Herbal Pain Relievers

All of us have experienced some form of pain at some point of time in our lives. We often opt for prescriptions drugs or over-the-counter medicines to relieve the pain. However, these drugs have a number of side effects and they cause a lot of damage to one's health if they are used for an extended period of time. Therefore, it is better to opt for herbal pain relievers. Some of these herbs are also used in food, hence, they do not have any side effects. Whereas, the synthetic ones are made from chemicals, synthetic hormones, etc.

Pain can be caused either due to injury or trauma. There are many medical condition like arthritis, migraines, chronic back pain, etc. which need treatment for pain management.

It is not a pain-killer per se, but it is beneficial for the treatment of pain. It is present in all types of hot peppers and is actually a chemical that is responsible for the mouth-burning effect of peppers. Capsaicin helps to reduce the sensitivity of the pain-relaying nerves in the areas which is affected with pain. It is said to reduce pain caused due to arthritis, migraine, etc.

Although there is a lot of hype about fish oil to treat pain, research has indeed shown that it does help to treat pain. Research also points to the fact that people stopped taking prescription pain killers completely after they started taking fish oil supplements everyday.

Turmeric is widely used in Indian and Southeast Asian cooking. Turmeric contains curcumin, which is a powerful anti-inflammatory agent. Therefore, it is often used with other herbs to get relief from pain.

It is used for the treatment of pain caused due to rheumatoid arthritis. It is also used as a natural pain reliever for osteoarthritis, tendinitis, neck pain, back pains, etc. In some cases, patients were able to go off painkillers after starting treatment with this herb. It not only helps in relieving pain, but is also useful in improving the overall quality of life of the patients.

This herbal pain relief medicine is very effective in preventing and suppressing inflammatory chemical reactions. It is made from the bark resin of the frankincense tree. Boswelia is often recommended in Ayurveda for the treatment of arthritis and inflammatory bowel problems.

It is a natural pain reliever. Aspirin is the synthetic version of this herb. However, the natural white willow bark does not cause gastric side effects, which are often seen in patients who take aspirin. Along with pain relief, it also helps to reduce inflammation in the joints.

Ginger root is a widely used herbal remedy, as it has warming properties which help to improve blood circulation. It is helpful not only for the treatment of pain associated with arthritis, but also menstrual cramps and backache. It may also be used to treat sore throat. It is an analgesic and also has anti-inflammatory properties.

Valerian root is used as a skeletal relaxant, and it is also used to treat chronic pain. It can also be used to treat headache, cramps, insomnia, shingles, neuralgia, stress, and trauma. It has antispasmodic and sedative properties.

This homeopathic pain reliever is said to be especially useful for the treatment of soft tissue injuries and bruising. It helps to alleviate general muscle pain and sprains. Arnica can also be used externally as a preventive medicine to avoid injury before exercising or racing. Therefore, it is seen that arnica is used topically, and not on open or broken skin.

Before taking any of these herbal painkillers, it is important to have a word with your health care professional, to avoid any reaction with the prescription drugs. In some cases, the effect of the prescription drugs may be reduced due to the use of these herbal pain relievers. Also, if you are on a prescription medication, do not stop its use without consulting your physician.