Your back is made up of many muscles, bones, tendons, disls and ligaments that are responsible for supporting the weight of your body. Pain associated with the back is among the most common medical complaints in the United States. Strained...
Tight muscles are a common source of musculoskeletal problems and discomfort. SportsInjuryClinic.com states that tight muscles are problematic because they do not allow sufficient blood to enter your muscles, which denies the nutrients and energy...
Muscle relaxants are agents that interact with the human neuromuscular system in a way that reduces tone in skeletal muscle. Muscle tone refers to the resistance of movement present in a muscle at any given moment. Muscle relaxants generally work...
Muscle tension can be painful and disabling. There are three types of muscles in your body: smooth muscle, skeletal muscle and cardiac muscle. These muscles can spasm, cramp or become tense due to stress, dietary deficiency or underlying disease....
The human body comes in contact with various pollutants throughout the day, from processed foods to cigarette smoke. These toxins can impede the natural processes of the body, weakening the immune system and causing susceptibility to colds, the...
Tight muscles can be caused by many different factors, including injury and stress. When muscles are tight, it makes your daily life difficult and painful. While there are several pharmaceutical muscle relaxants, like Valium or Soma, you can also...
Muscle spasticity is a condition in which muscles are maintained in a state of tension by motor commands coming from the brain. A variety of herbs have shown muscle relaxant properties and calming effects on the nervous system that may help...
Herbal traditions offer much in the way of relief of muscle and joint disorders. Many popular herbs and oil extracts have been used reliably over many years by herbal medicine practitioners for their purported ability to relieve pain, reduce...
Tight muscles can cause pain and discomfort not only in the affected muscle, but also in the surrounding structures. Muscle tightness may be caused by fatigue or injury, illness, or hormonal changes such as with the menstrual cycle. Muscle...
Soma, known generically as carisoprodol, is a muscle relaxant prescribed to relieve the pain and discomfort that accompanies sprains, strains and other injuries to the muscles. Several herbal remedies have medicinal properties similar to that of...
Interstitial cystitis (IC) is otherwise known as painful bladder syndrome. In addition to frequency and urgency of urination, people afflicted with IC experience severe pain in the abdominal/bladder area. Nearly 100 years after the condition was...
Your bladder muscle, also known as the detrusor muscle, relaxes when the bladder is storing urine, and contracts when it is expelling urine. If your bladder muscle cannot relax, you may have an overactive bladder and bladder control problems, like...
Soaking in herbal bath salts can ease sore muscles and relax a tense body. Herbal bath salts are an easy project to work on at home. Even children can make bath salts if they have adult supervision. Though you can use plain Epsom salts for your...
Muscle aches can occur for a variety of reasons, according to "Foundations of Nursing," including injury from physically demanding work or exercise, overuse, tension and illness. When muscle aches are localized and impact only a few muscles in a...
Dysmenorrhea is severe pain or cramping that you experience during menstruation. According to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists--or ACOG--more than half of women who have periods experience some pain for at least one to two...
Valerian, a hardy perennial herb native to Europe and Asia, produces pleasantly scented pink and white flowers. Its root is a valuable medicinal herb in the Western herbal tradition. Popular for its sedative and pain-relieving effects, recent...
If you experience a dull, painful ache in your abdomen immediately before getting your menstrual period, you are experiencing menstrual cramps, says the Mayo Clinic. Menstrual cramps, known medically as dysmenorrhea, may require the care of a...
Muscle spasms are involuntary, often painful contractions of muscles throughout the body, especially those of the back and the limbs. They can arise from a variety of causes, among them fatigue, dehydration, electrolyte disturbances, vascular...
Herbal heating pads relieve body aches associated with muscle and menstrual cramps, headaches and joint pain. These soothing herbal pads may also help you sleep, relieve tension, anxiety and coughing with the right combination of herbs....
Essential oils are used in aromatherapy and in therapeutic body creams for physical, emotional and mental health. Essential oils from herbs, flowers and other plants have different qualities and uses such as healing and relaxing. Essential oils...
The prostate, which is a walnut-shaped gland at the base of the penis, can be infected by bacteria. This can cause pain in the groin region and make urination difficult. The treatment of bacterial prostatitis focuses on clearing up the underlying...
Neuralgia is sudden, sharp and persistent nerve pain caused by irritation or damage to the nerves. According to the Mayo Clinic, neuralgia occurs in many forms, including trigeminal neuralgia in the facial area and postherpetic neuralgia after an...
Asthma is an overreaction of your body's immune system that is caused by the exposure to allergens. The American Lung Association states that although there is no cure for asthma, this condition is often successfully managed. In most cases, having...
Digestion is an umbrella term used to describe the mechanical and chemical processes required to move food and drink throughout the body's digestive system. Although it is rarely a serious malady, the physical discomfort that results from poor...
Anxiety is a mental disorder characterized by feelings of exaggerated fear, nervousness and panic. Many disorders fall under this heading, including phobias, panic disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). There are many herbal drugs...
High blood pressure, also called hypertension, occurs when the blood flowing through your arteries exerts too much force on artery walls. You may have high blood pressure without any visible symptoms, but consult your doctor if you experience...
When you chronically suffer from "a case of the nerves," it can affect your ability to lead a fulfilling life. Nervous tension may be the result of a stressful situation in your life or may be a symptom of an anxiety disorder, the Mayo Clinic...
Acid reflux occurs when the stomach's acid or bile travels back up into the esophagus and throat. This causes the lining of the esophagus to become irritated and painful. It is a common digestive issue that affects many people. Acid reflux is not...
According the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA), acid reflux, also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a condition that can become chronic. GERD occurs when the bile and acid from a person's stomach backs up into the...