Muscle spasms can affect anyone. Overuse of a muscle group, poor posture, improper nutrition or exposure to cold weather can cause a muscle to lock in a spasm. Typically you experience this spasm as a tightness, or contraction of the muscle itself which may cause mild to severe pain. If you have had a muscle spasm that inhibits your ability to function, seek medical attention. Ask your doctor about vitamins and other supplements that may help relieve your pain and prevent recurrence.
Celery Seed
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC), celery seed has been used for thousands of years in Ayurvedic medicine to treat colds, flu, water retention, poor digestion, various types of arthritis and certain diseases of the liver and spleen. The site states that today it is mainly used as a diuretic as well as to promote calm, reduce muscle spasms and reduce inflammation. The seeds contain volatile oils, flavonoids, which have antioxidant properties, coumarins that help thin the blood and linoleic acid. You can find celery seeds in tablets, capsules and tinctures. Currently there are no clinical human studies to justify celery seeds use for muscle spasms; talk to your doctor before trying this supplement.
German Chamomile
Chamomile tea is a pleasant drink to have before bed, and has long been used as an herbal remedy to promote calm. Because muscle spasms can be caused by stress and overuse, chamomile may help to relax you, thereby promoting muscle relaxation. UMMC states that it is used to treat muscle spasms, digestive disorders, anxiety and skin conditions. It may particularly target smooth muscle contractions, which are involuntary; the digestive tract and heart are considered smooth muscle. It is readily available as a tea, although you can also find it in supplement and tincture form. Talk to your doctor before trying any herbal remedy.
Calcium
Calcium plays an important role in muscle contraction and relaxation. According to Neurology.health-cares.net, calcium is required for the linking and unlinking of the muscle proteins actin and myosin, which cause both contraction and release of a muscle. Imbalances in calcium levels can disrupt these actions, leading to spasm. Both high and low levels of calcium have the potential to cause muscle cramps and spasms. Talk to your doctor about your calcium level to determine if it may play a role in your spasms.
B Vitamins
A lack of B vitamins can also lead to both voluntary and involuntary muscle spasms. B vitamins are important in maintaining muscle and nerve cell function, and the communication between them. Deficiencies in B vitamins may lead to fatigue and cramping. A study published in the "Journal of the Neurological Sciences" in December 2009 by P. Puntambekar and colleagues discussed a case of vitamin B12 deficiency where motor sensory disruption and spasms in smooth muscles of the bladder and lungs were present.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Celery Seed
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Chamomile
- Health-cares.net: Muscle Spasms
- "Journal of the Neurological Sciences"; Rare sensory and autonomic disturbances associated with vitamin B12 deficiency; P. Puntambekar et al; December 2009
