OUCH! Muscle soreness...what's a good natural treatment?

[CanuckAmok]

I have been busy and sick (a duet of pleasures) for two weeks, and yesterday was my first time back to the gym in a fortnight. I really, really must have overdid it, and I can barely lift my arms. I haven't been gym-sore like this in years.

Anyone know of a herbal or other remedy to ease my admittely self-inflicted suffering?

[catzies]

1. Herbal remedy...yeah, that's the ticket...

:smoke:

[demnan]

2. A hot bath

and a couple of Naproxen.

[TlalocW]

3. Mallet to the head?

Soak in the hot tub?
Bananas or anything potassium-y?
Lie down on the floor in a fetal position and sob quietly to yourself until sleep overtakes you?

TlalocW

[CanuckAmok]

5. I'm liking option #3

Although getting into the fetal position might kill me.

[Beaker]

4. tiger balm.

the red stuff.

there is no other.



Usage
Rub the ointment gently on affected parts of the skin.

Ingredients
Menthol BP 10.0%
Clove oil BP 5.0%
Cajuput oil BPC 7.0%
Camphor BP 11.0%
Cinnamon oil USNF 5.0%
Dementholised mint oil BP 6.0%
paraffin base (yellow soft paraffin BP and hard paraffin BP) 56.0%

Cautions
Avoid contact with eyes and mucous membranes
(this cannot be stressed too highly)

[grannylib]

19. Second that notion, with major stress on the caution...there are certain

areas of the anatomy that you REALLY don't want heated up like this!!

[BlueEyedSon]

6. RICEV

Rest
Ice
Compression
Elevation
Vodka

[Padraig18]

7. Rest, a hot bath, and some ibuprofen

:)

[Drifter]

8. B E E R ...

(in my best Homer Simpson voice)

Cheers
Drifter

[ornotna]

9. Arnica (Arnica montana)

Arnica is also commonly called leopard's bane. The arnica plant has a bright yellow, daisy-like flower that blooms around July. Preparations made from the flowering heads have been used in homeopathic medicine for hundreds of years. It is popular in Germany and over 100 drug preparations are made from the plant. Arnica is a perennial that is protected in parts of Europe.

The active components in arnica are sesquiterpene lactones, which are known to reduce inflammation and decrease pain. Other active principals are thymol (an essential oil), flavonoids, inulin, carotenoids and tannins.

Arnica works by stimulating the activity of white blood cells that perform much of the digestion of congested blood, and by dispersing trapped, disorganized fluids from bumped and bruised tissue, joints and muscles.

Arnica is known to stimulate blood circulation and can raise blood pressure, especially in the coronary arteries. The plant is used externally for arthritis, burns, ulcers, eczema and acne. It has anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory qualities that can reduce pain and swelling, improving wound healing.

Part Used: Extract of the blossoms

Common use: It is typically rubbed on the skin to soothe and heal bruises, sprains, and relieve irritations from trauma, arthritis and muscle or cartilage pain. Applied as a salve, arnica is also good for chapped lips, irritated nostrils and acne.


http://www.kcweb.com/herb/arnica.htm

[BuddhaGirl]

13. arnica is wonderful!

you can get it in an ointment or a gel. You can also take it internally - it comes as little pellets (taste kind of sweet) that you let dissolve in your mouth.

[MissMillie]

10. heat

hot bath, heating pad, etc.

[Qutzupalotl]

11. Tiger Balm is good if it's serious

It's a hot/cold chinese remedy. A little like Ben Gay.

But massage and stretching are drug-free and don't make your hands stink. For massage, just rub it slowly until it feels better. There will be some pain if you're doing it right, and a lot of pain if you're doing it wrong.

For stretching, just extend your limbs in the opposite direction of what you were doing while exercising. For bench press pain, lie down and let your arms hang below the bench, or do big arm circles. Biceps are trickier: make a fist and hold your arm out until it's just against the wall (like you just punched the wall), with the back of your hand facing up. Now lean forward slightly and let your fist angle backwards a little so that your last knuckle is pointing a little behind you. Twist your torso and shoulders in the opposite direction for maximum stretchitutde.

The rule with stretching is: do it steadily and slowly. One or two times each side ought to do it.

[LibertyLover]

12. Valerian

Try the herb, valerian. You can get it at a health food store. It is an excellent muscle relaxant.

[BigMcLargehuge]

14. lots of water

and lots of stretching.

Flush out the lactic acid buildup. a little Tylenol would help too.

[nickgutierrez]

15. Stretch the sore muscles

It'll hurt like hell, but you'll feel better tomorrow.

[bubblesby2002]

16. Jeez, by the time I get around to my post a whole bunch of people

have already told you that Arnica is a great herbal relief. I had an accident a few weeks ago and Self Heal Shop told me to use Arnica cream. It did the job - I still have a lump where I really bruised myself, but it healed way faster than using anything else.:-)

[roguevalley]

17. get biofreeze rub. my mom cracked her shoulder and this

lets her move her arm without pain. call around
to pharmacies. they have it over the counter.
biofreeze. i swear by it.

[Mr.Green93]

18. Heating pad and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a glass of water

[Kathy in Cambridge]

20. Electrolyte-infused water/sports drinks, heating pad, hot bath

and tiger balm. Sometimes it is just dehydration-and sports drinks get your electrolyte balance back up quickly.

[TheMightyFavog]

21. Great advice....

I began my fitness program today, and I think I overdid it on that bike thingy with the handles that go back and forth (I forgot what that machine's called) I was so exhausted I felt like Peg Lautenschlager and Lorraine Serrati after a wild night on State Street. It was almost like I was really drunk with the lighteadedness and the wobbly walking. I am going to be really sore these next two days, and I'm slated to lift weights on Wednesday.