There’s nothing like your muscles crying out in pain to distract you from your day-to-day life. While painkillers might do the trick, they simply put a band-aid on the real problem. Taking the au natural route ensures that you look after yourself from the inside out.

1. Stretch

The truth is that most of us have had to deal with muscle pain at one point or another. Either from underuse or from overuse, but whatever the reason starting out with some stretches is always my first stop. The tiny tears in your muscles from exertion can contribute to muscle strain. This strain is swiftly followed by the stiffness and inflammation that we associate with the discomfort. By stretching, you allow those tears to gently repair and renew themselves.

The best part is that I can do this one from the comfort of my bed. When you’ve overdone it and your body is letting you know, a good stretch is sometimes all it takes. Ensuring that your muscles remain flexible is one of the best ways to help them recover. If your muscles are tensed up, they’re going to want to stay tense; stretching is a way to force them to bounce back.

2. Hydrate

Staying hydrated is crucial to getting rid of muscle pain.

Your muscles are made up of 79% water which makes it no surprise that hydration plays a key role in reducing muscle pain. When you exercise, or if your muscles are just tight, it’s important to replenish your muscles with fluid. When your muscles and tissues aren’t adequately hydrated it’s difficult for the body to flush out any waste or combat inflammation.

If you want to go that extra mile to detoxify your muscles from within then nourish your body with fluids that are rich in electrolytes. Apart from your bottle of water why not mix it up with some broths or herbal teas to keep your muscles on their toes. In general, hydrating your body is not just a quick fix for muscle pain, it’s a self-care tip in its own right!

3. Epsom Salts

Epsom salts are just a fancy way (or simplified, depending on your chemistry textbook experience) of saying magnesium sulfate. This mineral assists in many of the physiological processes in the body. It plays a key role in protein synthesis, neuromuscular transmitters, and activation of the B complex. Essentially this means that Epsom salts are what you’re looking for to encourage your muscle regeneration. They’re a natural muscle relaxant for soothing muscular pain.

Pour two cups of these salts into your bath and soak for as long as you wish. The heat from the bath water will also help your body to release any toxins in the body through perspiration. This contributes to accelerating your recovery process. Epsom salts are known for their ability to soothe muscle aches, treat sunburn and contain general healing properties. Interestingly they’re also used in the beauty industry as exfoliants and even hair volumizers. Whatever your magnesium-based dilemma, Epsom salts are here to help!

4. Essential Oils

Essential oils like Lemongrass can significantly decrease your muscle pain.

We all know the immeasurable value of quality essential oil. What better way to nourish your muscles than through nature? When the benefits of plants are concentrated into one liquid potion you know the world is doing something right. Whether you need some relaxation, detoxification or just a little rejuvenation there’s an essential oil for you. There’re even essential oils for your aching muscles. When you’re not sure where to begin Eucalyptus is a great one to start off with. It’s known for its anti-inflammatory properties, relieving strains and reducing inflammation. Massage some Eucalyptus mixed with a carrier oil of your choice onto affected muscles for relief.

When you’re suffering from cramps try Lemongrass mixed with Peppermint. If you’ve just got some built-up tension, then Roman Chamomile might be your go-to oil. Whatever your pain, there’s an essential oil out there just waiting to provide you with some much-needed relief.

5. Diet

We’ve all heard the saying “you are what you eat”. This is true when it comes to muscle pain too. One way to reduce pain is by eating foods that will heal your muscles from the inside out. You want to focus on foods that target muscle health, as well as those that reduce inflammation. With this in mind, it’s ideal to start by adding fatty fish to your diet. These fish are packed with omega-3 fatty acids which promote healthy muscles. In addition, the presence of DHA and EPA in fish like salmon mean that fatty fish are powerful anti-inflammation sources.

Another diet change to make if you’re suffering from muscle pain is to add beet juice to your diet. Beetroots aid in the efficiency of your skeletal muscles use of oxygen. This means that your muscles are better able to function at their optimum which will subsequently reduce pain. Bottom line, when your muscles are crying out, nourish them with nutrients.

6. Use ACV

The anti-inflammatory properties in apple cider vinegar is what makes it so great.

How could I write about natural remedies without mentioning Apple Cider Vinegar? Especially when it comes to muscle pain which mostly stems from inflammation. With this in mind, the anti-inflammatory properties of ACV make it a no-brainer in your muscle recovery routine. Try adding two cups of the liquid to your bath and enjoying a nice, long soak. If baths aren’t your thing you could always add a tablespoon to some warm water and drink up. Whichever route you decide to take, your muscles will thank you for the extra nourishment.

Let’s face it. Nobody drinks ACV for the taste. This means that whenever I have acute muscle pain, I usually go the bath route when trying to incorporate ACV into my regime. There’s nothing quite like soaking in a hot bath of anti-inflammatory liquid to soothe sore muscles. Nobody wants to live their life in pain. While muscle pain is often something that most of us have to put up with it can be aggravating and uncomfortable at the best of times. It’s easy to go to pain killers for a quick fix, but this doesn’t really solve the problem. If you want to heal yourself from within there are numerous natural methods for you to try.

“Healing is a matter of time, but it is sometimes also a matter of opportunity” Hippocrates