Muscle Cramps: 2 Simple Fixes and Herbal Teas That May Help

Udumbara Udumbara
Sep 25, 2025 - 09:57 Updated: Sep 24, 2025 - 12:40
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Muscle Cramps: 2 Simple Fixes and Herbal Teas That May Help

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Painful muscle cramps can wake you in the middle of the night and last for up to several minutes. Cramps occur more often in the summer when hot weather can leave you dehydrated.

While conventional medicine points to lost electrolytes as the culprit, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) offers a deeper perspective—seeing cramps as a sign of drained energy, fluids, and nourishment. By combining hydration, targeted acupressure, and herbal remedies, you can recover faster and even be free from muscle cramps.

Understanding Muscle Cramps

Prolonged sweating causes a loss of water and electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, and magnesium—essential minerals for nerve signal transmission and muscle contraction. When they fall out of balance, calcium regulation inside muscle cells is disrupted, triggering involuntary contractions—better known as cramps or “charley horses.”

TCM adds another layer of perspective—seeing muscle cramps as a sign of overall depletion of vital energy, fluids, and blood.
Vital energy: drives all physiological processes, including the distribution of fluids. When vital energy is weakened by heat and exhaustion, fluids don’t circulate properly, and muscles aren’t nourished—making them more prone to cramping.
Body fluids: the lubricating fluids that moisten tissues. Excessive sweating drains these fluids, drying out the muscles and tendons, which then stiffen and cramp.
Heart and blood: The heart pumps blood, which nourishes the muscles. The classic TCM medical text, “The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon,” says, “Sweat is the fluid of the heart.” Heavy sweating also depletes blood along with fluids, weakening the heart’s ability to nourish muscles and leaving them more vulnerable to spasm.
Both conventional medicine and TCM agree on the core issue that summer heat drains the body. While modern medicine aims to restore electrolytes, TCM restores balance by replenishing vital energy, fluids, and nourishment. Together, these approaches provide a complete strategy to keep muscles supple and resilient.

2 Acupoints to Relieve Muscle Cramps

When experiencing muscle cramps, massaging specific acupoints can help balance the body’s energy and blood flow, quickly easing the cramps.
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1. Parathyroid Auricular Point

  • Location: On the ear’s antitragus—the small cartilage opposite the ear canal.
  • TCM theory: Stimulating this point supports calcium balance in the body by influencing the parathyroid glands, which regulate calcium metabolism.
  • How to use: Apply gentle massage or press-and-hold for one to two minutes on each ear when cramps occur.

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2. Hundred Meetings (Baihui DU 20)

  • Location: At the crown of the head, directly above the tips of both ears, about one thumb’s width (approximately one knuckle) toward the back.
  • TCM theory: Baihui is considered a central “meeting point” where many energy pathways in the body connect. Because of this, it is often used to calm the nervous system, balance circulation, and ease sudden tension or spasms.
  • How to use: Apply gentle massage or warm heat with a hairdryer on low, or use a warm compress for quick relief.

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3 Herbal Teas

To prevent muscle cramps, you also need to manage excessive sweating.
Two main types of sweating are recognized in TCM: Spontaneous sweating, which occurs during the day without exertion, and night sweating, which occurs during sleep—often more frequently in the elderly or children.

1. Jade Windscreen Powder–For Spontaneous Sweating

Jade windscreen powder (Yu Ping Feng San) is a commonly used TCM herbal recipe to strengthen the body’s protective vital energy. It is often prepared as an herbal tea. The name illustrates its function—it acts like a solid screen that shields the body from harm. It also helps pores stay properly regulated—preventing unnecessary sweating.
Research has found that Jade windscreen powder not only helps prevent excessive sweating but also boosts immunity.
Best for: Children and adults with persistent daytime sweating, especially in summer.
Ingredients
  • 11 grams each of saposhnikovia root (fangfeng), astragalus root (huangqi), and atractylodes rhizome (baizhu)

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Preparation
Wash herbs thoroughly, add 3 to 4 cups of water, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer gently for 20 to 30 minutes, until the tea is light in flavor. You can drink it as a tea, warm or at room temperature, but do not add ice.
Precautions
Avoid drinking during colds or inflammatory conditions such as a sore throat. People with high blood pressure should consult a doctor before drinking.

2. Pulse Generator Tea–For Night Sweating

Pulse Generator Tea (Sheng Mai Yin) replenishes fluids to stop night sweating while boosting yang energy for overall vitality.
Best for: People who wake-up drenched in sweat, feel fatigued, or have palpitations in hot weather.
Ingredients
  • 7 to 11 grams ginseng (renshen)
  • 20 to 30 schisandra (wuweizi) berries
  • 37grams ophiopogon root (maidong)

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Illustration by The Epoch Times, Shutterstock

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Preparation
Wash the ingredients thoroughly, then place them in a pot and add about 3 to 4 cups of water. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a low simmer for about 20 to 30 minutes, until the decoction is light in flavor. Drink as a tea.

Precautions: Avoid during acute infections or digestive upset. Consult a TCM practitioner for dosage adjustments.

3. Cinnamon Twig and Kudzu Root Doctrine for Soft Spasms

Cinnamon twig and Kudzu Root Doctrine (Guizhi-Gegen Tang) is a commonly used clinical formula, but it should be taken under the guidance of a qualified TCM practitioner. It restores harmony between the muscles and the body’s surface defenses, easing tension and improving circulation.

This decoction can also help relieve muscle tension. During my studies in traditional Chinese medicine, I often stayed up late and worked hard, which eventually led to months of persistent stiffness in my back and neck. Acupuncture offered little relief. At the time, the weather was hot, and I was sweating excessively. I suspected it was a case of “soft spasms.” After taking the doctrine, I experienced a deep, refreshing sweat, and the tension in my back and neck released immediately.

Best for: Persistent cramps and muscle tension with excessive sweating.
Ingredients
  • Cinnamon twig  (guizhi)—Warms and unblocks channels
  • Kudzu root (gegen)—Relaxes muscles and releases the upper back

Preparation

Wash herbs. Add to a pot with 4 to 5 cups of water. Bring to a boil, then simmer for about 20 to 30 minutes, until the liquid has a mild flavor. Drink warm for the best effect.

Precautions: Pregnant women should seek professional advice before use.

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Illustration by The Epoch Times, Shutterstock

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The Chinese herbs mentioned above are available at health food stores or Asian grocery stores. Always consult a qualified TCM practitioner to ensure a safe and effective treatment plan tailored to your constitution.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Epoch Health welcomes professional discussion and friendly debate. To submit an opinion piece, please follow these guidelines and submit through our form here.
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