First aid treatment for bodybuilding injuries

Prevention is better than cure, so avoid bodybuilding injuries by having proper warm ups before exercising and use correct form and techniques when training with weights.

Many of you who have followed my articles will know that I am a serious advocate of avoiding bodybuilding injuries by constantly emphasizing on proper warm ups and using proper form and techniques during weight lifting in the gym. Okay, if you think that that I am a long winded nagger, then this article, although it is still about weightlifting injuries, is no longer about avoidance of such injuries, but to treat the injuries already sustained.

This article will cover the immediate first aid treatment you will need to recover from a bodybuilding induced injuries. That is assuming that the injuries sustained are not too serious that need immediate medical attention.

Okay, so sometimes bodybuilding exercises hurt. But how do you know when it’s a good hurt or a bad hurt?

The good hurt tends to occur after a bodybuilding workout and feels like a dull ache in the muscle or commonly called the “delayed onset muscle soreness” (DOMS). This type of ache usually indicates that you have been working on that particular muscle hard enough and is a response to the effectiveness of your weight lifting workout although not always necessarily so.

The bad hurt, which generally signifies an injury, is usually sharp pain and the pain comes from a specific spot like in a specific joint or muscle spot. It usually starts as an uncomfortable feeling, which you think will go away. Next thing you know, you are in full-blown pain! Oh dear, what next?

Treat bodybuilding injuries with "RICE"

The acroynym RICE is for the general treatment of minor weightlifting injuries such as sprains, joint pains, tendonitis, pulled ligaments etc

R = Rest

I = Ice

C = Compression

E = Elevation

Rest -- Avoid all activities that aggravate your injury. You may even need to skip your gym workout for a couple of weeks. Rest can mean the difference between a long recuperation (and possibly medical invasive procedures) or just a few days or a few weeks off.

Ice -- Ice helps reduce swelling by restricting blood flow. 15–20 minutes, three to four times a day is recommended as long as the pain remains.

Compression -- Put pressure on the injured site to help keep swelling down. You want to wrap a bandage or a towel tightly enough to feel some pressure but not enough to cause numbness or affecting blood circulation.

Elevation -- Elevate the injured area to reduce swelling.

Your condition should improve with “RICE” treatment. Most of the time, you should see some results within 20 minutes of treatment. However if the pain persists or gets worse, then it time to see your doctor or a sports physician as your condition may be worse than what was initially thought to be.

Herbs for hemorrhoids

There are a variety of herbs for hemorrhoids that work as well, and often better, than over the counter and prescription medications. Some herbs can be applied topically, others work when inserted into the anus and serve to clean the area and reduce symptoms at the same time. Here are a few of your choices:

* Fresh pulp aloe vera gel applied to anus takes away pain much like aspirin.

* Bayberry, goldenseal root, myrrh, white oak as salves are similar to many over the counter, conventional hemorrhoid treatments.

* Comfrey root made into a paste and put in a poultice is a good way to heal bleeding caused by hemorrhoids.

* Elderberry poultice or mullein poultice held to the anal area helps reduce swelling and inflammation.

* Yarrow boiled into a tea and applied with a cotton ball several times a day is another anti-inflammatory agent.

* Witch hazel applied with a cotton ball a few times a day acts as astringent.

* Buckthorn bark, collinsonia root, parsley, red grape vine leaves, stone root are best taken orally in capsule or tea form, and reduce pain and inflammation.

* Peeled cloves of garlic and small cone shaped pieces of potato used as a suppository a few times a week are also common home cures for hemorrhoids.

* Similarly, cayenne and garlic enemas work well to ease symptoms.

Prevention goes a long way when it comes to hemorrhoids and once you've gotten rid of the initial onset, keep them from coming back by changing your diet. Take 1-2 tablespoons of flaxseed oil daily, drink plenty of liquids, and foods like alfalfa sprouts, blackstrap molasses, dark green leafy vegetables as well as foods rich in dietary fiber like beets, Brazil nuts, psyllium seed, green beans, carrots, apples, and broccoli.

The truth about mouthwash

The product that is used for maintaining oral hygiene is called a mouthwash. It is a medicated solution that is used to gargle for a cleaner mouth. In other words, a mouthwash can also be called a mouth rinse. Mouthwashes have antiseptic and anti plaque components that help in killing germs, thereby preventing plaque, gingivitis and also bad breath. There are various mouth rinses available that are anti cavity as well. These mouthwashes have fluoride that helps in averting tooth decay. However, don’t stop brushing your teeth or flossing even if you use a mouthwash.

Generally, the standard quantity of mouthwash required by an individual to rinse the mouth twice a day is approximately 20ml. To get good results from a mouth rinse, you must gargle with the mouthwash for about thirty secpmds and then spit it out.

Thymol, eucalyptol, methyl salicylate, menthol, chlorhexidine gluconate, benzalkonium chloride, cetylpyridinium chloride, hydrogen peroxide, fluorides, enzymes and calcium are some of the common ingredients that are used in different brands of mouthwash sold commercially. Apart from these usual ingredients, there is also water, sorbitol, sodium, saccharine and a fair amount of alcohol present. However, it fails to pass a Breathalyzer test owing to the presence of alcohol shortly after using mouth rinse. Several contemporary products are made alcohol-free.

There is a distinct type of mouthwash that is a salt mouthwash. This is usually made by dissolving salt in lukewarm water. This type is used especially for curing infection or other form of oral problems. One of the very widespread mouthwashes found is a hydrogen peroxide in a diluted form.

One of the most popular mouthwashes whose name is almost synonymous with the word ‘mouthwash’ is Listerine. This product is named after the father of modern antiseptics, Joseph Lister. This mouth rinse was invented in the year 1895. In the beginning, it was formulated by Dr. Joseph Lawerence and Jordan Wheat Lambert as a surgical antiseptic. Soon, Listerine became the first mouthwash sold in USA.

Regardless of the fact that these days there are a large number of mouthwashes available in the market, you can still make your own mouthwash at home. These will definitely help you in diminishing your bad breath and improve your oral health. One of the most famous homemade mouth rinses is Lemon Sage Brandy. The procedure to prepare this solution is given below:

What you require to make Lemon sage brandy:

A cup of brandy permeated with myrrh powder, thyme and sage.

A cup of purified water

Lemon juice (1 table spoon)

How to prepare:

Start with the infusion. Take dried sage, myrrh powder and thyme and combine it with a cup of brandy, cover it tightly and let it remain for a period of 2 weeks.

After the infusion, strain, put in the water and shake until it blends. After that, take 2 tablespoons of the mixture and put it in a glass and add a few drops of lemon to it. Then put it in your mouth, gargle and spit out.

Be it a branded mouthwash or a homemade, use it regularly to prevent cavities, tooth decay and improve oral health.