Legs

What are different home remedies for Knee Pain? – Part 1

What is Knee Pain?

• Knee Pain is one of the most common joint pains.
• It may be caused by overuse of the knee joint.
• This pain can be due to injuries leading to torn ligaments or cartilages.
• Structures like bones, tendons, ligaments and cartilages help the knee joint in performing its functions effectively.
• Knee is one of the largest and heaviest hinge joints of the body.
• This hinge works like the hinge of a door.
• Knee join joint allows proper forward and backward movement.
• It also supports actions like bending, straightening, rotating and twisting.

Causes of Knee Pain

Conditions like
• Patella or Kneecap Dislocation
• Fracture of the patella
• Patella Tendon Rupture
• Hamstring Rupture or Sprain
• Bursitis
• Tendinitis
• Runner’s Knee
• Osgood Schlatters disease
• Chondromalacia
• Baker’s Cyst
• Knee Osteoarthritis
• Sports activities or accidents
• Repeated stress
• Overuse of the knee joint
• Plica Syndrome
• Gout
• Bone Tumor

Symptoms of Knee Pain

• Inflammation
• Tenderness
• Locking
• Instability

Natural Home Remedies for Knee Pain

1. Application of ice and cold compresses is one of the most popular effective Knee Pain home remedy.
2. Taking steam baths helps to reduce Knee Pains caused by Arthritis.
3. Follow this remedy on a regular basis to ease the pain.
4. Herbs
- Dried ginger
- Wintergreen
- Boswellia
- Devil’s claw
- Cat’s claw
- The above herbs contain powerful anti-inflammatory properties.
- They can relieve pain caused in gout.
- Other herbs like cayenne, licorice, boswellia and feverfew are natural remedies.
5. Having a glass of warm water mixed with powered Bishop’s weed seeds is an effective natural remedy for Knee Pain.
6. Prepare a paste by adding some castor, wheat and turmeric in goat’s milk or clarified butter and apply this therapeutic mixture on the painful area which will help to cure the pain effectively at home.
7. Massaging the affected area with warm olive oil, mustard oil or coconut oil is a highly recommended natural cure for knee Pain. This will help relieving the inflammation and gently massage the area about two to three times per day is recommended.
8. Knee exercises help to strengthen the muscles.
9. Mix one tbsp of calcium lactate, one tsp of apple cider vinegar and one tsp of honey in half a glass of lukewarm water. Have this once a day. It will be helpful in treating leg cramps.
10. Using hot water bottle on the affected area is also beneficial in treating and curing cramps.
11. Massaging the affected area with essential oils, like lavender oil and rosemary oil and eucalyptus oil.
12. After massaging, wrap the affected area with a towel dipped in hot water.
13. Make a paste of water and half a cup of charcoal powder. The infected foot can be soaked in this mixture completely. Soak it for at least 30 minutes to an hour for pain relief.
14. Consume 2-3 bananas per day. It increases the potassium intake in the body, thereby relieving a person from cramps.
15. Having 2 tsp of honey per day is helpful in preventing leg cramps.
16. A red flannel can also be wrapped around the area with pain.
17. Use of coconut.
18. Eating 3-4 walnuts with an empty stomach in the morning provided relief from leg pain in a short duration.

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What are different home remedies for treating Leg Cramps? – Part 2

What are leg cramps?

• Leg cramps are an involuntary contraction of a single muscle or a group of muscles in the leg.
• These are usually painful and extremely discomforting.
• Leg cramps often occur in elderly patients though age is no criteria.
• Leg cramps generally occur in the calf muscle, the hamstring and the quadriceps.
• The duration of a leg cramp ranges from less than a minute to several minutes at times.
• Night leg cramps or nocturnal leg cramps are problematic.
• They can be excruciating when they strike.
• Restless leg syndrome is not the same as night leg cramps.
• Leg cramps during pregnancy are known to also be problematic.
• These are mostly caused simply by the additional stress and strain on the muscles.
• This symptom will accordingly pass on with delivery.

Leg Cramps Symptoms

• Severe leg pain.
• Muscle tenderness.
• Inability to move the leg for the duration the cramp lasts.

Leg Cramps Causes

Some of the factors leading to the same are as follows -
• Muscle fatigue due to overexertion
• Rigorous exercises
• Dehydration
• Excess weight
• Electrolyte, hormonal or fluid imbalances.
• Side effects of certain medicines such as diuretics.
• An unusual or a different exercise than what is done normally.
• Diminished blood supply.
• Nerve abnormalities.
• Nerve and muscle diseases.

General Home Remedies for Leg Cramps

1. Healing Herbs tea
• This is an anti-pain.
• It is also a relaxing tea that will help prevent leg cramps and provide relief should they occur:
- 1 part St. Johnswort
- 1 part Passionflower
- 1 part Skullcap
- 1 part Chamomile
- 1 part White Willow Bark

2. Anti-Stress/Pain Potion
• GAIA Herbs
• 1 part Gaia Herbs Serenity Elixir
• 1 part Herb Pharm White Willow Bark
• A red flannel can also be wrapped around the area with pain.
• Use of coconut helps in curing the leg and knee pains.
• 1-2 teaspoonful of fenugreek powder in the morning water is also effective leg pain remedy.
• A gentle massage with Arthcare Oil is recommended to leg pain cure and to strengthen the bone tissues.

3. Massage oil
• Take 10 grams of camphor and 200 grams of mustard oil.
• Mix in a glass bottle and keep the bottle in the sun till the camphor dissolves.
• Massage the affected area daily.
• This is very good home remedy for leg pain.

4. Saffron solution
• Boil 1-teaspoon saffron in 1/2 cup water and divide this solution into three portions and take with equal quantities of water, thrice daily for a week.
• This is one of the effective home remedies for leg pain.

5. Various yogasanas
• Janusandhi
• Uttanpadasana
• Gomukhasana

Other Home remedies

• Make sure that you use appropriate footwear when walking that provide your feet with adequate support.
• Stretch your muscles gently with light exercise like riding a stationary bicycle for a few minutes before going to bed.
• This can help loosen up and strengthen the muscles.
• This would greatly limit the occurrence or severity of night leg cramps.

- Make sure that your diet is not restrictive
• A well balanced diet with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables should be taken regularly.
• This should provide you with all the essential nutrients you need. Mineral deficiencies can aggravate the problem of night leg cramps.
• The best way to get it to pass is by consciously relaxing your mind and body.
• Deep breathing is the most effective method of relaxation at such times.
• Lightly massage the cramped muscle with your hands using a soothing balm.
• A hot shower or soak in a warm bath should also offer considerable relief.
• Multi-vitamin and mineral supplements may help.
• Calcium, potassium, and magnesium deficiencies are often the cause for night leg cramps.
• Try and consume fresh fruits and vegetables.
• Whole meal varieties of grains should be taken.
• Fruits like dates and bananas are rich sources of magnesium and potassium.
• It would be best to get the required dosage of calcium from supplements that do not contain phosphorus.

- Some good dietary sources of essential minerals like potassium:
• Bananas, dates, grapes, apricots, and raisins.
• Pulses, cabbage and broccoli.
• Oranges, tomatoes and grapefruit, including their juice.
• Pork, lamb, and fish like tuna.
• Potatoes and corn.

Additional Tips to Cope

• Avoid using tight bed covers or restrictive sheets.
• Stretch the calf muscles with some light exercise for at least five minutes before going to bed each night.
• Take up a non intensive fitness regime like yoga or pilates to strengthen the muscles and also to loosen them up.
• Yoga is particularly useful as the breathing exercises and meditative practices.
• Yoga also helps improve circulation.