Researchers came to this conclusion after finding that between 200 and 400 milligrams (mg) of J. curcas per kilogram (kg) of body weight had significant pain-relieving activity in animals. Their results appeared in the International Journal of Biomedical Engineering and Technology.

Found predominantly in South America and Africa, the shrubs seeds have been used for years to create soap, dyes, candles, detergent and even bio-diesel fuel. However, it was the leaves that held the key to the plant’s pain-relieving effect, according to the report.

Besides contributing to physical well-being, dietary supplements can ensure that the body gets plenty of vitamins and minerals each day to help reduce occasional aches and pains.

New research has suggested that vitamin D insufficiencies are associated with a higher likelihood for muscle injuries among professional football players. This finding was recently presented before the Annual Meeting of the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine.

Scientists at the Summit Medical Group estimated that 80 percent of athletes in their study had too little vitamin D in their blood. Furthermore, football players who had suffered muscular tears, sprains or bruises often had the lowest levels.

All told, 27 players were vitamin D deficient, and another 45 had insufficiencies, the team noted.

"Screening [for] and treatment of vitamin D insufficiency in professional athletes may be a simple way to help prevent injuries," said Dr. Scott Rodeo, the study's lead author. He added that more inquiry should be made into the potential connection between vitamin D intake and muscle health.

A recent study published in the journal Cell Metabolism stated as much, since experiments with laboratory mice found that substance, known as ursolic acid, prevented muscular atrophy. Researchers noted that if this effect holds true in humans, then the compound may be useful in helping individuals stay healthy through a period of hospitalization.

Scientists associated with the University of Iowa began by analyzing which genes change their expression in response to physical inactivity. For their study, the team pored over more than 1,300 promising substances before selecting ursolic acid as the likeliest candidate for reducing the severity of muscular wasting.

They found that immoblized mice tended to lose less muscle mass when given the compound, and normal mice gained some muscle mass when ursolic acid was added to their diet.

Likewise, those given the apple-derived substance became slightly leaner and displayed reductions in their blood glucose, triglycerides and cholesterol levels.

Besides in the fruit itself, ursolic acid and other beneficial compounds, like antioxidants, may be found in herbal supplements that are made with apple peels.

Restless leg syndrome occurs when an individual is sleeping, and includes symptoms such as numbness, tingling and spasms in the legs.

For this study, researchers enrolled 172 people with the joint and muscle pain disorder who were an average age of 50 years, and compared them to a control group of 63 participants with a median age of 41 years. The team recorded the pain level of each individual, and then tested the amount of pressure they could tolerate on the their arms and legs.

As a result, the investigators discovered that the fibromyalgia patients were 10 times more likely to develop with restless leg syndrome compared to those in the control group. Furthermore, those who suffered from restless leg syndrome experienced constant sleep disruption.

However, sleep problems were worse among individuals with fibromyalgia.

Based on how common this problem is among people with fibromyalgia, the team concluded that physicians should monitor and treat these patients for the sleeping issue.

In 2005, an estimated 5 million people in the U.S. suffered from fibromyalgia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
 

Over the course of eight weeks, a total of 53 female patients with the chronic muscle pain condition were either asked to add yoga to their daily routine or were given fibromyalgia medication. Prior to and after the study, both groups were surveyed about their symptoms and underwent several physical tasks.

As a result, the researchers discovered that the participants who did yoga experienced 24 percent less pain, fatigue was reduced by 30 percent and they were 42 percent less likely to suffer from depression.

The team concluded the leading cause of this study's success was the participants' commitment to practicing yoga either during a class or at home.

James Carson, lead author of the study, stated that "previous research suggests that the most successful treatment for fibromyalgia involves a combination of medications, physical exercise and development of coping skills." He added that "based on the results of this research, we strongly believe that further study of this potential therapy is warranted."

In addition to practicing yoga, fibromyalgia patients looking for natural alternatives to alleviate muscle pain can benefit from acupuncture, chiropractic treatments and therapeutic massage, according to the National Fibromyalgia Association.

In an effort to better understand how physical activity may improve joint and muscle pain among adolescents, researchers enrolled 104 individuals aged 11 to 18 years in a one-week trial. Participants wore actigraphs, a device that records each individual's physical activity levels.

The researchers discovered that one study participant exercised for 60 minutes per day, while approximately 23 percent of these individuals were active 30 minutes per day.

The team discovered that the most active adolescents were in less pain, and experienced fewer symptoms including depression and irregular sleep patters. However, the inactive participants slept poorly, and were in more pain and more depressed.

While increasing one's physical activity proved beneficial for young fibromyalgia patients, investigators suggested that further research will be needed to determine the long-term effects of regular exercising.

In addition to increased physical activity, other natural alternatives for fibromyalgia pain relief include acupuncture, therapeutic message and chiropractic treatments, according to the National Fibromyalgia Association.

When doctors conduct conventional trials on potential Alzheimer's patients, these individuals are asked to perform tests that analyze their cognitive function. The Ascertain Dementia 8 (AD8) survey, which is the most common nontraditional screening, evaluates a patient's memory capabilities with the assistance of a close friend or family member.

In order to compare traditional tests with the AD8 questionnaire, researchers examined the results of 251 patients who underwent both the conventional and assisted tests.

The findings showed that because doctors spend limited time with their patients, they may be less likely to diagnose Alzheimer's symptoms. However, because family members and friends spend more time with these individuals, the AD8 test better diagnosed the early signs of the illness.

"The AD8 appears to be superior to conventional testing in its ability to detect signs of early dementia," stated John C. Morris, lead author of the trial. He added that these findings don't explain whether "dementia is caused by Alzheimer's or other disorders, but it lets us know when there's a need for more extensive evaluations to answer that question."

In 2006, approximately 5.3 million Americans were diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and it was the 7th leading cause of the death in 2006, the Alzheimer's Disease Association reports.

Fibromyaliga (FM), a chronic pain disorder, can lead to several health complications, including drowsiness, memory problems and sensitivity to temperature. Previous studies have also found that these patients have more complex brain networks, which may be on the causes of these side effects.

During the trial, researchers enrolled 36 women – 18 who had been diagnosed with FM and 18 participants for a healthy control group. Patients with the pain disease had been diagnosed at least one year prior to the study.

FM patients were surveyed about their current pain levels, and then underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) procedures used to detect resting-state, a relaxed period experienced while awake.

The results of the MRIs showed that because of the complex brain mechanisms, FM patients developed resting-state. In fact, the team found that this led to more intense pain complications.

Vitaly Napadow, co-author of the study, stated that "our results clearly show that individuals with FM have greater connectivity between multiple brain networks and the insular cortex, which is a brain region previously linked with evoked pain processing and hyperexcitability in FM."

Women with FM seeking natural alternatves to alleviate pain, can benefit from acupuncture, therapeutic message and chiropractic treatments, the National Fibromyalgia Association reports.

For six years, the University of Michigan (UM) Health System Study observed the ethnic and racial patterns of more than 5,700 people who used alternative medicine to treat chronic pain. A team of researchers collected information from both black and white patients, which included socioeconomic characteristics, medical history, physical and social health characteristics and pain-related symptoms.

The results of the study found that white patients turned to alternative methods more often than black patients, and elderly people were more likely to use these treatments than younger adults. The researchers concluded that this pattern could be occurring because of higher education and income levels, as well as the different types of health insurance used by patients.

Furthermore, the researchers found that as people get older, they are more likely to be faced with chronic pain, which explains why the number of elderly patients seeking alternative treatments is higher.

Carmen R. Green, M.D., a professor of anesthesiology and, obstetrics and gynecology at UM, stated that "it’s helpful for physicians to know that patients are using these therapies so that we can minimize any risks or side effects associated with them."

Approximately 70 to 85 percent of adults in the United States suffer from lower back pain, one of the most common forms of chronic pain, according to the New York-Presbyterian Hospital.

The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) recently released a recommendation that individuals suffering from muscle pain should avoid drugs that feature quinine, which is still on the market despite there being a list of potential side effects.

"Quinine should be considered only when cramps are very disabling, when no other drugs relieve the symptoms, and when side effects are carefully monitored," said the guideline author, Hans Katzberg, M.D. "It should also be used only after the affected person is informed about the potentially serious side effects."

The guidelines also specify that individuals experiencing muscle cramps or discomfort should seek a physician’s opinion first before trying different medications. Although the researchers suggest taking vitamin B complex, they write that there is still more research needed to determine the overall effectiveness of the supplement.