5 easy natural remedies for relaxing your muscles

There are times when we all feel an involuntary tightness or soreness in our muscles. The hardness in muscles is quite common and can happen to anyone and in any part of the body. The tightness or swelling of muscles is also called muscle spasm and it can happen due to several reasons like sitting in the same position for a long time or while running or exercising. Even pregnant women are prone to this condition due to sudden increase in their body weight. Indeed muscle spasm is painful and because of that most people opt for over-the-counter drugs for relief. But even some natural remedies can help alleviate the pain and provide relief. Here are 5 common natural remedies to relax your muscles.

Applying heat or a cold compress can relax your muscles and decrease the tightness. If the tightness is due to pulled muscles then it is recommended to apply cold for the first 24 to 48 hours to reduce the swelling. After this, you can apply heat on the concerned area to increase the blood flow and speed up the healing process.

Massaging reduces stiffness in the muscles, but if it is done with essential oils, it's even more effective. Peppermint and lemongrass oil are the two most effective essential oils for relaxing muscle tightness. Studies suggest that these oils reduce inflammation, provide relief from pain and also have a cooling effect.

Curcumin is a naturally-occurring chemical compound found in turmeric and has anti-inflammatory properties. Taking curcumin supplements or drinking golden milk (haldi milk) after an intense workout session can help to relax muscles. But breastfeeding or pregnant women should avoid consuming too much curcumin.

The small fruit is loaded with antioxidants and polyphenols, which have anti-inflammatory properties. Studies suggest that drinking blueberry smoothies before and after exercise can decrease the time taken for the recovery of damaged tissues.

Cherries are packed with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds, which is excellent for relaxing the muscles. Drinking cherry juice can help to relieve pain and repair damaged tissue. Studies suggest that drinking cherry juice after running a marathon can help to minimize post-run pain.