Muscle strains can postpone your workout plan for weeks together and affect your work life. Although most muscle strains do not require medical attention, with a proper rest and home care, body can recover itself. To recover fast from muscle strains, follow the below given home remedies and even consult your doctor if the pain is unbearable.
Top 9 Home Remedies For Muscle Strains
Apply Ice
When you first notice that you are suffering from muscle strains or pains, the immediate remedy is to apply an ice pack over the injured area. First, put some ice cubes in a plastic bag and wrap it with a cloth or towel.
Then place the cold pack on the affected area and wait for about 20 minutes. It is important to know that, ice cubes shouldn’t contact your skin directly because it can lead to frostbite or worsen the injury.
Lettuce
Lettuce contains vitamin K, potassium and vitamin A in high concentrations. Lettuce can be used as a best home remedy for muscle strains because it has got anti-inflammatory properties.
In-addition to this, lettuce contains lactucin which has sedative properties and functions as a calming alkaloid. Simple chop a few leaves of lettuce and apply to the affected area slowly, then cover it with a bandage.
Clove Oil
Clove oil is an essential oil which contains antiseptic and analgesic properties. And therefore, it is used for treating muscle strains. Clove oil is a simple home remedy, all you need to do is apply the oil over the affected muscles and gently massage.
By doing this, not only it will relive the pain but also aid in a speedy recovery. Make sure that you heat the oil for some time and then allow it to cool down.
Garlic Oil
Garlic contains medicinal properties that cure and prevent many diseases. You can use garlic oil to cure muscle strains, apply a small amount of garlic oil over the affected muscles.
This remedy is exceptionally good because garlic contains anti-inflammatory properties which can give fast relief from inflamed muscles. In-addition to this, garlic is also used to treat rheumatism and arthritis.
Horse Chestnut
Horse chestnut contains a compound known as aescin, which contain anti-inflammatory properties and helps in vascular protection. So therefore, it can be used to treat muscle strains and injuries.
The remedy is simple, prepare the gel from the fruit and apply it all over the affected area. Wait for 2 hours and then re-apply the gel until the pain gets reduced.
Take Vitamin C
Vitamin C is an important nutrient that helps in repairing tissues and reduce swelling. Recent studies have shown that, by taking vitamin C supplements before and after performing exercise may reduce the chances of muscle soreness.
Vitamin C may help your body from getting adapted to workouts and produces antioxidants that protects from radicals. Prepare a light dessert with different types of citrus fruits or drink about 1 cup of orange juice to recover fast from muscle strains.
Sesame Oil
Using the sesame oil for treating muscle strains is considered to be one of the best home remedy. First, take a small amount of sesame oil in a pan and add one teaspoon of pepper powder.
Then heat the oil for about 2 min and apply the warm oil over the affected area. This works effectively in recovering from the strains and muscle injuries. In-addition to this, sesame oil is used for various medicinal purposes for treating arthritis and improving bone health.
Arnica Cream
Arnica is most widely used in preparing ointments to give relief from muscle strains, bruises and sprains. These types of ointments are mostly used by professional athletes as they perform high intensity workouts.
Scientific studies have proved that Arnica is helpful in reducing swelling and muscle pain. Apply the ointment or cream to the affected area to recover from muscle strains quickly.
Coconut Oil
Like other essential oils, coconut oil is also used to treat several ailments and disorders. Although coconut oil contains large amounts of saturated fat, it is mostly used in cooking food and personal care.
When applied to skin it moisturizes densely to cure dry skin. Heat the coconut oil for some time and apply it over the injured area, gently massage so that the oil gets absorbed into the skin. Repeat the same for a few days until your pain gets relieved.