Do you live with pain? Strong opioid pain relievers aren’t the only option. Here’s an article detailing the top supplements for herbal pain relief.
Are you one of the 20% of Americans who have chronic pain? Your doctor may prescribe painkillers or opioids to alleviate your pain, but this is not+ your only option.
If you want to avoid prescription medications, consider herbal pain relief. There are many different natural options you can try to address your pain. Keep reading to learn more about some of your options.
Herbal Pain Relief: Does It Work?
The root of much of our chronic pain, whether that be arthritis, back pain, or tendonitis, is inflammation and stress. Inflammation is your body’s response to infection or injury. If left untreated, it can increase your risk for other chronic conditions, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.
Herbal supplements that address inflammation can often alleviate our pain. Moreover, in recent years, some of the natural pain relievers mentioned in this article have been used for a wide variety of different ailments. For now though, here are some natural products that are good options for chronic pain and inflammation.
White Willow Bark
The bark of the white willow tree includes a compound called salicin, which has similar properties to aspirin. You can find it in a powder or liquid extract or even get bits of the bark to chew on.
Salicin can reduce back pain, joint pain, and arthritis. It’s important to limit how much of it you consume, however, as too much of it can cause stomach issues, including ulcers. Because salicin is similar to aspirin, it should not be used by children.
Devil’s Claw
Devil’s claw is a South African herb that can be used to treat pain from arthritis, back and neck pain, tendonitis, fibromyalgia, migraines, and even gastrointestinal problems.
It can be taken by mouth but does have a few side effects associated with it, most commonly diarrhea.
Turmeric
Turmeric has gained quite a following in recent years and is trendy when it comes to herbal supplements. You can incorporate it into your food, make turmeric milk, or take it in capsule form.
It can reduce inflammatory proteins called cytokines and help decrease pain caused by tendonitis and autoimmune disorders.
Kratom
The Mitragyna speciosa plant, more commonly known as kratom, can be used to manage pain and gastrointestinal issues. Kratom can address pain due to arthritis, fibromyalgia, and chronic joint pain and other aches.
Before you take anything for pain, you should do your research. You can learn more about how kratom can help with pain at The Kratom Connection.
Capsaicin
Capsaicin comes from hot chili peppers and is what makes your mouth feel hot. However, it’s also used in a cream or patch form to relieve pain. If you have pain due to joint inflammation, fibromyalgia, surgery, migraines, or muscle sprains and strains, it might help you.
When you put it on your skin, you’re blocking the pain signals being sent to your brain.
Feverfew
Feverfew is a flowering plant found in the daisy family. It can be used to treat headaches, toothaches, and even stomach aches. It can even be used to treat infertility and problems with menstruation.
It doesn’t have a lot of serious side effects, making it an attractive option for natural pain relief. Mild side effects include canker sores and bloating.
The Take-Away Message
If you’re reluctant to use pharmaceutical pain medication, you are not destined to live a life marred by chronic pain. There are many herbal pain relief options that can alleviate your pain without the downsides of prescription medications.
To learn more about health and happiness, explore our other blog posts. Health and happiness are strongly linked, so improving your health often works to improve your happiness too.