Muscles are designed to repair themselves, you will notice that a new workout leaves you less sore each time you practice it (if you are consistent).  Though often times we need a little support for the pain of adding new activities into our lives.

We discussed some of the dangers of over the counter and prescription painkillers in an earlier post. However, when addressing muscle pain specifically from change in activity, one must be extra cautious about using NSAIDs regularly. Long-term use can interfere with your muscle's ability to repair itself. Muscle pain that comes on quickly and feels intense is a sign that you've injured yourself. Call your doctor if your pain is severe or lasts for more than a few days.

1. Massage

Massage as an alternative pain relief treatment is well acknowledged in the medical community. In a recent Prevention article Brent Bauer, MD, director of the Mayo Clinic discussed studies that showed “statistically significant reductions in pain, along with significant reductions in anxiety.” Combined with therapeutic stretching, massage is one of many effective alternatives for natural pain relief.   

2. Stretching

Stretching can be one of the easiest and most effective treatments for muscle pain. Taking the time to properly stretch your muscles before and after any exercise allows them to warm up and reduces the likelihood of experiencing pain due to muscle micro-tears or lactic acid build-up.

3. Acupuncture

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese practice that has recently become more accepted in traditional medical and scientific communities. Through the use of tiny needles, the body’s pain pathways are inhibited and a flood of feel good chemicals endorphins are released. Acupuncture’s main use is for pain relief in many conditions including lower back pain, headaches, menstrual cramps, osteoarthritis, and fibromyalgia. 

4. CBD

CBD Muscle rub is a great way to find immediate relief for achy muscles! Studies indicate that the topical use of CBD inhibits inflammatory and neuropathic pain, two of the most difficult types of chronic pain to treat. 

5. Rest

REST!  Ya-ya we know, you’re busy… life is just too busy and nobody has time for rest, right? WRONG! No matter how busy you may be, bottom line is, your health is more important.  Much of the time, muscle spasms or pain are caused by overexertion or overstimulation. A little rest can go a long way in providing your muscles the tools they need to rebuild and recover an injured or strained muscle.

6. H2o

H2o – Remember in grade school when we learned about the fact that our body is mostly made up of water?! This crazy thing happens when the body is deprived of the necessary amount of water for optimal operation: PAIN! Dehydration can show in many ways, but a telling symptom is often muscle soreness or cramping.  The more water you consume, the more lubricated your muscle tissue remains. General rule is to make sure you are drinking at least half of your body weight in ounces every single day. 

7. Essential oils

Essential oils – There are numerous oils that can naturally relieve muscle pain – did you catch this(needs hyperlink once blog 2 is live) recent post we made all about EOs for pain? Arnica is a popular homeopathic pain reliever. You can find arnica homeopathic tabs, or topical gel – both have been widely celebrated for their pain killing abilities.  It’s especially effective for post workout muscle soreness. 

8. Magnesium

Magnesium helps to maintain normal muscle and nerve function.  A common symptom of low magnesium levels is muscle cramping.  Although you can increase your magnesium intake by eating more bananas, legumes, almonds and brown rice, we like the Calm magnesium drink by Natural Vitality, for immediate relief. And its calming effect a great perk! Less stress=less pain!

9. Meditation

Meditation is gaining rapid momentum in the western medical realm.  More and more, each day, doctors are prescribing daily meditation to their patients for a wide array of conditions and diseases. Brain scans confirm that people who suffer from chronic pain have more brain tissue dedicated to feeling the conscious sensations of pain, ie your brain is TRAINED to feel pain – time for retraining! The human brain holds far more power than we are even beginning to understand and meditation for pain management is just the tip of the iceberg.  Body scanning, guided in this article, is a popular method of meditation which teaches you to consciously focus on an area of discomfort and concentrate on healing from within. Try this exercise twice a day for amazing results. And again, Less stress=less pain! Win/Win ☺