How to Get Rid of Muscle Cramps with Minerals
When you have muscle cramps, your body is probably yearning for potassium, magnesium and calcium - the trio of minerals that helps to regulate activity in your nerves and muscles. These simple and accurate steps will help restore the trio minerals in your body, regaining your muscle's strength and abilities.
Steps
Place a hot flannel on the misbehaving muscle to relax the cramp and increase blood flow to the affected tissue. Apply the flannel for 20 minutes and then remove it for at least 20 minutes before reapplying.
Take a long, warm shower, or soak in the bath. For added relief, pour in half a cup of Epsom salts. The magnesium in the Epsom salts promotes muscle relaxation.
Find the central point of the cramp. Press this spot with your thumb, the heel of your hand, or a loosely clenched fist. Hold the pressure for 10 seconds, ease off for about 10 seconds, then press again. You should feel some discomfort but not excruciating pain. After several repetitions, the pain should start to diminish.
Stand on your tiptoes for 2-5 minutes, then walk for 5 minutes.
Mix 1 part oil of wintergreen in a bowl with 4 parts vegetable oil and massage the cramp slowly.
Cramps are often caused by dehydration, so if you get cramp frequently, drink more water. Try drinking less water before and during a workout. In some cases, drinking a lot of water prior to working out may actually cause more cramps. But do drink plenty of water throughout the day, just not right before exercising.
Severe cramps can often be a symptom of an underlying condition such as thrombosis, embolisms. If your doctor has cleared you of the worry over these two, do check into a fibromyalgia diagnosis, as this is often difficult to diagnose. The "pressure point" test is one that is easy to administer by your doctor, and you can find out almost immediately if you're a likely FMS patient. In this case, some medications can alleviate your symptoms almost entirely.
Take 250mg vitamin E a day to prevent nocturnal leg cramps. Studies suggest that taking vitamin E improves blood flow through the arteries.
Drink a glass of tonic water before bed. Tonic water contains, quinine, a popular remedy for leg cramps. Research has supported the use of quinine for nocturnal leg cramps, but don't take quinine tablets without consulting your doctor; they can have serious side effects, such as ringing in the ears and disturbed vision.
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