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Pain drives more people to the doctor, or to the internet, than any other medical symptom. Specifically, seeking relief from pain, whether it be headaches, joint pain or chronic suffering, sends people searching for answers.
I understand. I’ve been the seeker. Chronic pain dogged me for more than 20 years, causing me to decide to just “live with it”…until my condition worsened.
At one time I took as many as eight ibuprofen a day. Sadly, I’ve taken that many at ONE TIME. Ibuprofen and other over the counter pain relievers may dull the pain, however they wreak havoc on the body. Pain relievers can damage the digestive system, create negative changes in gut bacteria and increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.
From experience, I know that taking too much ibuprofen makes me jittery and causes me to break out in a rash. In fact, I have a sensitivity to ibuprofen now, due to overuse.
7 Natural Pain Remedies
Gratefully, changing my diet eliminated my chronic pain, by dealing with the root cause of it. For those occasional times when I get a headache or have tight muscles or a flare up of inflammation, the following natural remedies help relieve pain.
Cat’s Claw
This extraordinary herb fights pain throughout the body. And, it truly is a powerful herb for calming inflammation, which is the primary cause for pain. Cat’s Claw contains bioactive pharma-compounds that rival synthetic drugs for healing a host of disorders, killing viruses, easing tight muscles and soothing pain.
Take Cat’s Claw in capsule or alcohol free tincture form, or use dried leaves to brew tea.
Try this: Add one teaspoon dried Cat’s Claw to one cup boiling water. Let steep for five minutes. Add lemon and honey, if desired.
Ginger
Ginger powerfully blocks the formation of inflammatory compounds. It breaks down inflammation and acidity in joint fluid. And ginger is antispasmodic, calming tense muscles after an overly busy day and flushing excess lactic acid from muscle tissue. One cup of ginger tea settles an upset stomach and relaxes tight muscles for up to 12 hours.
Use fresh ginger in juices and recipes. Consume as a tea or take in capsule form.
Try this: Apple Celery Ginger Juice
Magnesium
Many people are magnesium deficient. As a result they can suffer from a multitude of disorders, including migraines, nerve pain and muscle spasms. Magnesium reduces tension in and around the trigeminal nerves, relieving migraines and relaxes spasming muscles. It also eases the symptoms of fibromyalgia.
Take this important supplement in capsule form.
Try this: Magnesium Capsules
Turmeric
This powerful herb, used as a spice in curry, contains anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. The pain relieving ingredient in turmeric is curcumin. It improves circulation, lowers the enzymes that cause inflammation and eases the pain associated with tendonitis and autoimmune disorders.
Use fresh or ground turmeric in cooking or take in capsule form.
Try this: Dairy Free Turmeric Milk
Chamomile
This mild herb relaxes muscles, eases tension and helps insomnia. Chamomile contains anti-inflammatory properties that aid the digestive system along with easing migraines and reducing the pain and swelling associated with arthritis, fibromyalgia and other autoimmune disorders.
Take Chamomile in capsule or alcohol free tincture form, or brew the dried flowers and create tea.
Try this: Add one teaspoons of dried Chamomile to one cup of boiling water. Let steep for 15 minutes. Add honey if desired.
Feverfew
This daisy-like plant possesses powerful pain relieving properties. Taking feverfew daily lessens the pain of migraines and helps to prevent the reoccurrence of these debilitating headaches by preventing the widening of blood vessels that precipitates an attack. Feverfew also relieves the symptoms that accompany migraines, including light sensitivity, nausea and vomiting.
Feverfew reduces inflammation in the nervous system as well as in the joints, making it beneficial to those suffering from arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Take feverfew in capsule form, in an alcohol free tincture or use the dried flowers to brew tea.
Try this: Dried Feverfew
Valerian Root
This herb relieves insomnia and reduces tension in tired muscles. Valerian root calms stress and soothes anxiety and irritability. It eases pain by reducing nerve sensitivity.
Take valerian root in capsule or alcohol free tincture form or used the dried root to brew tea.
Try this: Combine one teaspoon dried valerian root with one teaspoon dried chamomile flowers. Add boiling water and let steep for 15 minutes. Sweeten with honey, if desired. Drink before bedtime, for a great night’s sleep.
Bonus Natural Pain Remedies
My recent experience with CBD infused water allows me to highly recommend CBD products for pain relief as well. Check out my post HERE. And watch next week for Part 2 in this series: Natural Pain Relief Techniques
Choosing Natural Pain Remedies
I hope these natural pain remedies provide options, the next time a sore knee or a nagging headache troubles you. It seems easier to reach for the ibuprofen bottle. However, not only do these pain remedies provide relief, over time they benefit the body in myriad ways.
My desire to have my own little apothecary birthed the herb garden in my backyard. Each year, I add more herbs, and discover more ways to use them, to my great benefit. I’m so excited to welcome spring…and the planting season.
Check out my Amazon Storefront, for more dried herbs and herbal teas.
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