Natural treatments for muscle, tendon and ligament pain are not about masking the pain so you can go about your day as usual.
As the renowned chiropractor Dr. Ben Kim says:
“Acetaminophen primarily reduces the perception of pain in the brain. It does not reduce inflammation outside of your central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). So if you continue to put stress on injured tissue while taking acetaminophen to numb your senses, you are almost certainly increasing recovery time and potentially causing long-term damage.”
When complete rest isn’t possible and you absolutely need some use of an injured body part, an over-the-counter pain reliever that actually reduces inflammation throughout the body is a better choice. Examples of pain medications with system-wide anti-inflammatory properties include ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), and aspirin (Bayer, Bufferin). But even if you’re taking one of these anti-inflammatory medications, it’s best to take the lowest possible dose and do everything you can to rest until the injured area has completely healed.
Inflammation is a process that should occur in full force after a soft tissue injury. Inflammation brings blood, nutrients, white blood cells, and various natural chemicals that work together to repair injured tissue one cell at a time. If you prevent injured tissue from becoming completely inflamed, it is entirely possible that the tissue will not return to full strength, especially if it has been previously injured. That is, by suppressing inflammation, an injured area becomes more susceptible to further injury.
Repeated disregard of this principle will result in reduced strength and flexibility in the long term. For this reason, in most cases of acute muscle or ligament injury, I typically do not recommend using ice to relieve inflammation.”
Holistic treatments address the underlying causes of pain and inflammation and help the body accelerate healing. Here are the most effective treatments I’ve found – all tried and tested by me and my family members:
1. Topical arnica cream or gel – This homeopathic remedy provides instant relief from pain, bruises, sprains and tissue damage. I have used it after all three births, my husband and son use it after soccer injuries. Traumeel is another excellent topical cream that contains arnica, among other effective homeopathic remedies. We also stock an Arnica Muscle Bath that helps soothe the body and muscles while you soak in the bath. Arnica and birch extracts help relieve feelings of fatigue, while lavender and rosemary essential oils provide an invigorating herbal scent. 🙂
2. White willow bark – This is a natural pain reliever extracted from willow trees. It was first used by Native Americans who boiled the bark into tea and drank it. Aspirin is derived from white willow bark, BUT white willow bark does not damage your intestinal lining or narrow your rectum (which often leads to constipation) like aspirin does. For children or elderly people who cannot swallow tablets, you can mix white willow bark with organic cocoa butter and form suppositories for rectal insertion. Absorption occurs from the rectal tissue just as quickly – perhaps even faster – than swallowing.
3. QuikPlus atom-sized ionic muscle matrix – Magnesium and potassium are two minerals that work together to relax muscle tissue, and calcium and zinc work in synergy with magnesium and potassium to balance muscle contraction and relaxation. To be completely honest, I developed the QuikPlus Muscle Matrix for myself! As you may know, I have a lot of horses and therefore often do hard work for four to six hours at a time. GREAT for staying healthy and energetic, but I often woke up with leg cramps – not great.
This threw me into a lot of research because magnesium alone didn’t work well enough for this level/intensity of muscle cramps. And it turns out there’s plenty of research showing that electrolytes or individual minerals aren’t very effective for muscle cramps. There is additional research to support the theory that muscle spasms are caused by overexcited alpha motor neurons – the nerves that extend from the spinal cord to skeletal muscle fibers. When these motor neurons become hyperactive, they issue commands to all connected muscle cells to contract, resulting in a spasm. So how do we get these motor neurons to calm down? By activating TRP channels.
After researching the minerals involved, I formulated Muscle Matrix in atom-sized (nano) form – so when you swish through your mouth and swallow, the formula interacts with all the TRP receptors in the mouth, tongue and esophagus and is absorbed through the mucosal tissue. That was enough for many days. But on particularly busy days (muscle fatigue) I combined Muscle Matrix with Ginger Chews! Because the gingerol in ginger is a strong TRPA1/TRPV1 agonist and actually tastes good! If you prefer, you can also use fresh ginger.
I hope this helps you better understand the theory behind the Muscle Matrix formulation. I can tell you that it works much better than just magnesium alone. I used to wake up from a deep sleep with unusual painful cramps from my foot to my calf. Sometimes even my quadriceps were involved. But when I take Muscle Matrix before bed, I sleep without any problems!
4. Warm castor oil pack – Castor oil penetrates deep into the tissue and stimulates the lymphatic system to move the good substances in and the bad substances out. Like Dr. Carolyn Dean MD ND says, “Castor oil packs increase blood flow to an area and stimulate the lymphatic system to mobilize toxins, aiding in detoxification. They are great for organ pain, particularly in the liver, pancreas, and kidneys, and help relieve muscle spasms.”
Because of its ability to increase blood flow, castor oil also helps dissolve adhesions and scar tissue – which can often be a cause of pain or repeated injuries due to restrictions. A castor oil pack has many uses and has also been used for non-cancerous uterine fibroids, ovarian cysts, headaches, liver disease, constipation, diarrhea, intestinal problems, gallbladder inflammation or stones, poor elimination, frequent nighttime urination, inflamed joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons and general detoxification.
Remember to use cold-pressed castor oil and 100% cotton flannel (or wool) – no synthetics. You can use either a hot water bottle or a heating pad as a heat source. Here you will find detailed instructions:
Ingredients of the castor oil pack:
• Cold pressed castor oil.
• Two plastic sheets (garbage bags are ok).
• 1 yard of cotton or wool flannel.
• Heating pad (if specified).
• Big old beach towel.
• 3 safety pins.
Preparing a castor oil pack
1. Fold flannel into three thicknesses to fit over your entire stomach.
2. Cut a piece of plastic 1 to 2 inches larger than flannel.
3. Saturate the washcloth with slightly heated oil, but not so much that it drips. Fold it over and squeeze until it runs out. Unfold.
4. Place plastic and an old towel over the flannel sheet to avoid staining the surface you are lying on.
5. Lie down, place flannel over stomach and place matching plastic over the flannel.
6. Now wrap the towel underneath you around your upper body and secure it with safety pins.
7. Place a heating pad (low heat) or hot water bottle on the towel.
8. Let rest for 30-60 minutes. Use visualization, meditation, or just sleep. A good time to use castor oil packs is just before bed.
9. When you’re done, it’s best if you don’t get up, walk around, and keep busy (other than going to the bathroom). Try to stay calm and relaxed.
When packing before bed, place a zip-top bag next to your bed and a towel to remove excess oil and protect your bedding. Fold up the oily pack, put it in the bag and let it fall on the floor until morning. Put in the fridge in the morning.
11. Store the pack in the covered container or bag in the refrigerator. Remove it from the refrigerator 1-3 hours before you plan to use it so that it is at room temperature when you use it.
12. Each pack can be used repeatedly. If it starts to smell stale, make up a new pack.
Note: If this procedure is far too complicated for you, apply a generous amount of castor oil to the skin of your abdomen. Cover it with an old cotton T-shirt or other cloth that you can eventually throw away. Place your heat source (hot water bottle, heating pad) on top. Save the cloth you use to protect your heat source from the oil for reuse. At some point it will smell like stale oil, but it will last for at least a few weeks in a plastic bag. Let rest for 30-60 minutes. Stay covered and warm so you can relax. Have a soft cloth or rag handy to catch any oil dripping from your body. You may want to place a towel or plastic wrap under your body to keep your bed from getting oily. It is not necessary to keep a packet of castor oil in the refrigerator. Just do what works for you.
Frequency of use
To be effective, a castor oil pack must be used at least three times a week, but five times a week is better. For long-term chronic pain, it is best to follow a 6-week treatment period with a castor oil pack five times per week, then as needed for pain episodes. It is also advisable to consult a naturopathic doctor to determine the best treatment frequency for your specific health problem.
Reader story
This is such an amazing story from a reader who used the information in this blog post to save her sister’s life when her intestines were affected. She was suffering from sepsis, in extreme pain and had not had a bowel movement for two weeks…
Original post from July 2011. Last updated February 2022.
Jini Patel Thompson is an internationally recognized expert in natural healing for digestive diseases. She healed herself from widespread Crohn’s disease and has been medication and surgery free for over 25 years. Jini has appeared on numerous podcasts, TV and radio shows in the US, UK, Canada and Australia, giving people hope and vision on how to heal their colitis, Crohn’s disease, diverticulitis and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) using all-natural methods. Her books on natural healing of digestive diseases have been sold in over 80 countries worldwide. Jini is married and has three children, nine sheep, 11 horses, a cat and three dogs.
