A muscle stress is an mild strain to the structure of the muscle. When you do an activity that your body is not used to doing, the muscles are not in shape for that particular activity. There may not be one specific incident during the activity when you feel pain but the next day a muscle or set of muscles may feel the ache. The stress muscle will causes a mild discomfort.

Causes

A muscle strain is caused by tension or stress applied to the muscle that it cannot withstand or not use to doing. There are several ways that this can happen.  It could be due to poor sitting position causing physical stress to the back or because of chronic misuse of the neck like wrong sleeping position. Other causes are:

• The muscle may not be ready for a sudden stress.

• The tension applied may be too much for the muscle to bear (i.e., lifting a weight that is too heavy for you).

• A muscle is used too much on a certain day.
• Liver dysfunction causing the obstruction of energy flow

Prevention

Ensure that you always adopt a proper sitting posture. Do not sit in an unnatural position for too long a time so that it would not over strain the muscle. Try to use a soft low pillow at night.

Treatment

If your problem is physical in nature i.e. wrongful use, the best way to treat it is the use of herbal formulation to effectively resolve the problem. Herbs like Uncaria rhynchophylla (Uncaria Ramulus Cum Uncis), Radix Paeonia Lactiflora, Radix Ledebourillae and Radix Bupleuri have been proven to be effective in treating such problems.

Uncaria rhynchophylla: Clinical research has shown that the herb Uncaria rhynchophylla (Uncaria Ramulus Cum Uncis) has the following functions:

• vasorelaxing (blood vessels) effects

• reduces apoptosic neuronal damage.

• the alkaloids have sedative and anticonvulsive effects

• the anti-inflammatory actions  may contribute to its neuroprotective effects

1) Clinical research by western scientists have shown that Uncaria rhynchophylla  protects neuronal damage in rat hippocampal (part of the brain located inside the temporal lobe) slices. 93423

2) Clinical research by western scientists have shown that Uncaria rhynchophylla exerts anticonvulsant effect and therefore can be effective in treating neuron problems. 67459

3) Clinical research by western scientists have shown that Uncaria rhynchophylla has neuroprotective effects. Research results suggest that oxyindole alkaloids such as isorhynchophylline, isocorynoxeine and rhynchophylline and indole alkaloids such as hirsuteine and hirsutine are the active components of the hooks and stems of Uncaria sinensis which protect against glutamate-induced neuronal death. 54049

4) Clinical research by western scientists have shown that Uncaria rhynchophylla can be used to lower blood pressure and to protect and relieve various neurological symptoms. Research showed that U. rhynchophylla extract inhibited TNF-alpha and nitric oxide production in BV-2 mouse microglial cells in vitro. These anti-inflammatory actions of U. rhynchophylla extract may contribute to its neuroprotective effects. 73411

5) Clinical research by western scientists have shown that Uncaria rhynchophylla  protects neuronal damage. 21476

6) Clinical research by western scientists have shown that Uncaria rhynchophylla significantly decreased locomotor activity after oral administration to mice probably due to its effect on the central dopaminergic system. 39480

7) Clinical research by western scientists have shown that Uncaria rhynchophylla has vasodilative effects. 28929

Radix Paeonia Lactiflora: Research has shown that paeoniflorin, monoterpenoids and other constituent in white  peony (Radix Paeonia Lactiflora) have been shown to be spasmolytic. This is, in part, achieved by interfering with acetylcholine release into neuro muscular junctions.

The efficacy of white peony for relieving muscle cramps of various types, particularly combined with licorice in the white peony formula, is supported by several clinical trials. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 101 patients with muscle cramps due to hepatic cirrhosis, dried extract of white peony formula was significantly superior to placebo in relieving symptoms over a two-week period. (21) The dose in this study -- 2.5 g three times daily before meals -- was sufficiently high to induce signs of pseudoaldosteronism (edema and weight gain) in five patients (9%) receiving white peony formula, due to the high intake of licorice. Other uncontrolled trials have shown that white peony formula can help relieve muscle cramps in people with diabetes mellitus, (22) those undergoing dialysis, (23) in alcoholics, (24) and in people with cerebrovascular disease. (25).

(21.) Kumada T, et al. Effect of shakuyaku-kanzo-to (Tsumura TJ-68) on muscle cramps accompanying cirrhosis in a placebo-controlled double-blind parallel study. J Clin Ther Med 1999;15:499-523.

(22.) Yosida M, et al. Effects of shakuyaku-kanzo-to on muscle cramp in diabetics. Neurol Ther 1995;12:529-534.

(23.) Yamashita JI. Effect of Tsumura skakuyaku-kanzo-to on pain at muscle twitch during and after dialysis in the patients undergoing dialysis. Pain & Kampo Medicine 1992;2:18-20.

(24.) Maruyama K, et al. Effectiveness of shakuyaku-kanzo-to on convulsion and pain associated with alcohol dependence. Kampo Igaku 1996;20:81-84.

(25.) Sakamoto T, Hosino M. Effect of shakuyaku-kanzo-to extract granules on convulsion of gastrocnemius muscle in patients with cerebrovascular disorder. Jpn J Oriental Med 1995;45:563-568.

Bupleurum Scorzonerifolium:

1) Clinical research by western scientists have shown that Bupleurum scorzonerifolium can be used to treat liver diseases.  183-93

2) Clinical research by western scientists have shown that Saikosaponins, the main active constituents of Bupleurum scorzonerifolium, possess immunomodulatory, anti-tumor hepatoprotective and anti-viral activities.  705-9

3) Clinical research by western scientists have shown that bupleuran 2IIc from Bupleurum scorzonerifolium causes proliferation of B cells (improve immunity) and expression of cell cycle regulatory proteins. 111-8

4) Clinical research by western scientists have shown that Bupleurum scorzonerifolium exerts immunosuppressive flavones and lignans. 1375-9

5) Clinical research by western scientists demonstrated the anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic, anti-oxidant activity and liver cell regeneration of Bupleurum scorzonerifolium. 442-8

6) Clinical research by western scientists have confirmed the traditional use of Bupleurum scorzonerifolium as an antioxidative and in vitro hepatoprotective herb. 1003-8

Research has shown that the bupleurum extract sapogenin A has analgesic (relieves pain) effect. It has also been shown that the crude saikosaponin fraction and saikogenin A from bupleurum have significant sedative effects.