Cure Your Aches and Pains When you're not used to spending an afternoon driving to the hoop for one massive slam dunk after another, you're probably going to feel a little pain later in the evening. Okay - the "massive slam dunks" were pure fantasy. But after playing some basketball with a friend last week, my shoulder felt like it was on fire a few hours later. When I mentioned the pain to my sister, she suggested that I take arnica, which she uses to relieve her bursitis. It rang a bell, so I checked the HSI web site and found this information from the June 2001 Members Alert: "Arnica. Used both internally and externally as a homeopathic remedy, arnica has an excellent reputation as an anti-inflammatory topical ointment for bruises and sprains. It has been used for hundreds of years to soothe aching muscles and reduce pain and inflammation associated with sprains and bruises. It's one of the oldest and most important drug plants. Aside from these applications, the German Commission E (the herbal regulatory agency for Germany) has approved arnica for inflammation caused by insect bites and for superficial phlebitis (vein inflammation)." Long story short: I went out that evening, found an arnica product, and gave it a try. The results were amazing. The pain was completely gone the next morning. So for you late blooming basketball stars, weekend warriors, or for anyone who overdoes the physical activity resulting in aches and pains, you might find relief with a little arnica. One word of caution, however: I found a source that claims arnica can stimulate blood circulation and may raise blood pressure. So to be absolutely safe, check with your doctor before using it. To Your Good Health, Jenny Thompson Health Sciences Institute
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