Healing Sprained and Strained Muscles: A Holistic Approach to Recovering From Injuries

Consider Homeopathic Remedies and Visualization

If you have a sprained or strained a muscle or tendon caused by overexertion or accident don’t dash for the aspirin or the ibuprofen or whatever painkiller you normally take. Consider this fact; killing the pain does nothing for healing the injury. It merely makes it easier for you to strain your injury even further. Pain may not be pleasant, but it does have a purpose. The initial pain you experience after an injury tells your body to rest the area. It tells your brain to stop and think about why the injury happened in the first place. So before you begin medicating, consider trying some of the more popular holistic healing methods - homeopathic remedies and visualization.

I don’t necessarily advocate natural methods of healing exclusively; however; when it comes to strains and/or sprains, these holistic methods can be a very powerful and effective way to begin the healing process.

A holistic approach to healing addresses not only the painful area, but your entire body, including your energy system and your mind. It seeks to understand why the injury happened. If we can access that kind of information, we can speed up the healing and prevent it from happening again.

Consider this: Certain muscles get sprained and strained because we are stressed out in another part of our body, even our mind. If something is troubling you, the pain can manifest somewhere else in your body. This theory of the mind/body connection is accredited to Dr. Candace Pert, the brilliant neuroscientist who popularized the theory in the US.

Pert’s research points to the fact that every cell in your body knows the condition of every other cell in your body. The mind is not just in the brain -- it is also in the body. She makes clear how emotion creates the bridge between mind and body. Peptides found in your brain and in all your major organs, send messages back and forth. If the message is stressful, the body acts accordingly.

Think of each cell in your body as a person with access to your body’s “computer”. Just as we can access the world’s information by way of the Web, our cells have access to the information throughout our entire body. Every cell is able to send and receive information through our internal computer - powered by our emotions.

Modern medicine still gives us some of the best advice for healing sprains and strains. Ice the affected area 4 times a day for 20 minutes each time. Rest the area but don’t restrict normal movement unless pain is severe. After a day or two, alternate ice with heat to get the blood flowing and to bring healing cells to the area. If you are certain you do not have a torn ligament or tendon, start stretching the area. If you don't stretch your muscles, they will get shorter as your body tries to protect you from repeating the injury. Muscles have good memories.

Muscle Memory makes us prone to future injury

I’m a big proponent of homeopathy because I’ve seen it work throughout my life. Homeopathic medicine treats the cause of your illness rather than the symptoms. It is a safe, gentle method of augmenting a person’s own immune and defense system and is most effective when taken soon after the injury occurs. People who take the remedy immediately are often surprised to find out that the injury has subsided the next day.

Homeopathic Medicine is best taken soon after the injury happens. Take the remedy without food or liquid. The usual dose is 4 tablets under the tongue. Homeopathic doctors suggest tapping the tablets into the cap of the medicine bottle, then spilling the tablets into your mouth, under your tongue without touching the tablets. Popular manufacturers like Hyland’s offer tablets that dissolve quickly. Other brands, like Boiron offer pellets that dissolve more slowly, but the containers have a twist top that dispenses the correct dosage right into the cap.

Always refer to reputable books or websites on homeopathic medications when seeking a remedy for your injury or ailment. Homeopathy, being a holistic modality considers more than just the generic ailment. For example, there are many types of sprains, some that are worse on initial movement and get better as you continue to move. Some remedies are better for knees, others for elbows. Remember, the generic remedy listed on the manufacturer’s bottle can be misleading.

Arnica - Arnica is sold in both tablet and gel form. Use both remedies directly after the injury occurs. It will help reduce the pain, swelling and bruising. Arnica is sold in different strengths, 30x being the strongest potency. Take the 6x, 12x or 30x potency every hour for the first three doses. Then begin a different homeopathic remedy.

Rhus Toxicodindron (also known as Rhus Tox.) - This remedy is the leading homeopathic remedy for sprains and strains. Rhus Tox works best for strains and sprains that are aggravated by initial motion. Take every other hour for three to six doses depending on the severity. Take every fourth hour as the pain decreases.

Ruta Graveolens- This remedy is for severe strains, torn tendons and ligaments, particularly the knee or elbow area.

Ledum - Sprain your ankle?..take Ledum

Bryonia - This is another remedy for strains and sprains that feel stiff when the area remains still and pain occurs when there is motion.

At abchomeopathy.com you’ll find a helpful, free online homeopathic remedy tool. By checking off boxes that describe in detail your symptoms and mindset, the most effective homeopathic remedy can be found.

Here’s a cool page from homeopathyandmore.com that demonstrates how the original homeopathic “bible”, the Materia Medica analyzes symptoms remedied by taking Bryonia. You may even find it amusing, as personality types come into play. To search for other remedies, click on the appropriate letter in the header next to Materia Medica.

Another holistic method for healing sprains and strains is visualization.
You don’t have to go into a trance, or lower the lights to visualize. All you need to do is to use your imagination. Imagine you are moving a painful limb without experiencing any pain. At first you may be surprised to discover that it takes a bit of concentration, especially if you’ve had the pain for a while. The fact is, we become so used to wincing at the pain when we move an injured area, we automatically do it in our heads even if we are just thinking about it.

If you can train your mind to visualize the move without pain, the information is sent by those peptide messengers to every cell in your body, (including the injured area) stimulating the immune system to heal the injury.

Another thing to think about is “why” you became injured. You may have done something unconsciously that weakened a set of muscles.

For example: You have an uncomfortable mattress that’s causing you to put pressure on other muscles, or you may be unconsciously compensating for an unrelated minor ache.

Poor posture when you are reading or are at the computer can create muscle strain and weaken other muscles.

Think about all the activities that led up to your injury, not just the ‘last straw’ event that sprained that tendon. It will help to prevent similar injuries in the future.

Wishing You Good Health and Happiness.

Green Lotus is a holistic practitioner of Reiki and a proponent of homeopathic remedies and holistic healing modalities

All advice given here is for educational purpose only and you should always check with your doctor before beginning any form of medical treatment.

© Copyright Green Lotus, 2011. All rights reserved.