Aches and Pain Relievers
All of us have experienced some form of pain at some point of time in our lives. If you find it difficult to get up and down stairs because of joint problems or aches and pains then there is equipment that can really benefit you and prevent the discomfort you may feel when climbing stair. Pain is the unpleasant sensation associated with physical injuries and several medical conditions. A number of chemicals or neurotransmitters are responsible for carrying the pain signals to the brain. However, our body also produces several other chemicals that can act like natural painkillers.
Causes of Muscle Aches
• Exertion: In today's super fast paced lifestyle, feeling exhausted after coming home is obvious. With age, our body reduces its ability to follow the demands of modern lifestyle, which can lead to muscle aches and fatigue. Laborers working in manufacturing sector and at construction sites commonly experience muscle soreness all over the body after a hard day's work. However, this is normal and the pain vanishes after having a good night's sleep.
• Injury: Sports injuries such as hamstring, cause partial or complete tearing of muscles, located in the back area of the leg. Hamstring injuries cause consistent muscle pain and normal activities like walking are troublesome.
• Muscle Cramps: Muscle cramps, also referred to as spasms are painful sensations that occur when certain muscle groups contract involuntarily. This happens when the muscles are subjected to intense physical activity for an extended duration. Following a rigorous exercise routine is certainly good for health, but when it is done for more than an hour, it can cause muscle cramps in the legs and arms.
• Medications: Drugs prescribed to lower elevated cholesterol levels as well as those used to bring down high blood pressure can also cause muscle aches. Statins and ACE inhibitors are the class of drugs that produce side effects such as involuntary muscle contractions, which eventually causes muscle pain.
• Fibromyalgia: People complaining about muscle soreness all over the body may be suffering from fibromyalgia. In this condition, the muscles, tendons, and the ligaments from head to toe are a cause of discomfort. The muscle pain does not remain confined to a specific area, but affects the entire body. Unfortunately, this condition does not go away within a day or two but is long-lasting. It is typically accompanied by intense feeling of tiredness, sleep disturbances, and morning stiffness.
• Dehydration and Electrolyte Imbalance: Dehydration resulting from insufficient water intake can also cause muscle aches. A dip in body fluid levels can make the muscles weak and cause pain. The major electrolytes circulating in the bloodstream are calcium, potassium, and sodium. All these minerals are present in our body in appropriate proportions. However, when normal range of any of these minerals decreases, it can trigger electrolyte imbalance, eventually causing muscle pain.
• Myositis: Myositis is a term used to describe a group of inflammatory diseases that cause swelling of the skeletal muscles. These are the muscles that are connected to the bones and allow free movement of the arms and legs.
• Muscle Abscess: Muscle abscess occurs when bacteria or parasites invade a specific muscle tissue. This causes inflammation and buildup of pus in the affected area. In such cases, timely treatment is important, otherwise, it may lead to gangrene, a condition that deprives the affected body tissue of blood circulation.
• Viral Infections: Viral infection that cause influenza can also be the culprits behind sudden onset of muscle soreness. Although it is a respiratory disease, influenza causes muscle aches in the arms, back and the legs.
• Lyme Disease: This is a bacterial infection that causes a number of symptoms including skin rash, fever, headache, and muscle soreness. Lyme disease occurs when a small insect known as deer tick, bites. These insects are carriers of the bacterium causing lyme disease and so the symptoms appear within a month after initial bite.
• Poor Diet: In order to have healthy and strong muscles, one must follow a healthy diet. Diet lacking in proteins, essential nutrients like vitamins ( B1 and C) and minerals (calcium and potassium), can have a negative impact on the muscles.
Choose the Best Over-the-Counter Pain Reliever
Choosing the right over-the-counter pain reliever to deal with some type of minor ache or pain is a task that just about everyone faces from time to time. The process is a little more involved than simply selecting the first product that catches the eye. In order to find the best over-the-counter pain reliever for your situation, it is important to take into consideration the type of discomfort involved, possible adverse interactions with any prescription medication that is currently being used, and any side effects that may occur due to allergies or similar factors.
The first step in choosing the right over-the-counter pain reliever is to determine the nature of the pain itself. Muscle aches may be better served with the use of some type of topical reliever than taking something internally, depending on where the ache is taking place. At the same time, taking a pain reliever that is in the form of a capsule or tablet may be the better option if the pain is the result of a headache brought on by stress. Understanding the nature of the pain will make it easier to narrow down the choices of over-the-counter or OTC pain relievers and focus on the ones that are formulated to help with your particular complaint.
Once you’ve identified the types of pain relievers that are most likely to provide relief for your particular ache or pain, the next step is to consider the possibility of interaction with any of your prescription medications, or even other OTC products normally taken. Many people forget to do this, sometimes with unfortunate results. For instance, taking aspirin for a headache may not be the best idea if the individual is already taking a prescription medication that thins the blood. In like manner, people taking certain types of antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications will want to avoid some over-the-counter pain reliever products that contain ingredients that could either counteract or magnify the effects of those prescription drugs. Always be aware of possible drug interactions before taking any type of OTC pain reliever.
Take into account any allergies you may have before choosing any over-the-counter pain reliever. The idea is to alleviate pain, not cause additional distress. If you are aware that a certain OTC pain reliever causes you to break out in an itchy skin rash or produces some other uncomfortable physical side effect, do not use it. With the wide range of OTC pain relievers on the market today, it is relatively simple to find something that will ease the pain, but not trigger a whole range of other issues that result in additional discomfort.
Herbal Pain Relievers
Pain can be caused either due to injury or trauma. There are many medical condition like arthritis, migraines, chronic back pain, etc. which need treatment for pain management.
1. Capsaicin: It is not a pain-killer per se, but it is beneficial for the treatment of pain. It is present in all types of hot peppers and is actually a chemical that is responsible for the mouth-burning effect of peppers. Capsaicin helps to reduce the sensitivity of the pain-relaying nerves in the areas which is affected with pain. It is said to reduce pain caused due to arthritis, migraine, etc.
2. Fish Oil: Although there is a lot of hype about fish oil to treat pain, research has indeed shown that it does help to treat pain. Research also points to the fact that people stopped taking prescription pain killers completely after they started taking fish oil supplements everyday.
3. Turmeric: Turmeric is widely used in Indian and Southeast Asian cooking. Turmeric contains curcumin, which is a powerful anti-inflammatory agent. Therefore, it is often used with other herbs to get relief from pain.
4. Devil's Claw: It is used for the treatment of pain caused due to rheumatoid arthritis. It is also used as a natural pain reliever for osteoarthritis, tendinitis, neck pain, back pains, etc. In some cases, patients were able to go off painkillers after starting treatment with this herb. It not only helps in relieving pain, but is also useful in improving the overall quality of life of the patients.
5. Boswelia: This herbal pain relief medicine is very effective in preventing and suppressing inflammatory chemical reactions. It is made from the bark resin of the frankincense tree. Boswelia is often recommended in Ayurveda for the treatment of arthritis and inflammatory bowel problems.
6. White Willow Bark: It is a natural pain reliever. Aspirin is the synthetic version of this herb. However, the natural white willow bark does not cause gastric side effects, which are often seen in patients who take aspirin. Along with pain relief, it also helps to reduce inflammation in the joints.
7. Ginger Root: Ginger root is a widely used herbal remedy, as it has warming properties which help to improve blood circulation. It is helpful not only for the treatment of pain associated with arthritis, but also menstrual cramps and backache. It may also be used to treat sore throat. It is an analgesic and also has anti-inflammatory properties.
8. Valerian Root: Valerian root is used as a skeletal relaxant, and it is also used to treat chronic pain. It can also be used to treat headache, cramps, insomnia, shingles, neuralgia, stress, and trauma. It has antispasmodic and sedative properties.
9. Arnica:This homeopathic pain reliever is said to be especially useful for the treatment of soft tissue injuries and bruising. It helps to alleviate general muscle pain and sprains. Arnica can also be used externally as a preventive medicine to avoid injury before exercising or racing. Therefore, it is seen that arnica is used topically, and not on open or broken skin.
Before taking any of these herbal painkillers, it is important to have a word with your health care professional, to avoid any reaction with the prescription drugs. In some cases, the effect of the prescription drugs may be reduced due to the use of these herbal pain relievers. Also, if you are on a prescription medication, do not stop its use without consulting your physician.
Natural Pain Relievers
Aspirin is one of the most common painkillers that work by reducing the level of pain-producing chemicals found in our body. The same effect can be produced by some herbs that can reduce pain and inflammation without producing the usual side effects associated with the long-term use of painkillers. Here are some common herbs that have been used for a long time to ease the pain and inflammation associated with several medical conditions.
Herbs for Pain Relief
1. Spearmint Oil: Spearmint is a herb of the mint family that is known for its medicinal properties. Spearmint oil is commonly used as a flavoring agent in confectionery, toothpastes, chewing gums, and other pharmaceutical products. It has antibacterial and antifungal properties, for which this herb is used for alleviating a number of ailments, including fever, bronchitis, headaches, and nasal congestion. Spearmint oil has strong anti-inflammatory and anti-spasmodic properties, and so, it can be used for relieving pain.
2. Eucalyptus Oil: Eucalyptus oil is highly valued for its analgesic, sedative, and antispasmodic properties. It can ease pain and inflammation by stimulating the flow of blood and oxygen to the affected area. It is more commonly used to relieve headaches, as well as muscle and joint pain. Apart from providing relief in pain, this oil can alleviate several other health problems, like respiratory problems, fever, diabetes, and dental problems.
3. Peppermint Oil: Peppermint is another herb that belongs to the mint family. It is quite popular as a flavoring agent in confectionery, ice creams, and toothpastes. Peppermint is one of the oldest herbs to be used for medicinal purposes. Like spearmint oil, peppermint oil has antispasmodic and analgesic properties. It can be used to relieve abdominal cramps, headaches, and menstrual cramps. Apart from these, it can be used for conditions like indigestion, vomiting, nausea, and nasal congestion.
4. Meadowsweet: The meadowsweet plant is quite popular among herbalists as a natural painkiller that can work just like aspirin. It can reduce pain but without irritating the stomach lining, unlike aspirin. Studies have revealed that meadowsweet can protect the stomach from ulcers and irritation, and therefore, it is sometimes recommended for stomach ulcers as well. But before taking any kind of herbal medicine, it is better to talk to a health care professional.
5. Ginger: Ginger is a common herb that can be used to ease both pain and inflammation. Ginger oil can provide substantial relief in arthritis, and improve the circulation of blood to the inflamed areas. Several studies have revealed its effectiveness in relieving the pain caused by rheumatoid arthritis. It can also alleviate the pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis, without causing any serious side effects.
6. Wintergreen Oil: Wintergreen oil is a natural analgesic that is commonly used for joint and muscle pain. It has been approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) as an over-the-counter analgesic that can be used for external application. Like ginger, wintergreen oil has shown efficacy in relieving arthritis pain due to its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties.
The oil extracted from these herbs can help reduce muscle and joint pain, stomach cramps, headaches, and even painful arthritis. Their external use is quite safe and is not associated with any major side effects. But the excessive consumption of certain herbs may cause some side effects, especially in the long run. So, it is not advisable to ingest them for medicinal purposes without consulting a herbalist or health care professional.
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