Rosemary

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)

Rosemary is a plant that is used for cooking and flavoring but it also has amazing therapeutic properties that make it a popular therapeutic herb. The rosemary plant is native to the Mediterranean; it has long leaves with dark green color on top and pale green on lower portion of the leaves. The leaves are very aromatic along with the flowers and this is because these parts contain significant amounts of volatile oils.

Rosemary is primarily known as a treatment for muscle pain. Rosemary oil is extracted from the leaves and flowers of the plant and is known to reduce pain, inflammation, swelling and joint stiffness. The reason for rosemary’s effectiveness is possibly due to numerous natural compounds. Rosemary contains biologically-active compounds such as antioxidants, rosmarinic acid, carnosic acid, caffeic acid, ursolic acid, betulinic acid, rosmanol and camphor.

Rosemary oil is commonly included in joint and muscle pain preparations along with other essential oils. It is applied locally on the affected or painful area to reduce swelling, stiffness, pain and other signs of inflammation.

And because of the active ingredients that rosemary has, it is also effective in the relief of other health conditions like hair loss or alopecia, reducing blood pressure levels, improving cardiovascular health, improving nerve function and is known to improve memory. Rosemary oil and supplements is also known to increase the flow of menstruation, increase urine flow, as a treatment for indigestion and other health conditions.

For the treatment of muscle pain and joint pain, the best way to use rosemary is to choose products that have rosemary oil as ingredients just like creams, ointments, liniments and so on. It is also available as herbal teas, in dried and powdered form in capsules as supplements. It may also be in liquid extracts and in tincture form.

References:

Retrieved from https://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/rosemary

Rosemary – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (n.d.). Retrieved May 22, 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosemary

Peppermint

Peppermint (Mentha piperita)

Peppermint comes from a plant that can grow from 2 to 3 feet tall with fragrant dark green leaves. The peppermint plant is native in Asia and in Europe as well as in parts of Northern America where there is moist and the climate is temperate. Peppermint is used as a natural food flavoring in teas, toothpastes and gum but aside from these, peppermint is also used as an herbal remedy for a variety of medical conditions.

Peppermint has been used as a natural treatment for a variety of gastrointestinal conditions like upset stomach, indigestion, diarrhea, nausea, irritable bowel and flatulence. It has an antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral effect and is therefore effective in the treatment of symptoms of the common cold, skin conditions and fungi. Peppermint has a numbing effect and could therefore help in reducing a variety of aches and pains. Peppermint is so aromatic it may help improve memory and enhance mental alertness. Peppermint oil which is made from the leaves of the peppermint plant is effective in reducing joint and muscle pains.

What makes peppermint an effective treatment of muscle and joint pains as well as other medical conditions is its high menthol content. Peppermint oil contains about 7 to 48% of menthol and the rest is menthone and menthyl esters. Menthol activates special receptors in the skin as well as the mucosal tissues that results in a cooling and analgesic effect.

Peppermint oil is combined with other essential oils in the treatment of pain and inflammation of the muscles and joints. These oils are often used to create ointments, balms, salves and liniments. Peppermint oil may be directly applied on skin and it may also be taken as tea. Peppermint is one of the most popular herbal medications used in natural or traditional treatments for a variety of illnesses and medical conditions.

References:

Retrieved from https://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/peppermint

Peppermint Oil Uses, Benefits, Effects, and More. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/peppermint-oil-uses-benefits-effects

Peppermint- Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (n.d.). Retrieved May 22, 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peppermint

Arnica for Relief of Muscle Discomfort

 

What is arnica?

Arnica (Arnica montana) is a plant that belongs to the sunflower family. It is also called arnica da serra, arnica flower, arnica, arniflora and European arnica to name a few. It is native to Europe and the United States and it is known as a natural treatment for skin bruises, body aches and pains. The natural ability of arnica to reduce aches and pains make it a common ingredient in ointments and creams that are used for joint pain, muscle discomfort and even arthritis symptoms.

Why arnica for muscle discomfort?

There are countless studies in the amazing ability of the arnica to reduce muscle discomfort. A latest study from The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center show that clinical trials using topical arnica for osteoporosis have significantly reduced bruising as compared to the use of other treatments and with the use of placebo. The reason for the plant’s ability to reduce muscle discomfort and all kinds of aches and pains may have been due to its homeopathic abilities; highly diluted preparations are considered safe for regular use. However there are studies that show that full doses of the plant may be toxic especially when taken by mouth. It can lead to high blood pressure and applying highly concentrated solutions on the skin may cause burning and irritation.

How to use arnica?

Arnica as well as other natural ingredients that are known to relieve pain is usually a part of ointments, creams and gels that are topically applied on the painful area. The ointment is massaged on the affected area using deep strokes or in a massaging motion accordingly. Ointments that contain arnica may be used as often as needed.

Are there risks in using arnica?

Arnica is an effective natural treatment for muscle discomfort however taking pure or undiluted arnica could be dangerous. If taken orally, the plant could cause palpitations, high blood pressure, gastrointestinal problems, kidney and live failure and even death. If undiluted arnica is applied on the skin, the person could suffer from burns, itching, irritation and can even aggravate skin allergies.

If you have allergies to ragweed, marigold, daisies and chrysanthemums then you should avoid using topical and oral arnica plant for muscle pain.

Special precautions

Although arnica has been known to be used as a treatment for muscle pain and discomfort, there are some risks to using it. Therefore you should first consult your doctor if you wish to use arnica for any medical condition. If you have allergies to the mentioned plants then you should never use arnica at all. Read muscle pain ointment labels and literatures to find out if it contains arnica before using.

Arnica may affect the effectiveness of medications and treatments. The plant could interact with medications for pain, corticosteroids and anti-inflammatory ointments. Oral arnica could reduce the effect of anti-hypertensives and can reduce the therapeutic effects of blood thinners. If you take these medications then you should consult your doctor before using arnica preparations.

REFERENCES

What is Arnica? Dosing, Side Effects & More. Retrieved from http://www.healthline.com

Arnica in Homeopathy. Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com