You are probably all too familiar with the topic of this discussion-fibromyalgia, frozen shoulder, chronic pain, stiffness in the neck, shoulder and arms-rings a bell? For many of us, sore muscles and stiffness is a friend. A big difference between Ayurvedic point of view and that of western medicine in pain management is, in Ayurveda, pain is accepted as part of the healing experience and that pain is an indicator of a larger problem or imbalance in the body, which is then addressed by Ayurveda. Here we innumerate a few natural and holistic remedies to deal with sore muscles and muscle injury related pain.
Ayurveda recommends daily oil massage to keep the bones lubricated, increase stamina and remove muscles fatigue. An oil massage regulates Vata, increases blood circulation and supports the detoxification in the body. But one of its most important applications is in healing the muscles when muscles undergo microscopic breakage due to a new workout regime or exertion of muscles beyond what they are sued to. The human body’s immune system takes over at such times and heals the breakage internally. At such times, oil massage with natural oils prepared for the specific purpose like Shankara’s Muscle Release Oil can go a long way in releasing the pain and soreness from the muscles. The oil, a unique blend of eastern herbal essences and actives from the west like sunflower, almond, sesame, aloe vera, castor, jojoba, sweet birch, lavender, cedarwood, frankincense, devils claw, boswellia among others, is widely being used by those who are into sports, Yoga or some form of workout that works up the muscle tissues of the body.
The invigorating scent of the oil is both soothing and aromatic, while the powerful ingredients are designed to help soothe inflamed muscles and joints. The oil positively supports the natural healing properties of the body.
· This unique formula has an invigorating scent that provides a soothing and aromatic experience during body massages
· Helps long term balance and restoration
· Ideal for deep tissue massages
· Free from counter-irritants and other side-effect ridden ingredients
· Supports the natural intelligence and healing wisdom of the body
2. Yoga Nidra
Yoga Nidra or Yogic sleep is a must after any form of work out so your body and muscles absorb the impact of the workout and deep relaxation made available by the calming of rajas guna in the body, preventing the muscles from getting tight and tensed up. Yoga Nidra is a cooling time for your body and mind, where you take your attention through various parts of the body and let go of the tightness.
3. Diet
To reduce muscle soreness and related pain, you must have Vata-balancing diet which includes warm foods not too spicy, mildly sweet and salty. Avoid overeating. It causes Vata imbalance.
Vata pacifying diet
(Good for vata prakriti and vata imbalance)
- Fruits: All sweet fruits, fresh dates, figs, raisins
- Grains: Rice and wheat
- Vegetables: Cooked vegetables, asparagus, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, less amount of leafy vegetables, beans and sprouts
- Nuts: Nuts soaked in water (to be taken in moderate amount) and pumpkin seeds
- Legumes: Lentils, moong beans and soya
- Dairy: Milk, fresh cheese, butter and ghee
- Oils: Sesame, olive, sunflower and peanut
- Spices: Black pepper, ginger, coriander, turmeric, asafoetida, garlic, clove, sesame seeds
- Avoid dry food, junk food, cold food, frozen food and large beans like kidney beans and pea
4. Aromatherapy
Apart from its sensual gifts, aromatherapy is also known to improve blood flow in the body and pacifies Vata by producing sufficient warmth.
Shankara’s Aromatherapy collection eases muscle pain, calms the nervous system and produces deep relaxation. It also balances all the three doshas and brings together the following formulations of essential oils:
Grounding and Centering: Essential oils from Cardamom, Sandalwood EO, and Vetiver
Cooling and Soothing: Essential oils from Sandalwood, Lavender, Geranium
Stimulating and Invigorating: EO from Lemon, Bergamot, Cypress and Grapefruit.
5. Ingredients used in aromatherapy
The herbs used in Shankara’s Aromatherapy collection reduce inflammatory pain, regulate pain emerging from stress, anxiety and migraine, support heart health, maintain immunity, fights against infection and promote good sleep.
The aromatherapy is made using rare, exotic and powerful herbs like cardamom, sandalwood, vetiver, marjoram, bergamot, clementine, fennel sweet, lavender, ginger, patchouli, rose absolute, basil, clary sage, myrtle, helichrysum, nutmeg, camphor, black cumin, grapeseed oil, vitamin E Tocopherol, geranium, melissa, ylang ylang, coriander, jasmine, lemongrass , spikenard, blue chamomile, juniperberry, mandarin, clove, eucalyptus, and Bay Laurel EO among others.–
