscle cramps my grandma makes bags filled with rice out of hand towels. Stick it in the microwave for 3-4 minutes and drape on the affected area. Works great for cramps too.
ReplyDeleteeat a banana or something with potassium is what my mom always tells me. also when you get a cramp and want it to stop fast...POINT YOUR TOE!!!! trust me! it works, it will stop the cramp.
ReplyDeleteeating a spoonful of mustard usually makes them go away.
ReplyDeleteLobelia is one of the best herbs for cramping. If I get Charley horses or muscle cramps I take about 10-15 drops of it and if that is not enough, I rub some into the cramps and it always, no matter, how bad it is goes away within a few minutes. Consequently, I would assume it works for menstrual cramping too.
ReplyDeletecramps can be a sign of constipation. It can also be a sign of an infection in your intestines.
ReplyDeleteWhat can cause cramps ?
ReplyDeleteWhat can cause cramps besides menstrual?
ReplyDeleteOverexercising, dehydration, and injury can cause cramps.
Centering breath can help calm your body when you're experiencing cramps.
ReplyDeleteif you're having cramps in your legs, that is caused by low potassium, eat bananas
ReplyDelete