There is hope for people suffering from muscle spasms and cramps. Through acupuncture and nutrition, most effectively by both together, we can put your muscles and your suffering at rest.
First of all, there are several types of muscle spasms: There are muscle cramps (such as a “Charley horse”), menstrual cramps, post-injury spasms, chronic degradation-related spasms, spasticity due to a nervous-system disorder (such as post-stroke or Parkinson’s), myoclonus, and hemifacial spasms and more.
Injury related spasms, both acute and chronic, respond well to acupuncture treatments. Acupuncture helps injury-related muscle spasms by mechanically disrupting tense fibers, enhancing local blood circulation, modulating pain signals in the brain, promoting flexibility, reducing muscle soreness, and engaging neuro-immune regulation. The result is softer, more relaxed muscle tissue and relief from spasms—even in acute and chronic injury settings.
When it comes to Charley horses, acupuncture induces micro‑twitches to interrupt acute spasms, stimulates the release of endorphins and other natural analgesics, promotes nutrient and oxygen delivery, eases muscle tension, enhances circulation and rebalances electrolytes, modulates neural excitability over time, and encourages muscle relaxation by reducing local inflammation, and helps to reduce recurrence.
Clinical studies show acupuncture can significantly reduce spastic muscle tone after stroke by modulating central and peripheral neural activity reducing motor neuron hyperexcitability and improving inhibitory control, improving limb movement and reducing stiffness.
Acupuncture enhances general neuro-modulatory and pain-relieving effects helping to reduce involuntary jerks by influencing nervous system control and stabilizing neuromuscular signaling in myoclonus spasms.
In menstrual cramps, acupuncture helps by combining anti-inflammatory action, improved uterine blood circulation, brain-mediated pain suppression, balancing of hormones, improving liver function and balancing emotions which are difficult when muscle cramping is so severe. It’s a helpful therapy for those seeking relief beyond more familiar choices.
As with all areas of health, I also seek to see the nutritional component of a symptom or condition. A key principle in alleviating any condition is ensuring all the nutrients necessary to heal with are present in the diet or in supplement form. The 3 biggest keys are protein, fats and electrolytes. A nutrient-rich diet along with acupuncture can do miraculous things! Besides protein, fat and electrolytes, Vitamins D, E, whole food Vitamin B complex, and zinc are important to reducing muscle spasms and cramps. They are necessary for the chemical messaging between brain and body, for the hormones to regulate inflammation, healing and pain and to enhance the effectiveness of acupuncture. Avoiding bad fats and oils which can inhibit your pain and inflammation responses and suppress healing; and avoiding sugar are two of the elements most within your control that can help you if you choose to avoid them completely.
There is much we can do to stop your suffering. You can begin now by controlling those things you can control. We can help put it all together for you. You don’t have to suffer!
Want to hear more from Dr. Carling? Check out our podcast. Search for VitalHealth4You on your favorite podcast listening app or go to vitalhealthcda.com/podcasts/
©2025 Holly A. Carling, O.M.D., L.Ac., Ph.D.
