A drug that lowers muscle tone by affecting skeletal muscle function is known as a muscle relaxant. It blocks the transmission of nerve impulses or decreases motor endplate excitability or uses other ways to decrease muscle contractility. In layman’s terms, it is a drug that relieves and relaxes muscle tension.

Most of us may not know that muscle relaxants were used on the South American continent as early as the 16th century. Arrowheads have been dipped in poison to produce skeletal progressive Muskelentspannung paralysis, eventually leading to death. The present muscle is based on these principles. These poison-tipped arrows used curare as poison. Curare has also been used in earlier studies of pharmacology. It contains tubocurarine, which has been used in research into neuromuscular transmission.

Muscle relaxants are broadly divided into two categories as follows:

Antispasmodics: Antispasmodics are also referred to as centrally acting muscles. It gets its name because it reduces spasticity in many neurological disorders. Antispasmodics typically act in the brainstem, cortex, and spinal cord, or even all three, and are therefore referred to as centrally acting relaxants. Antispasmodics are also known to be antispasmodics and are commonly used for back pain, neck pain, and tension headaches.

Neuromuscular Blockers: Neuromuscular blockers interfere with transmission at the neuromuscular junction. These types of muscle relaxants have no CNS activity. They are usually used in intensive care units and during surgical procedures. They are also used as emergency medicine to cause paralysis. Around 1940 doctors began using neuromuscular blockers as muscle relaxants during surgery.

Factors considered when choosing a muscle are side effects, efficiency, tolerability, and cost. Side effects are a major concern of all muscle relaxants. These effects include drowsiness, dizziness, and some important effects on our bodies. These drugs are recommended based on their tolerability, with cost being a secondary consideration as efficiency is what people seem to be looking for.

Dantrolene is used for neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis and cerebral palsy. A rapid muscle contraction is more sensitive than a muscle that contracts gradually. Dantrolene can have major effects like normal muscle weakness, sedation, and hepatitis in some cases. Carisoprodol, metaxalone, cyclobenzaprine and methocarbamol are commonly used for myofascial pain syndrome, fibromyalgia, low back and neck pain.

How to use progressive muscle relaxation to cure insomnia

Common causes of insomnia are often due to tension and the resulting inability to relax. The stiffer and more tense you are, the greater the chance of restless sleep. You struggle to fall asleep with your active mind, but react and wake up many times in the evening and early morning. The cycle begins, too little sleep is a perfect breeding ground for tension, it’s a vicious circle.

Quite stressed out from the day and with depleted energy in front of you, you drag yourself through the day only to repeat the same cycle at night. The moment you go to bed you feel the tension grip you again; convinced that you cannot fall asleep. Stop me if this sounds familiar?

But fret not…there is hope for all of us. By using an age-old technique called progressive muscle relaxation, you can release tension and achieve the state of well-being we all seek. As smart as the body is, it cannot relax and tense at the same time. While the body is in a relaxed state, you not only sleep much better, but also enjoy a new attitude towards life.

You’ll be amazed at how quickly you’ll progress through your muscle relaxation routine. After just 10 minutes you will most likely have done enough to see some results, but of course you can take as much time as you like to see better results.

Here is a step-by-step guide to follow:

Gently tense the muscles of your entire body. The idea of this action is to relax you and not cause pain or muscle spasms, so make sure to do it very gently so you don’t get cramps.

Next, you need to lie on your back in a comfortable position. Put some pillows under your knees to avoid straining your back.

Now stretch your legs as far as possible, hold for 5 seconds. Relax for 5 seconds. Now repeat this 5 times. Concentrate on feeling the tension leave your body through your toes.

As you inhale, very gently contract the muscles in your one foot. Hold for about 10 seconds and slowly relax. Allow the foot to become limp and relaxed. Wait 15 seconds and repeat the exact same action with the other foot. Are you feeling relaxed yet?

Move up from your toes and tense the next set of muscles for 10 seconds, but this time relax for 15 seconds. Feel these muscles go limp and relaxed as you imagine all the tension being released.

Remember to keep your breathing relaxed. When you contract your muscles, breathe in, when you relax your muscles, breathe out.

Make sure you only engage one muscle group at a time and slowly move up the body. Move from the feet, legs, lower body, abdomen and chest.

Now straighten your arms and tighten the muscles in your hands and arms as you make a fist. Hold it for 10 seconds and then slowly relax. Can you feel the tension melt away and total relaxation set in?

As you move, you will feel your body relax and go limp. You will know if you have succeeded because it will feel really good.

As you get to the muscles of the neck, face, and shoulders, imagine the last ounces of stress leaving your body and drifting away. Your body is now in a state of total relaxation. Take a moment to enjoy it so you can later remind yourself how good it felt.

Enjoy this feeling while breathing slowly and rhythmically. You let yourself drift, relaxed and completely at peace.

After successfully using this technique progressive Muskelentspannung, you will quickly appreciate the experience of well-being. You will feel energized and full of natural energy. Instead of dreading the end of the day when you need to go to bed, you’ll look forward to it. Then you will find that you have successfully eliminated your insomnia.