12 Natural Homeopathic Medicines to Treat Calf Pain 

Calf pain refers to pain in the back side of the lower leg. Two largest muscles in the back of the leg (gastrocnemius and soleus muscles) are together known as calf muscle. This calf muscle is attached to the heel by achilles tendon (tendon is a strong cord of fibrous connective tissue that connects a muscle to a bone.) Homeopathic treatment for calf pain helps in cases of muscle strain, cramps, achilles tendinitis, trauma, sciatica, varicose veins and more. 

Causes

There are various reasons behind calf pain ranging from  mild (like over use , stress, strain of calf muscle) to critical conditions (like deep vein thrombosis – DVT) that require urgent medical attention. It can arise from conditions affecting calf muscles and from some of the conditions affecting the blood vessels, nerves and other structures around the calf muscle

Calf muscle conditions – over use, over stress and strain of calf muscle, calf muscle cramp, calf muscle injury, calf muscle pull, and calf muscle  tear  or rupture can cause calf pain. Muscle cramp means sudden, involuntary, painful contraction of muscle. They can follow overuse of calf muscle, doing excessive exercise or starting some new exercise apart from normal routine ones. Sometimes they can arise from dehydration or some serious medical conditions like kidney failure, diabetes and underactive thyroid also. Muscle  strains can follow overuse of muscle, fatigue and suddenly increasing exercise that involves legs like running.

It can also arise in sciatica (refers to pain beginning in the lower back that travels down the back side of the leg). It happens when the sciatic nerve that controls lower leg muscles gets pinched along its pathway.

Achilles tendinitis is the inflammation of the achilles tendon  that connects the calf muscle to the heel bone. It follows when the achilles tendon is overused or over stressed. It results in pain in the back of the leg along with swelling and sometimes tightness of calf muscle.

The pain can also appear in diabetic neuropathy (a complication of diabetes in which nerve damage of the feet, legs, arms and hands occur.

Next, it can also arise from arterial claudication when there is narrowing or some blockage in the arteries which supply blood  to the legs. Or it can result from trauma, a fall, or blow to the calf region.

Varicose veins are the enlarged, twisted engorged veins that mostly develop in legs due to improper functioning of valves in the legs leading to back flow of blood. These can cause pain, aching throbbing, and cramping in the back of legs.

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a condition that arises if a blood clot forms in the deep vein in the arm or leg. It is a serious condition requiring immediate medical help from conventional mode of treatment. 

Baker’s cyst or popliteal cyst (fluid filled lump developing behind the knee). It can burst and release fluid in calf muscle in its upper part and cause pain.

Compartment syndrome is a serious condition that follows a trauma or severe injury in calf area

Symptoms  

This pain is felt in the back of the lower leg. It can be of mild intensity or very severe preventing walking. The nature of pain is variable and it can be dull, tearing, cramping or sharp pain. It can be felt while walking, running and jumping. Tightness in the back of the lower leg can also be felt along with pain. Sometimes other symptoms can attend to the above symptoms that indicate some serious condition. Such severe signs and symptoms to take note of are swelling, tingling, numbness, pin – needle sensation or weakness, tenderness, redness, warmth in the back of the leg.

Homeopathic Treatment for Calf Pain 

Homeopathic medicines are very effective to treat calf pain. These medicines bring relief in the pain by treating the root cause behind it. The homeopathic medicines for calf pain are selected taking into consideration both the symptoms in each and every case along with the reason. It is to be noted that homeopathic medicines are very safe and suitable for calf pain from many causes but they have their own limitations. For example if calf muscle is arising from a critical reason like deep vein thrombosis or rupture of achilles tendon then one should consider urgent help from conventional mode of treatment due to limitation of homeopathy in such cases. 

1. Rhus Tox – Top Grade Medicine for Calf Pain

Rhus Tox leads the chart of homeopathic medicines for treating cases of calf pain. It is among the best medicines to treat muscle pain that follows over use, putting over strain or over stress on the muscles. It is also well indicated to manage pain from muscle cramps. People who need it have pain in the back of the lower leg. They have worsening of this pain from rest and it is better by walking for a few minutes. Along with pain they feel heaviness in the leg. They also complain of cramps in calf muscles and tensed feeling in the calves. These cramps mostly occur in them after midnight. This medicine is also indicated for calf pain in cases of achilles tendinitis. 

2. Arnica – When Pain Follows some Injury, Trauma/Blow 

This medicine is prepared from plant Arnica Montana having the common name Leopard’s – bane or fallkraut. This plant belongs to family compositae. It is a very effective medicine to treat cases where calf pain follows some injury, trauma or direct blow to the calf of the leg. Persons requiring it feel pain in the back of leg. Soreness is also there with pain. Sometimes they also complain of tingling in the legs.

3. Magnesia Phos – For Cramps in Calf Muscles

This is a very beneficial medicine for treating cramps in calf muscles. It is very suitable when muscle cramps follow prolonged exertion. Cramps in muscles at night time are also treated well with this medicine. 

4. Bryonia – For Calf Pain and Tightness

This medicine is prepared from the root of the plant Bryonia Alba having common name wild hops. The family of this plant is cucurbitaceae. This medicine works well in cases where pain in the calf is attended with tightness in the calf. For using it the pain can be bruised or, pinching, drawing tearing in nature. The pain gets worse from motion. It also worsens from touch. Along with pain, redness and swelling over the back of the leg may be present.

5. Colocynth – For Calf Pain in Sciatica Cases

Colocynth is prepared from the pulp of the fruit of a plant named Citrullus Colocynthis and also Bitter Apple. This plant belongs to the family cucurbitaceae. It is very useful for calf pain in sciatica cases. People needing it mainly have tearing and cramping pain in calves. It mostly helps left sided cases.

6. Ruta – For Pain from Inflamed Achilles Tendon (Achilles Tendinitis)

This medicine is prepared from fresh plant Ruta graveolens having the common name garden rue. This plant belongs to family rutaceae. It is a very beneficial medicine for tendinitis cases where inflammation of tendon arises from overuse or over straining of tendons. It helps to manage calf pain by reducing the inflammation of the achilles tendon.  

7. Calcarea Carb – For Calf Pain while Walking

Calcarea Carb is a wonderful medicine for cases where calf pain is present while walking. Sometimes this pain is also felt on touching the calf. In some cases needing it hard lumps or knots are felt in the calves. Along with pain swelling in the calf especially on the left side may be present. Another indication to use it is cramps in calves of the leg mainly on extending the leg.

8. Pulsatilla – For Pain in Calves along with Swelling

This medicine is prepared from plant Pulsatilla Nigricans commonly known as wind flower and pasque flower. This plant belongs to family ranunculaceae. It is useful when the calves are painful accompanied with swelling. Redness and heat in calves is also present with above symptoms. For using it the calf pain can be aching, drawing or tensive in nature. The pain worsens from heat and gets better by cold application where it is required. It is also a highly recommended medicine for managing leg pain in case of varicose veins. The veins in legs are swollen and blue in these cases.

9. Calcarea Phos – For Shooting Pain in Calves

This medicine is well indicated for cases having shooting type of pain in calves. This can be attended with a warm feeling in the back of the leg. Sometimes weakness and tiredness and tingling sensation in the leg may accompany the above symptoms. Other than above cramps in the calf  muscles while walking is also treated well with this medicine.

10. Anacardium Orientale – For Cramps in Calves While Walking

Anacardium Orientale is prepared from a layer of nuts between the shell and kernel of a plant known as marking nut. This plant belongs to family anacardiaceae. This medicine is prominently indicated in persons complaining of cramps in calf muscles while walking. They feel better by lying down. They may also have these cramps when rising from the seat. Other than cramps it is indicated for tensive pain in the calves felt during the day and also at night in bed attended with sleeplessness. A burning sensation in the legs may accompany the above symptoms.

11. Zincum Met – For Drawing, Tearing Pain in Calves

This medicine is valuable to treat cases where drawing, tearing pain in the calves is felt. Along with this the calf muscle also feels tight and stiff especially while walking. It is also a significant medicine to treat cramp like pain in the calf usually at night. In addition to pain weakness can be felt in the calves. This is most felt on rising from the seat. Another symptom indicating to use Zincum is crawling and formication in calves especially during rest.

12. Valeriana – For Pain that is Better by Rubbing

This medicine is prepared from the fresh root of the plant Valeriana Officinalis. This plant belongs to the family valerianaceae. The chief indication to use this medicine is pain in calf muscle relieved by rubbing the affected part. The pain can  be cramping or tearing in nature when it is required. It may be worse when sitting. Another indication is cramp in calf muscle toward evening time.