28 Oct 5 Natural Ways to Relieve Pain
During those times when you were struck down with pain, you’ve probably asked yourself “How can I relieve this pain instantly?” And headed straight for over-the-counter medications, such as ibuprofen, amongst others. We’ve all been there.
But as we now know, these medications can often cause a wide array of side effects, leading an increasing number of people to turn to more naturally-derived and herbal medications for the management of pain.
Here are 5 natural pain relieving ingredients we think are worth mentioning:
- Willow Bark
For centuries people have been making use of willow bark to assist in combating inflammation, which is often associated with pain. It’s become one of the more widely used natural remedies for lower back pain and inflammation, as well as headaches, osteoarthritis, and many more.
White willow bark contains salicin, a chemical that’s quite similar to the main ingredient in aspirin, so if you’re sensitive to aspirin, you should probably avoid taking willow bark supplements, the same could be said about other anti-inflammatory drugs.
There are a number of possible side effects, that are very similar to the side effects of aspirin, that you may need to watch out for. It’s also important to note that willow bark is not suitable for children.
- Turmeric
Turmeric is a wonderful yellow spice derived from the turmeric plant, the key compound of which is curcumin, which you may have heard of before. It’s fast gaining popularity for its anti-inflammatory properties, as well as it’s reputation as a natural pain reliever.
“How exactly does it work?” You may ask. Curcumin is simply an antioxidant that assists in guarding the body against free radical molecules that can cause harm to the cells of your body, which is why turmeric is said to assist with a number of health conditions, such as indigestion, psoriasis, ulcers, and even cancer.
- Cloves
The clove spice, as you may know, is usually available in their whole form, as well as in their ground form. It is, however, also available in capsule, powder, and oil form. A little known benefit of cloves is its ability to offer pain relief, particularly pain associated with arthritic inflammation, headaches, and toothaches.
It may also be able to offer topical pain relief, all thanks to eugenol, the key component of cloves, which is a natural pain reliever. Possible side effects of cloves are abnormal bleeding, so those with bleeding disorders or those taking blood-thinning medication may want to avoid this one.
- CBD Oil
CBD is having a moment as one of the trendiest supplements around, and for good reason. Call us biased, but we’re huge advocates for the many benefits of CBD oils and products, the benefits of which are vast and impressive, from helping with symptoms of anxiety, to improving the quality of sleep, as well as mild pain relief.
Cannabidiol, or CBD for short, is one of 113 identified cannabinoids in the cannabis plants, and studies show that these cannabinoids bind to a part of the brain that actually helps to modulate the way your body receives pain signals.
Interested in trying CBD oil for yourself? Ask your doctor about trying the RETHINK ‘RELIEVE’ CBD Oil for pain & inflammation, available online, as well as in stores at a variety of health stores and pharmacies.
- Capsaicin
Capsaicin, or chilli peppers, may not be the first thing to spring to mind when you think of natural pain relief, in fact, most people probably associate the ingestion of it with an increased sensation of pain, so it may come as a surprise that many topical pain-relieving products actually contain capsaicin.
We’re not the only ones who are surprised, researchers aren’t exactly sure why capsaicin relieves pain. They do, however, think that it minimizes the skin’s sensitivity to pain by affecting nociceptor receptors, which carry pain signals throughout the body.
Here’s to The Best Natural Pain Relief
While the experience and advice of others do hold some weight, we’re all individuals, so it’s important to find the right natural pain medication for yourself. That said, it’s always a good idea to check with your healthcare practitioner before introducing any pain relief supplement or medication, just in case it negatively interacts with any of your pre-existing medications or health conditions.