Home Remedies for Body Ache

Most body ache is self-limiting, and home care is the main treatment. The effective measures are unglamorous and well-proven: rest, warmth, fluids and time.

For viral-illness aching

• Rest - actual rest, not "working from bed." The immune system is doing heavy work
• Fluids: water, warm soups, coconut water, oral rehydration if sweating heavily
• Paracetamol for fever and ache, at the correct dose (see the medicines article - more is not faster)
• Warm sponging if fever is high; light warm food as appetite returns
• Sleep - the cheapest recovery medicine there is

For exertion and muscle soreness

• Gentle movement beats total rest: easy walking keeps stiff muscles from seizing
• A warm bath or hot-water bag over sore muscles; warm water relaxes, and the classical texts prescribed exactly this
• A gentle self-massage with warm oil (sesame or any massage oil) - the household version of Abhyanga; skip it during active fever or fresh injury
• Light stretching after the worst soreness passes
• For a fresh strain (sharp pain during activity): the reverse - rest, cold pack in the first day or two, then warmth