Health Discuss: muscle pain

Muscle pains and soreness are extremely common! As a matter of fact, “pain affects more Americans than diabetes, heart disease and cancer combined,” according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Everyone experiences pain of some kind, no matter whether it is caused by sleeping in a bad position, spending too much sitting, or practicing yoga.

Pain can be also caused by any disease or an infection. According to the mayoclinic.org, the following are the most common causes of muscle pain:

Medications, especially the cholesterol medications known as statins
Muscle cramp
Repetitive strain injuries
Rheumatoid arthritis
Sprains and strains
Fibromyalgia
Hypothyroidism
Influenza (flu)
Lyme disease

Foods for Pain Relief

1. Coconut Oil

Besides the many health benefits it provides, coconut oil works as an amazing pain reliever. It has been associated with relieving stomach aches, arthritis, and colds. It is abundant in many anti-inflammatory properties which combat diseases and provide relief from arthritis. Therefore, the consumption of coconut oil can help soothe sore joints and bones. In addition to this, it has been found that coconut oil stimulates blood flow to painful muscles and joints, which in turn helps them heal.

2. Cayenne Pepper

Cayenne pepper can be used as both pain reliever and blood flow stimulant. Capsaicin in hot peppers basically tricks the brain into believing that the area we have applied it on is hot, which in turn blinds the nerves. Capsaicin provides relief from muscle soreness, lower back pain, and arthritis.

3. Ginger and Turmeric

Both ginger and turmeric act as strong anti-inflammatory agents and have been long used to treat rheumatoid arthritis.

Ginger is a time-tested remedy for pain of many kinds including lower back pain, stomach pain, and chest pain. It has been shown that it also provides relief of rheumatoid arthritis.

Turmeric and its active compound called curcumin are one of the most powerful anti-inflammatory agents known to man. It has been found that turmeric provides relief from inflammation and chronic pain.

The muscle rub recipe below combines all the ingredients outlined above and it works wonders for sore muscles!

Homemade Muscle Rub

Ingredients:

glass jar
½ cup coconut oil
2 tsp cayenne pepper
2 tsp ginger or turmeric powder
15 drops peppermint essential oil
15 drops lavender essential oil
¼ cup grated beeswax

Instructions:

Put the oils, except for the essential oils, into a jar
Put a saucepan with 2 inches of water over heat
Place the jar into the saucepan and melt the ingredients
Add the cayenne and ginger/ turmeric powder
Allow the mixture to cool
Stir in the essential oils
Transfer the mixture into storage containers

source: http://besthealthyguide.com

Flavored waters have become all the rage- and for good reason. Besides being important for proper hydration and removing toxins from the system, adding a few natural ingredients makes water a powerful healing tool.

The options are limitless: you can add blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, herbs like lavender and mint, and even veggies like cucumber.

However, if you are looking for real power drink, consider adding some ginger. This spice adds specific taste and provides numerous health benefits.

The Power of Ginger Water

Ginger is well-known for its potent effects on gastrointestinal issues. Being a carminative, it helps eliminate intestinal gas and treat heartburn, nausea, and vomiting. What`s more, it is also found to be intestinal spasmolytic, which means that it helps soothe and relax the intestinal tract.

However, ginger is not a remedy for stomach issues only! It has been also found to relieve migraines. According to a research, ginger works similarly to sumatriptan, a popular prescription drug which constricts blood vessels and inhibits the pain pathways in the brain.

Although drugs often provide immediate relief, in 40% of people the headache will return within 24 hours. Additionally, triptans cause side effects like dizziness, drowsiness, muscle weakness, nausea, and serious issues like stroke, heart attacks, artery spasms, and even seizures.

In a double blind study, one group of people received 250 grams of dried ginger, while another group received 50mg of sumatriptan. It has been found that ginger was as effective as the drug, providing relief to staggering 90% of people within two hours.

Anti-Inflammatory Spice

Ginger`s ability to prevent the formation of inflammatory compounds and treat inflammation in tissues, muscles and joints is one of its best properties. As reported by Green Med Info, there are over 800 studies on the healing properties of ginger, 275 of which are related to its anti-inflammatory properties.

Gingerol, a chemical similar to piperine and capsaicin (the compounds that give black pepper and chill peppers their spiciness) is the one responsible for ginger`s anti-inflammatory properties.

According to two studies involving two groups of people, 75% of arthritis patients and 100% of people with muscular pain experienced relief from pain when using ginger.

Researchers at the University of Miami believe that ginger will eventually replace NSAIDs due to its potency and effectiveness. What`s more, ginger doesn’t cause any side effects which are typical for NSAIDs as it works on cellular level.

Ginger contains essential vitamins, such as A, C, E and beta-carotene, as well as B vitamins like pyridoxine (vitamin B-6) and pantothenic acid (vitamin B-5). It is an excellent source of copper, iron, magnesium, zinc, phosphorus, manganese, and calcium. Ultimately, it contains over 50 antioxidants which fight off free radicals, which in turn boosts immunity and prevents various diseases.

How to Make Ginger Water

Ingredients:

3 cups fresh, filtered water
1-2 inches fresh ginger root
½ freshly squeezed lemon juice
Raw honey to taste

Instructions:

Pour the water into a glass jar
Grate the ginger with a zester and add it into the water
Add the squeezed lemon juice
Finally, add the honey and mix well

Use:

Drink the ginger water on a daily basis for preventative measures. To relieve symptoms, drink a couple of glasses during the day.

source: http://besthealthyguide.com

Health Discuss

Homemade Muscle Rub Recipe with Turmeric, Coconut oil and Cayenne pepper for Quick Relief