Muscle Cramps

Causes of Muscle Cramps or Spasms:

• Is a Vata disorder.
• Insufficient blood supply to the muscles
• Excessive blood supply to the muscles (eg: writer's cramp)
• Lack of calcium in diet or calcium malabsorption
• Hypoparathyroidism 
• Exposure to cold and poor circulation

For Immediate Relief:

• Grab a hold of the muscle and press your index finger into the central part of the muscle for 15-20 seconds. Take a few breaths with it.
• In case of spasm in the upper body: Hold the middle point of your upper lip between your index finger and thumb for 30 seconds and the hold should be strong but not painful.
• In case of spasm in the lower body: Hold the middle point of your lower lip between your index finger and thumb for 30 seconds and the hold should be strong but not painful.
• Do alternate contraction and relaxation of the muscle. This helps in releasing lactic acid.
• Gently massage the painful muscle and then use a hot water bottle over it. Oils that can be used for the massage - mahanarayan oil or sesame oil.
• In case the spasm is in foot, soak it in a bucket of warm water which has 1-2 tsp of salt.

Teas Recommended:

• Drink a cup of chamomile tea, jatamamsi tea and/or comfrey tea. You can drink either of these or a mixture of ½ tsp of each of these steeped in 1 cup of water for better results.
• Drink dashamoola tea (½ tsp steeped in 1 cup) once a week as a preventive measure.

Bath Recommended for Muscle Relaxation:

• ⅔ cup baking soda and ¼ cup ginger per tubful of water - soak in it for muscle relaxation

Mineral Supplements:

Approximately 1200 mg calcium, 600 mg magnesium and 60 mg zinc at bedtime. Taking triphla powder every night or early in the morning can also help in absorbing these supplements. Talk to your doctor about these supplements.

Other medicines or supplements that can be taken:

• Yogaraj guggulu 200 mg - 2-3 times a day for 1 month
• Lasunadivati - 1 tablet after dinner for 5 days
• ¼ tsp Hingwatak churna twice a day after lunch and dinner
• Shankavati 200 mg - 1 tablet after dinner - in case of abdominal cramps
• Warm milk at bedtime - in case of abdominal cramps
• This antacid formula once or twice a day after meals might be helpful - ½ tsp shatavari, ¼ tsp guduchi, pinch of shanka bhasma

References:

Primary Reference: The Complete Book of Ayurvedic Remedies - Vasant Lad - Pg 247-249