Body aches are one of the most common symptoms of the common cold. We’ll show you home remedies with which you can reduce the uncomfortable pulling in your arms and legs.
Many suffer from a strong one cold or flu having aching limbs. A feeling of weakness spreads in the arms and legs, they begin to pull and push. Both in the muscles and in the joints, whether when moving or at rest, those affected experience these symptoms to different degrees. But what causes the body aches with a cold?
The pain in the limbs indicates a healing response of the immune system: When the body is weakened by cold or flu viruses, the immune system sends White blood cells to the infected cells to fight the infection. Due to the glycoproteins “interleukins” produced in this way, this “fight” leads to an inflammatory reaction that can lead to pain in the arms and legs. A fever can make these symptoms worse.
If you have a cold and pain, you have to take it easy
The most important home remedy to cure every cold and flu is one thing above all: lots of rest. Your limbs will thank you too, because the more time you give your body to relax, the faster it can fight the infection. You also put less strain on the aching muscles and joints, which is why they can concentrate better on healing the pain in the limbs.
- Sleep a lot: The more rest you give your body, the faster it will be fit again for work and your hobbies. If you can, try to sleep as much as you can. But if this is difficult for you during the day, also help …
- Relaxation exercises & meditation: If you have trouble sleeping during the day, rest and relaxation is enough. So turn off Netflix and put your smartphone aside. Because even though you find watching movies or surfing the internet relaxing, your brain is still busy and cannot focus on the healing process. Only real “doing nothing” like sleeping or meditating means real relaxation. The following articles, for example, can help you: Tips for falling asleep: Practical sleep aids, Learning meditation: tips for beginners and Meditation to Fall Asleep: Here’s How
Drinking and keeping warm for body aches
After rest, one thing is especially important for those with aching limbs during a cold: drink a lot! The body needs a lot of fluids to fight the infection. Therefore, you should make sure that you give him plenty of fluids. Ideal are:
- water
- Teas
- Juices (best diluted)
- Soups
Try to avoid coffee as that caffeine Potentially stress the body and overwhelm the already damaged circulation.
You should also keep your body and limbs warm at all times. This helps relax the muscles, especially if you have a cold.
- Hot water bottle or heat pad can help supply more blood to the sore limbs in place, relax them, and aid the healing process.
- A hot bath can generally have a relaxing effect on muscles and joints. Especially with the help of muscle-relaxing bath products such as Eucalyptus oil, Rosemary oil, Comfrey or arnica it is a good home remedy for body ache.
But be careful: If you have a fever, don’t bathe too hot. If you have a high fever, you shouldn’t bathe at all.
For pain and fever: calf wrap
The classic among home remedies with fever, calf compress, can also help with pain in the limbs: According to the Pharmacy magazine the cool compress is supposed to activate the vegetative nervous system and stimulate the metabolism. If the wrap takes on your body temperature after five to ten minutes, the “relaxation nerve” parasympathetic is stimulated. This is supposed to calm the nervous system, relax your body and help relieve painful limbs.
How to use leg wraps:
- Pick up a towel and dip it in cool water. The water should definitely not be too cold, but rather have a temperature of 16 to 20 degrees Celsius.
- Lie in bed and wrap the towel around your calves or the painful areas on your body.
- After about ten to minutes, you can remove the towel and optionally repeat the process.
Note: If your hands and feet are shivering and the calf compresses feel uncomfortable, you should leave them out and not cool your body down any further, but rather warm it.
If the pain in the limbs becomes too severe: See a doctor
If your body aches and pains become too severe or won’t stop during a cold, you should see your doctor. Because, despite home remedies, your body can sometimes have difficulty fighting both the pain and the infection without medical help.
Read more on Techzle.com:
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- Cold tea: These varieties help against coughs, runny nose and sore throats
- That’s how long a cold is contagious
- Cistustee: Effect and application of the healing tea made from cistus
- Inhaling a cold and cough: What to look out for with salt water and oils
- Schüßler salts for a cold: Salts against coughs, runny nose and sore throats