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Aches, pains and chills are simply a sign that all is not right in the body. In some cases, aches and pains may just be a result of over strenuous exercise or fatigue but if the aches and chills are causing you to feel uneasy or uncomfortable, it is better to treat them at the earliest.

Depending on the underlying medical condition causing the body aches, pains and chills, you may also experience the accompanying symptoms:

• Muscle and joint pain
• Inflammation of the joints
• Cramps
• Difficulty sleeping
• Exhaustion
• Loss of appetite
• Breathing difficulties
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Excessive sweating
• Fever
• Vomiting
• High blood pressure
• Irregular menstrual cycle

Causes: There are a number of different causes of chills and body aches such as:

• Flu or other viral infections
• Common cold
• Injury or trauma
• Sprains and strains
• Fibromyalgia
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Infectious diseases such as measles, mumps or chickenpox
• Lyme disease
• Tick fever
• Viral gastroenteritis
• Acute stress disorder
• Drugs such as cocaine
• Cholesterol and blood pressure medications
• Electrolyte imbalance

Ways To Treat Body Aches and Chills: Home remedies and natural cures are the first alternative people turn to when treating generalized aches and pains. If there is no underlying medical reason for your body pain, try the following home remedies:

• Soak in a warm bath with Epsom salts to relax tired and overworked muscles
• Apply a hot water bottle or warm compress to the affected area. If the pain is caused by a strain or sprain a cold compress would be more effective.
• Herbs such as devil’s claw and boswellia can help improve the mobility of joints and prevent inflammation and pain.
• Muscle and joint liniments that contain herbs such as witch hazel and chamomile help speed up the recovery process of overused muscles and joints.
• Essential oils such as pine, ginger and peppermint work as anti-inflammatory agents and can reduce inflammation and swelling.
• Arnica is a powerful anti-inflammatory agent and helps treat sore muscles and body pain.
• Massage the affected areas of the body with lavender oil to relax muscles and reduce the build up of lactic acid.
• Mix one tablespoon of Slipper Elm Bark powder in one liter of boiling water and take one tablespoon of this concoction every three to fours hours to reduce body aches and pains.
• Sip on ginger tea to alleviate congestion caused by flu and other infections and improve circulation in the body.
• If the body aches, pains and chills are caused by fever or other infections, the body needs adequate rest to heal properly.
• Over-the-counter analgesic creams and painkillers can help reduce muscle and joint pain. For more severe cases, your doctor may prescribe NSAIDs to reduce swelling and pain.
• If you play a sport or lift heavy weights, you can strengthen your muscles and improve your flexibility by adding yoga or pilates to your exercise regime.
• Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and help your muscles recover from overuse or strain.
• Foods high in vitamin C help boost immunity to fight off any infections and speed up the recovery process.
• A massage can provide temporary relief from body aches and pains.

If none of these treatments work or if you experience any of the following symptoms contact your doctor immediately:

• Sudden weight gain or water retention
• Cannot move any part of your body
• Difficulty swallowing or breathing
• Stiff neck
• High fever