Muscle Spasm Remedy

Muscle spasms are painfully twitching and tightening muscles caused by nutrient deficiencies, physical and emotional stress, and overwork. They are caused by strained muscle fibers that can no longer receive blood flow, which prevents them from contracting. These muscles cannot be moved on their own no matter how hard the sufferer tries. Luckily, there are a large variety of ways to relieve, cure and prevent muscle spasms.

Prevention

• Muscle spasms often occur when you are exerting yourself and not drinking enough water or consuming enough potassium, magnesium and calcium. Consume bananas, bran wheat, soy, apricots and potatoes in order to get adequate potassium. The best sources of calcium and magnesium are dairy products like milk and cheese. Also be sure to not exert yourself and take plenty of breaks when exercising or working. Both stress and muscular exhaustion contribute to muscle spasms. Muscle spasms are also commonly caused by poor posture, which puts strain on the back.

Relief

• Heat therapy can sooth muscles and bring the muscles back to normal. Muscle spasms that cause pain can be treated with anti-pain medicine. Acupuncture, deep breathing and meditation can help relieve the pain caused by muscle spasms. Those with long-term muscle spasm problems might need physical therapy, especially if the muscle spasms began occurring after a major injury. Pain relief can also be gained by placing your feet in warm water filled with tea bags filled with black or brown mustard seeds.

Cure

• If a muscle spasm occurs, take anti-inflammatory supplements like celery seeds, tea and juices. There are also anti-inflammatory medications that are both steroidal and nonsteroidal. These medications can be combined with remedies such as tea. Chamomile tea is especially helpful for muscle spasms. If a muscle spasm occurs suddenly, be sure to sit down and stretch the muscle gently. Massage the muscle with massage oil such as almond oil or olive oil. Massage oils can also be made with cramp bark, lobelia and willow bark. Aromatherapy is recommended in combination with massage therapy.

Other Conditions

• While these remedies might work for muscle spasms caused by nutrient deprivation, some muscle spasms are associated with other conditions like dehydration, cerebral palsy, trauma and multiple sclerosis. Muscle spasms are especially troubling if they occur with vomiting and nausea, which suggest that the sufferer is experiencing colic. These conditions must be treated in order to eliminate the muscle spasms caused by them.