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Try An Herbal Muscle Relaxant

admin — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 13:19:39 +0000

Try an herbal muscle relaxant for sore and knotted muscles. If you do not like to take pain relievers, because of their potential side effects, try a natural solution. If you worked too long in the garden, lifted a heavy object unwisely, or simply have tense muscles, herbal muscle relaxant remedies may do you good.

What is an Herbal Muscle Relaxant?

Have you heard of chamomile tea? Then, you have already heard about an herbal muscle relaxant, whether you knew it or not. Valerian is also another herb that has relaxing qualities. You can find herbal formulas that have a mixture of these, or other herbs that will help your body relax naturally, so you can rest and heal your sore muscles.

What if you do not like Tea

If you are not a tea drinker, do not worry about it. Many herbal formulas come in capsule or pill form. So, you can get the same benefits while drinking a glass of warm milk or other preferable beverage. In fact, some herbs are not exactly known for being tasty. Therefore, you will want to take a pill.

Does an Herbal Muscle Relaxant really Work?

The answer is yes. Herbal formulas have been used for centuries, and maybe since the beginning of time, to provide a natural remedy for sore, achy, and tight muscles. In the time of the Greeks, parents used herbs to calm children. I assume it was the natural treatment for kids who might be diagnosed with ADHD today.

Today, you can even buy herbal products online or at the store for helping you relax and sleep. The herbs help release the hormones that tell your body it is time to relax. Because the supplements are all natural, you do not have to worry about becoming dependent upon the pills.

However, because it is an herbal muscle relaxant, it can also make you groggy and ready for bed. So, if you are not ready to call it a night, or you have to drive soon, you may want to hold off on the herbs, until you have the time to take advantage of the herbal properties.

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Anxiety Attacks – Progressive Muscle Relaxation is the Key to Reducing Your Stress!

admin — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 15:20:39 +0000

Bertil Hjert asked:

Progressive Muscle Relaxation is a great technique to try if you want to relieve stress and reduce anxiety in your life. For many people suffering from panic attacks or the general burdens of life, finding even a moment of respite can be difficult.

The world is so fast paced, the demands so great, the worries so overwhelming, that it can be difficult to deal with sometimes. A great way to find some physical and mental peace is to practice progressive muscle relaxation or PMR.

This great technique engages your body´s relaxation response, removing tension, worry and fear. By alternating tension and releasing various muscle groups throughout your body, you will be able to achieve a higher degree of relaxation in the muscles throughout your body.

When your muscles release their tightness and loosen up, it naturally brings calming effects to the body and the mind.

Tension is the great enemy of peace of mind. When muscles are tense, they prevent the body from receiving sufficient oxygen and blood flow; they drain blood from other valuable organs to deal with the panic response that is tightening your muscles. Tense muscles signal fear and apprehension to your body which causes it to go into survival mode and panic mode.

Your heart rate will quicken as the demand for blood to your tightened muscles increases. In addition, blood will flow from your hands and feet to feed the starved muscles that will propel you to safety. Your breathing becomes shallower and quicker, you start tingling and having abdominal pains and soon you find yourself suffering a full blown panic attack.

End these problems or potential problems by practicing PMR. It can be done in the safety and comfort of your own home and only takes 20 minutes. You can start from either your head or feet and gradually tense the muscles in each section of your body. Holding the tension for 10 seconds and then loosen and release. The tighter you squeeze your muscles, the looser they will feel upon the release.

Like most new things, PMR takes practice to achieve the most effective results. Start off by lying down in your home or sitting in a comfortable chair and tensing your right foot for 10 seconds and then release. Next, move to the right foot and lower leg, tensing this group of muscles for 10 seconds and then releasing.

Continue up the right side then switch to the left. Focus on the way your body feels and the relaxation you have achieved in those muscle groups that have gone through the process. Do this 2 times a day at first, for a couple of weeks to practice the technique. You can then move to once a day or as needed, whenever you feel tension build up or a panic attack coming on.

Use this great way to reduce anxiety as an important coping tool and manage your stress better.

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Progressive Muscle Relaxation

admin — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 23:27:46 +0000

Yip See Kit asked:

Progressive muscle relaxation [PMR] is a relaxation technique of stress management developed by American physician Edmund Jacobson in 1934. This progressive muscle relaxation technique is focused on tensing and releasing tensions in the 16 different muscle groups. Jacobson reasoned that since muscular tension is usually followed as a by product of anxiety, one can lower and reduce anxiety by understanding and learning how to self relax those muscular tension. (McCallie et al., 2006)

Joseph Wolpe (Conrad and Roth, 2006 ) further adjusted this technique for use with systematic desensitization in 1948. Subsequently, both Bernstein and Borkovec in 1973 (Bernstein and Borkovec, 1973) came out with adjustments to the technique to suit cognitive behavioral stress management. Empirical proofs also supports the use of progressive muscle relaxation in high level tension responses and mind body techniques such as: irritable bowel syndrome, insomnia, reducing tension headaches, adjunct treatment in cancer and chronic pain management in inflammatory arthritis.(McCallie et al., 2006)

Let us take a closer look at what exactly is progressive muscle relaxation and how does this technique work. The idea behind progressive muscle relaxation is simply that of isolating one muscle group at a time, then intentionally creating muscle tension for 8-10 seconds, and then allowing the muscle to totally relax so as to release the tensions.

Taking for instance, when we take our right hand and tighten it into a fist with all our force, we can feel the muscle tension slowly increase in our hand and all the way up to the forearm. The longer we hold the tension and force, the more tense the arm becomes. The body will then become conscious that it does not feel comfortable in this position at all, where pain might even start to occur.

The above demonstrates an instance of intentionally exaggerated muscle tension in the body. When such tension exists around the forehead, one would usually experience headache and if it is around the neck area, a neck ache would be experienced. When the body continued to hold the muscle tension and then all at once, relax and totally let go, a difference will be felt when the hand is allowed to flop down onto the lap. The muscles around the arm now start to relax, and the muscle tension slowly flows away and disappears.

Based on the principle of muscle physiology, this process of relaxation is proven to work. The muscle has to relax whenever tension is being created in a muscle and then release. This happens because the muscle does not have a choice and it must react in this manner.

The interesting part of this process is that the muscle will not only quickly relax back to its pre-tensed state, and when it is allowed to rest, the muscle will become even more relaxed that it was before the tension was created. When this procedure of creating tension in the muscles and then releasing of the tension is applied to every major muscle group of the body, all of these muscles will become more relaxed prior to the beginning.

The main idea to initiating the relaxation response in this way is to take control of the voluntary muscles through creation of tension in them, followed by forcing them into a state of relaxation. When the body is aware of the presence of the tension, it will respond by triggering the muscles to relax, where the rest of the other components of the relaxation response will naturally follow.

Lesser oxygen is needed for relaxed muscle and hence the rate of breathing is slow. Since the heart does not require to be beating so fast to supply oxygen out to tense muscles, heart rate and blood pressure decline. Thus the normal blood flow will returns to the belly and digestion resumes where the belly is calmed and also the hands and feet are warmed up. As a result, this series of body adaptations all occur and fall naturally into place as the voluntary muscles are being directed into a state of relaxation, and changes in mood followed which make the body feeling calm and refreshed.

The progressive muscle relaxation procedure teaches you to relax your muscles through a two steps process. Through repetitive practices, the body quickly learns to recognize and differentiate the associated feelings between a tensed muscle and a completely relaxed muscle. Using this simple knowledge, the body can then induce physical muscular relaxation when the body first becomes aware of the signs of the tension that accompanies anxiety. With physical relaxation, the mental will also be more readily focused and able to maintain more calm.

To further enhance the benefits of being both physically and mentally relaxed, the body need to always stay as relaxed as possible. This is achievable if there is a positive transfer of the muscle relaxation technique into daily activities. Using the principle of Taichi, it focuses on slow rhythmic movements in a graceful manner where they mind and body is in a relaxed condition while the body is maintaining the correct postural alignment.

When we talked about the body being in a relaxed position, it does not mean that the muscles are not being used. In fact, Taichi can be considered as a high intensity aerobic exercise when practiced using the correct scientific approach and postural alignment. However, for many amateur Taichi practitioners, it is often difficult for them to maintain both physically and mentally relaxed especially when they are too focus on trying to remember the Taichi movements and applying the taichi principles.

Thus, the progressive muscle relaxation techniques offer a good foundation or pathway where individual can use it to initiate the body relaxation, then transferring this relaxation state into Taichi practice where it can further be used to achieve both mind and body relaxation and lastly to habitualise it into daily activities.

Hence, as we can see there is a positive transfer of muscle relaxation from practicing progressive muscle relaxation technique to taichi and lastly to maintain this state of well being and feeling of relaxation during normal daily physical activities.

To begin practicing the progressive muscle relaxation technique, we can either sit in a comfortable chair or lying on the bed. The main objective is to get as comfortable as possible, and tries to avoid wearing any tight clothes or shoes and also not to cross the legs. As for the breathing, take a gradual deep breath and let it slow gradually and slowly.

What we are going to perform is alternately tensing and relaxing specific major groups of muscles. After tension is released, the muscle will become even more relaxed than before the tensing. Focus on the feel of the muscles, especially the distinction between tension and relaxation. Over time, the body will become aware of any tension felt in any specific muscle and be able to reduce that tension. This is known as kinesthetic awareness. Before performing the progressive muscle relaxation, if one has any problems regarding pulled muscles, broken bones, or any medical contraindication for physical activities, need to consult the doctor first.

1. Hands – Clench the fists tightly to tense it and then relaxed. Next, the fingers are extended fully to create tension and relaxed.

2. Biceps and triceps – Elbow flexion to tense the biceps and relaxed by dropping the arm. Next, the triceps are tensed up and then relaxed by dropping them.

3. Shoulders – Pull back the shoulders to tense the muscle and then relax them. Next, push the shoulders forward or hunch it to create tension and then relax.

4. Neck (lateral) – Keep the shoulders in a neutral and relaxed position, the head is then rotated slowly to the right, as far as possible and then relax. Next rotate to the left and relax.

5. Neck (forward) – Press down the chin and tuck into your chest to tense the muscle and then relax. Hyper extension of the neck is not advisable as it could create too much stress on the neck.

6. Mouth – Open up the mouth as wide as possible to create tension and then relaxed. Next, the lips are pressed together as tightly as possible to create tension and then relaxed.

7. Eyes – Open the eyes as wide as possible to tense the muscle and then relax. Next, close the eyes tightly to tense it and then relax.

8. Gluteus – Press the gluteus together tightly and raise pelvis slightly off chair to create tension and then relax.

9. Quadriceps – Fully extend both legs and raise them above the ground to tense the muscles and then relax. Next, press the feet (heels) into the floor or foot rest to create tension and then relax.

10. Abdominal – Suck in the stomach as much as possible to create tension and then relax completely. Next, push out the stomach to create tension and then relax.

11. Calves and feet – Plantar flexion to create tension and then relax. Next, dorsi flex as much as possible to create tension and then relax.

12. Toes – Fully extend the toes outward to create tension and then relax. Next, bend the toes up as far as possible to create tension and then relax.

Lastly, let the whole body to remain relax for a while and feel the relaxation of all the muscles. After continued practices, there should be a gradual progression in muscle relaxation and then habitualising this into Taichi practices and finally to daily activities. These relaxation exercises will not eliminate tension, but when it arises, the body will be aware immediately, and the body will be able to respond positively to remove the tension away.

REFERENCES

BERNSTEIN, D. A. & BORKOVEC, T. D. (1973) Progressive relaxation training: A manual for the helping profession. Champaign, IL: Research Press.

CONRAD, A. & ROTH, W. T. (2006 ) Muscle relaxation therapy for anxiety disorders: It works but how? Journal of Anxiety Disorders Volume 21, Pg 243-264.

HOLLAND, J., MORROW, G., SCHMALE, A., DEROGATIS, L., STEFANEK, M., BERENSON, S., CARPENTER, P., BREITBART, W. & FELDSTEIN, M. (1991) A randomized clinical trial of alprazolam versus progressive muscle relaxation in cancer patients with anxiety and depressive symptoms. Journal of Clinical Oncology, Vol 9.

MCCALLIE, S, M., BLUM, M, C., HOOD & J, C. (2006) Progressive Muscle Relaxation. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, Volume 13, Number 3, 13 July 2006 , pp.51-66(16).

OHMORI, F., SHIMIZU, S. & KAGAYA, A. (2007) Exercise-induced blood flow in relation to muscle relaxation period. Vol 6

SERMSAK LOLAK, M., L, G., CONNORS, J, M., SHERIDAN & WISE, T. N. (2008) Effects of Progressive Muscle Relaxation Training on Anxiety and Depression in Patients Enrolled in an Outpatient Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program. Vol. 77, No. 2, 2008

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Rest and Rejoice: Treat Muscle Pain With Muscle Relaxants

admin — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 07:47:48 +0000

Catherine Meyers asked:

In most cases – sprains, and other such muscle tear or injury leads to severe pain, combined with stiffness, spasms and muscle tension. The Muscle relaxants available in the market do not work miracles and heal these injuries, but what they do is to relax and stop the spasms from occurring. There are times when a person gets home from work and is extremely tired, fatigued, and would not be able to take a few steps, this is also a form of muscle tension only.

The muscle relaxants work by hitting directly on the central nervous system in our body. There are many medications available in the pharmacy but only with a doctor’s prescription. They are mostly in a pill form, but at times can be taken as a injection as well. The latter is chosen when the pain is unbearable and the person needs some immediate relief.

For better and effective results, the Muscle relaxant is prescribed along with some form of exercise, rest, physio therapy, or other forms of treatment depending on the intensity of the injury. The drugs will provide relief, but they are not a permanent solution and so cannot be taken on a regular basis. They might make the person feel fit and normal, and tempt them to resume the activity or sport they were into earlier. But this might lead to dire consequences as the drug works only temporarily, and so this might make the injury worse or have adverse effects. It is best to heed doctor’s advice and rest as long as required for full recovery.

Muscle relaxants work very well in relieving muscle pain caused mainly due to injuries, but have not been found to be effective for other kinds of pain. While using these relaxants, people have experienced drowsiness, a sense of confusion, light headedness or being less alert. And for others, there have been instances of clumsiness, blurred vision and not being able to stay alert or awake

For people who have pre-existing medical conditions or who have been taking medicines for other ailments can have side effects if they use these muscle relaxants. Those with Diabetes need to be aware of the contents of the relaxants they are taking, as the Metaxalone might lead to mistakes in their blood sugar levels while testing for sugar. If a person has had epilepsy, this could lead to increase in seizures’ frequency.

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Muscle Relaxant.a Friend? or a Foe?

admin — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 23:08:05 +0000

Pierre Gabriel asked:

A few years back, muscle relaxants have taken center stage after several reports of deaths due to abuse of the drug, prompting concerned agencies to take cognizant of the issue.

A hospital staff was charged for murdering six elderly hospital patients by giving those overdoses of two muscle relaxants in 1996 and 1997. The suspect used muscle relaxants Pavulon and succinylcholine chloride, commonly known as SUCC — to shut down the respiratory systems of the patients, essentially suffocating them.

In another incident, Raplon, another popular muscle relaxant was voluntarily withdrawn by its manufacturer from the market after five reported deaths related to its use. Doctors often use Raplon when inserting a breathing tube in patients, and it is a good choice because of the drug’s effectiveness wore off quickly. Despite its benefits, Raplon was pulled from the market because it tends to cause airway spasms that interfere with normal breathing.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) were already aware of this side effect, especially since most muscle relaxants can cause similar problems. Called bronchospasms, the breathing problem can range from mild to severe and is noted to occur in 3.2 percent of all patients who use Raplon.

Raplon is the twelfth drug removed from the market since 1997. This is causing a bit of a stir, with many people questioning the FDA’s rapid approval of drugs. The FDA has been under pressure from Congress to speed up the approval times of new drugs.

But law makers and consumers would not want quality and safety to be sacrificed for a fast approval time. Though the demands of new drugs are indeed high, the FDA should always keep a keen eye on the effects and effectiveness of these drugs. Once the drug is approved and sold in the market, recall would take more effort especially when some lives have already been wasted.

Muscle Relaxants

Skeletal muscle relaxants are a heterogeneous group of medications commonly used to treat two different types of underlying conditions namely spasticity from upper motor neuron syndromes and muscular pain or spasms from peripheral musculoskeletal conditions.

Although they have by convention been classified into one group, the FDA has approved only a few medications in this class for treatment of

spasticity; the remainder are approved for treatment of musculoskeletal conditions.

Data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination (NHANES III) survey (1988-1994) estimated that 1% of American adults are taking muscle relaxants, often on a chronic basis.

Spasticity, although difficult to define precisely, is a clinical condition that has been described as a motor disorder characterized by velocity dependent increase in tonic stretch reflexes or muscle tone. This also goes with exaggerated tendon jerks, resulting from hyper-excitability of the stretch reflex, as one component of the upper motor neuron syndrome.

Some of the more common conditions associated with spasticity and requiring treatment include multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, cerebral palsy, and post-stroke syndrome.

Common musculoskeletal conditions causing tenderness and muscle spasms include fibromyalgia, tension headaches, myofascial pain syndrome, and mechanical low back or neck pain. If muscle spasm is present in these conditions, it is related to local factors involving

the affected muscle groups.

This type of drug is said to relax certain muscles in the body and relieve the stiffness, pain and discomfort caused by strains, sprains or other injury to your muscles. However, these medicines do not take the place of rest, exercise or physical therapy, or other treatment that your doctor may recommend for your medical problem.

The Aftermath

Since the relaxants act in the central nervous system, their actions may produce some side effects. In the U.S., dispensing of muscle relaxants without doctor’s prescription is strictly prohibited but in other countries, some muscle relaxants can be sold without prescription.

With the many reported abuse and deaths using muscle relaxants, patients have become cautious. Likewise concerned government agencies continue to monitor the dispensing of these drugs to avoid further loss on human lives.

Controversies surrounding muscle relaxants have resulted in some resistance to their use in patient care. Studies have been published which suggest a potential role for muscle relaxants in clinical practice; however, there is a lack of good quality research on the clinical application of these drugs.

It cannot be denied that muscle relaxants are effective in the management of a number of ailments but the adverse effects require that they be used with caution.

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