Aching muscles and joints can be debilitating, making it difficult for you to do day to day activities and often preventing you from getting a good night’s sleep. Whether you suffer from arthritis, have overdone it at the gym or are just worn out after a busy period in a manual job, the pain and discomfort could leave you seeking pain relief. If you don’t want to go down the route of medication, or you need something to safely supplement the medication advised by your doctor, then it is good to know that there are natural ways to soothe aching muscles and joints. 

1) Get enough exercise  

Exercise strengthens the muscles that support the joints and can therefore help to decrease pain. It can also trigger the release of endorphins – feel good substances released by the brain that can help tranquilise the body and reduce pain. Swimming is a fantastic way to exercise because it is low impact and gentle on the joints. The water can support your body during exercise and improve physical functioning. Yoga and Tai Chi are also great ways to exercise and maintain a good overall wellbeing and balance, whilst walking is recommended if you’re new to exercise as you can start with small distances and gradually increase to longer walks that you are comfortable with. 

2) Maintain a healthy weight 

Carrying extra weight puts pressure on your joints, particularly your feet, hips and knees, which can make the pain worse. Losing weight or maintaining a healthy weight for your body shape and height will not only help reduce the aches and pains in your joints but will also improve mobility and prevent future joint damage. 

3) Use hot and cold therapy to ease inflammation 

Healthcare professionals often recommend heat or cold treatment as a means of natural muscle and joint pain relief. Here are a few ways that you can incorporate hot and cold therapy to help ease inflammation: 

• Hot – take a hot bath or shower, use an electric blanket on the bed to ease pain at night or use a heat pad to hold against the affected area. 

• Cold – wrap a gel ice pack or packet of frozen vegetables in a towel and apply it to the painful areas to help provide quick relief. 

4) Follow a healthy diet  

If you suffer from arthritis or joint pain then you may be advised to follow an anti-inflammatory diet, which involves eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, fish (especially oily fish which contains omega 3 fatty acids), whole grains, nuts and pulses. Diets which are rich in red meats, saturated fats and processed foods can aggravate inflammation, so avoiding or reducing your intake of these foods and replacing them with the aforementioned foods, may help relieve aching joints and improve your overall health. 

5) Try a natural muscle and joint pain relief such as hemp gel 

There are also natural products available that can ease aching muscles and joints by combining powerful active ingredients that are known to reduce inflammation and provide soothing relief. These products often contain ingredients such as hemp oil, rosemary, camphor and menthol to deliver anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antiseptic properties. When used as instructed they may help provide relief from sore muscles, aching joints and sports injuries. 

These are just a few of the ways in which you can naturally ease aching muscles and joints. There are of course other things you can try including massage, meditation and making sure you are getting enough sleep. Whatever you try, remember to seek advice first from your doctor or healthcare practitioner before starting any new exercise regimes or making drastic changes to your diet. 

5ind is a clinical skincare company offering a range of natural therapy products including hemp gel for natural muscle and joint pain relief. More information can be found on their website www.5kind.co.uk.