One warm sunny day in March does not make it summer.
With that in mind, I am not holding my breath after getting a good night's sleep.
I had been bothered with spasms in muscles in my left calf. I could ignore the pain during the day but it was interfering with falling asleep.
Yesterday I was working in the Eaton Rapids orchard my legs were brushed with nettles.
Last night while laying in bed I felt the familiar tingle of the nettles but no muscle spasms, no muscle pain. It may have been a quirk of small-numbers or the placebo effect in action but the solid night of sleep was appreciated. There is anecdotal evidence that Native-Americans used nettles to offset delayed onset muscle soreness.
Weird things sometimes happen in our body. If I recall correctly, bee stings are sometimes used to reduce the pain and swelling of arthritis in hands. Maybe the nettle-stings are similar.
I will add that to my bag-of-tricks.
As always, I write to provide entertainment. I am not a doctor. If you try nettles for therapeutic reasons then you are on your own.
Never had experience with nettles, but I think I read that OTC muscles rubs create a sensation to help mask the pain. Could be some chemical in the nettles too, since several meds were developed from plants.
ReplyDeleteYou may have a cure for restless leg syndrome!
Southern NH
Several old women I know with arthritis in their hands will use nettle stings to help with the achy joints.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.healthline.com/nutrition/stinging-nettle
Deletehttps://www.motherearthliving.com/health-and-wellness/nettle-sting-for-arthritis-relief-zmaz01ndzgoe/
Deletehttps://www.herbsandhands.com/how-1/nettle-arthritis
Deletehttps://seniorsinfo.org/arthritis-faq/how-to-use-stinging-nettle-for-arthritis
Deletehttps://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/complementary-and-alternative-treatments/types-of-complementary-treatments/stinging-nettle/
DeleteStatins cause muscle pain.
ReplyDeleteERJ, I am a bit surprised how much I have come to value a good night's sleep, especially since it seems like a rare occurrence these days.
ReplyDeleteAn ex used to swear by a topical Arnica (i.e., nettle) gel for muscle pain. Are you getting enough electrolytes?
ReplyDeleteYou say muscle spasm & I think of cramps..
ReplyDeleteFWIW when I started drinking a lot of water during the day I stopped waking up in the night with cramps/spasms. If it's a hot day I need to remember to drink more water. If I do wake up with a cramp drinking water will relax it (a 16oz cup & I drank 2 the last time this happened).
Restless Leg syndrome is one indicator of a lack of Magnesium. I've replaced Morton's with Redmonds Real Salt, an unrefined mineral salt mined in Utah.
ReplyDeleteCeltic Sea Salt is another, with the difference of it having 3 forms of Magnesium.
A product I am using is Pure Sleep from Pure Bulk, a Magnesium base with a proprietary component that aids deep sleep and body healing.
I use a magnesium gel or oil on my legs and sore muscles. I think it helps.
DeleteSNH
DMSO. If you've never heard of it, look it up. Thank me later.
ReplyDeleteAs others have said, dehydration can lead to mineral imbalance. Too much water can also do the same as it dilutes your body’s minerals. Down here in FL many of us find out the hard way. We always drank a ton of water and wondered why we would “run out of gas”, or have leg cramps at night. My holistic doctor prescribes taking pinches of course Celtic Sea Salt throughout the day. Also, sweet potatoes are your friend. Loaded with minerals. Especially tasty are the Oriental (aka Japanese) ones. They have a reddish skin and white interior. When cooking them, don’t pre-heat the oven. Sweet potato growers say that cooking them in a non-pre heated oven makes them taste sweeter. I cook up several then store them in the frig as snacks, eaten out of hand, or mash and use with meals. I’m NOT referring to those purple skin ones. My extended family in your area can get them at Horrock’s (Battle Creek), or Whole Foods Market. Trader Joe’s has them but for some reason TJs aren’t as good.
ReplyDeleteAlso, we started using LMNT electrolytes in our water when we are outside for extended period of time, such as golfing in the middle of a FL summer afternoon. They have “clean” ingredients. You can get a sampler pack. Lots of “influencers” have promo codes for getting one directly through LMNT. The products are also available on Amazon. Some friends down here who frequently have night time leg cramps use a packet every day. Our favorite flavors are grapefruit, and watermelon. It does take a bit of mixology to get the powder to water ratio perfect for your taste. I split a packet into one 24 oz, and one 27 oz Hydroflask. Husband just dumps his into a large (36 oz ??) Yeti tumbler.