A muscle relaxant is a drug that is used to prevent muscle spasms and to treat pain and discomfort. In many countries, people can purchase an over-the-counter muscle relaxant at a drug store, but in other countries, including the United States, muscle relaxants are available only by prescription. The two different types of over-the-counter muscle relaxant are spasmolytics and neuromuscular blockers. Spasmolytics work by slowing down the body's nerve impulses, which helps the muscles relax. Neuromuscular blockers impede the neurotransmitters that are needed for the muscles to move.
Some doctors are reluctant to prescribe muscle relaxants because of undesirable side effects that include nausea, blurry vision, drowsiness and headaches. For those patients and those who are unable to purchase an over-the-counter muscle relaxant, several natural and homeopathic muscle relaxant remedies exist. Of course, it wise for a person to consult with a physician before beginning a natural or homeopathic treatment, because some vitamins and herbs might interact negatively with other medications. Other muscle relaxant alternatives can be as simple as taking a hot bath, getting a massage or resting the area affected by pain or tension.
Herbal anti-inflammatory medicines help reduce joint swelling. Those include catnip, valerian, bergamot, licorice, basil and caraway. Valerian, a flowering perennial plant, has been used since medieval times to treat neck tension. Other herbs, such as kava root, white willow, horsetail and devil's claw, do better at combating pain. Many of these natural muscle relaxants can be found in health or wellness stores in the form of teas or capsules.
Some people might treat their pain and inflammation by adding vitamins and minerals to their diet. Proper amounts of calcium and magnesium help relieve pain. Magnesium also helps repair damaged nerve endings. Other important vitamins and minerals that help act as muscle relaxants include silica, potassium, vitamin C and alpha lipoic acid. Drinking adequate amounts of water also might help remove toxins from the body that can be causing muscle pain and tension.
Homeopathic muscle relaxants are diluted formulations that practitioners concoct to cause symptoms of a disorder in otherwise healthy people. These homeopathic remedies are based on the idea that you treat a disorder with the same ingredients that cause the disorder. Examples of homeopathic muscle relaxants include calcarea phosphorica, which is helpful for neck and upper back pain and tension; kali carb, which is used to treat lower back pain; and arnica, which helps relax overworked muscles. Patients should not eat or drink within 30 minutes of taking homeopathic remedies.
