Waking Up Stiff? The Natural Ways to Beat Aches and Pains
Ever woken up feeling a little sore in your back? Or maybe you’ve spent all day on your feet and your legs and ankles are throbbing and desperate for a rest? You might even find that staring at a laptop screen all day has left you with aching shoulders and a tight neck?
Whilst these muscle aches and pains can be annoying, they’re seemingly common.
Research by Puressentiel[1], –uk.puressentiel.com – the brains behind the evidence backed plant-based health products for everyday wellness needs has found that 55% of Brits have experienced muscle aches and pain, 48% have faced the wrath of joint aches and pains and 28% have experienced pulled muscles. Ouch!
But what’s causing the pain and what natural ways are there to ease the pain so you can move comfortably and with ease?
The reasons why you’re aching
Injuries such as sprains, strains, knocks and bumps can naturally cause pain. But, Dr Tim Bond, natural health specialist and researcher from the Puressentiel expert hub, says there are several other reasons why you may encounter sore muscles and joints.
“These include ageing, which can cause stiffness as connective tissue and the cartilage between joints wears down, intense exercise and repetitive movements including running, poor posture and even anxiety, which can cause pain as muscles remain tense. Muscle and joint pain can make movement uncomfortable plus it can disrupt sleep and general life.”
Sitting down for long periods and remaining inactive might also lead to pain. A high four in ten Brits sometimes feel like they spend too much time sitting down, while one in three often feel that way. In fact, during the working week, 29% of Brits spend as many as three to four hours sitting, with 24% spending between five to eight hours in a seat. During the weekend, one in 20 don’t move at all!”
Dr Nisa Aslam is a GP and part of the Puressentiel expert hub. She adds: “We know that being inactive can cause muscles to tense up but it’s a bit of a catch-22 as for a quarter (24%) of Brits, an injury is getting in the way of them being active.”
The Puressentiel data has also unearthed the exact aches and pains which are causing Brits grief.
Over half of Brits (56%) have felt pain in their lower back, 53% have felt it in their legs, 37% feel pain in their shoulders and 29% admit to feeling pain in their neck.
A high 42% of Brits claim that lower back pain is their most common niggling pain whilst 20% say it’s leg pain.
Dr Tim Bond adds: “It’s important not to ignore aches and pains as minor niggles could develop into something worse, reducing mobility. But, being mobile now and putting practices in place to stay flexible, can help you to move more comfortably as you age.
“Only a third (35%) of Brits worry about mobility issues now and in the future, yet research[2] has found that older adults who lose their mobility are less likely to remain living at home, they have higher rates of disease, disability and death plus, they generally have a poorer quality of life.”
Get that spring back in your step and remove the burden of minor aches and pains, the natural way…
Keeping Mobile
Thermotherapy and cryotherapy are both powerful ways to beat aches and pains. Thermotherapy (heat) boosts blood flow and helps to deliver nutrients to a particular area of the body, such as a painful muscle or joint while cryotherapy (cold) can help to reduce any swelling, whilst also helping to alleviate pain, particularly if you’re suffering from a sprain or strain.
Thermotherapy Essentials From Puressentiel
Dr Tim Bond recommends the NEW Puressentiel Muscle & Joints Pure Heat Balm. “This is ideal for stiff muscles with 14, 100% pure and natural essential oils, such as Cajeput, Wintergreen, Peppermint and Rosemary Camphor and three warming active ingredients: natural camphor, organic Capsicum -red pepper and vanilla extract – VBE.”
NEW Puressentiel Muscle & Joints Pure Heat Balm also includes nourishing plant oils of shea butter and sunflower oil. Plus, it is free from preservatives, parabens, colourants, synthetic fragrance, mineral oils, alcohol and petroleum.
Great for on-the-go, by gently massaging this balm into the targeted area, you activate the penetration of the active ingredients and amplify the warming effect, making it easier to release tension.
Other must try thermotherapy-based products to help ease muscle and joint pain include the NEW Puressentiel Muscles & Joints Pure Heat Roll-On. This helps to relieve stiffness and tension by providing an immediate and long-lasting warm sensation and is ideal to relieve pain in hard-to-reach areas. NEW Puressentiel Muscles & Joints Pure Heat Roll-On provides a 100% natural formula, including a science backed blend of 14 essential oils and plant extracts include Arnica and Harpagophytum – well known for soothing and warming properties. Plus. this product is free from preservatives, synthetic fragrances, parabens, colouring, mineral oils.
Dr Nisa Aslam suggests NEW Puressentiel Muscles & Joints Pure Heat Patches for something a little longer-lasting. Made with 14 essential oils including eucalyptus, juniper and peppermint, these patches provide a feeling of warmth for eight hours, promoting relaxation of the muscles.
Finally, the NEW Puressentiel Muscles & Joints Pure Heat Gel, made with 14 essential oils and two plant extracts, also provides a warm sensation, helping to relieve stiffness and tension in large areas such as the thighs and back with a heating effect that lasts up to two hours.
Cryotherapy Must Try’s From Puressentiel
To reap the benefits of cryotherapy, try NEW Puressentiel Muscles & Joints Cryo Pure Roll-on which is made with a 99.9% natural formula containing 14 relaxing essential oils. The massage roller ball delivers a relaxing massage, providing long lasting relief for sensitive areas for acute or chronic and long-lasting muscle pain in the shoulders, neck, knees and ankles.
NEW Puressentiel Muscle & Joint CryoPure Patches, made with 14 essential oils, also provide instant relief for sensitive areas following knocks and bumps. Dr Tim Bond adds: “They offer a long-lasting cooling effect, helping to relieve pain for up to four hours, plus, they can be cut to size to fit whichever body part is in pain. These patches also remain discreet under clothing and have a fresh pleasant scene thanks to natural menthol.”
The science-backed Puressentiel Muscles & Joints Gel can also provide both immediate and long-lasting relief for muscle and joint pains and aches. This all natural and effective formula, smartly combines 14 essential oils with anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. As with all the Puressentiel range, this product is free from dyes, preservatives, artificial fragrances and mineral oils
Recent published research which involved patients suffering from chronic knee osteoarthritis pain found that this gel, applied twice-daily for four weeks – reduced perceived pain by more than 50% and there was over a 30% reduction in the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC score), which tests for pain, stiffness and locomotor function.
If exercise is leaving you tight and sore, the NEW Puressentiel Muscle & Joint 100% Organic Sport Massage Oil needs to be a first-aid bag go-to. It’s made from a 100% natural formula which includes seven essential oils such as Arnica and Wintergreen to help muscles and joints prepare and recover when exercising.
The Puressentiel Muscles & Joints Roller is another option. It’s ideal for acute or chronic and long-lasting muscle pain in the shoulders, neck, knees and ankles. Made with 100% natural active ingredients, including 14 essential oils, this product is ideal for daily use and for throwing in your bag to use as and when you need.
Dr Nisa Aslam explains: “Muscle and joint aches and pains are clearly a burden for much of the nation, but they don’t need to be. Stopping pain in its tracks can help you to live life comfortably, and this is where the fantastic range of Puressentiel products come in. From hot and cold therapy to other science-backed products, this natural range is ideal at any point throughout the day to help relieve you of pain.”
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