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It is a well known fact that there are over 100 herbs that have natural analgesic properties and these herbs are widely used in ayurvedic medicine to provide relief from pain of any kind. In this section we will look at a few of these herbs that can be effectively used at home to treat pain.However, do not combine these herbs with OTC or doctor prescribed medications or else there can be dangerous side effects.
Remedies For Curing Pain With Herbs
Willow Bark
The bark of white willow is a very popular analgesic in Chinese medicine because of its amazing soothing properties. The herb is used in many households for the treatment of pain caused by osteoarthritis and many people also use it for treating nerve pain and backache. The presence of salicylic acid, salicin and apigenin makes the bark of the willow tree an ideal painkiller. The three chemicals are not only anti-inflammatory and analgesic but are also anti-neuralgic and regular intake of medication prepared using willow bark will improve your muscular and joint pain in just about four weeks time.
Many people suffering from osteoarthritis have reported great improvement in their condition after starting regular dosage of willow bark. The herb is sold in the form of tea in many health stores. To get rid of pain one has to drink several cups of willow bark tea every day. However, the herbal tea is not meant for treating pain in young children and in pregnant women.
Arnica
Arnica is a popular herb that is commonly found in herbal hair oils since it is ideal for treating headaches and migraine. But capsules prepared using arnica are also recommended for relieving osteoarthritic pain as well as for treating post carpal tunnel surgery pain. Arnica has analgesic properties due to the presence of helenin – a naturally occurring analgesic. Helenin is a natural compound that alleviates any form of body ache. Topical creams that include helenin as an ingredient are available as over-the-counter pain killers but should be used as per the instructions on the package.
Boswellia
Boswellia is another popular herb that is used for relieving pain and inflammation that occurs in bones. The herb is sold in the form of capsules at many drug and health stores. Many professional players also use the herbal capsules for treating their injuries since boswellia has no side effects nor is it addictive. Treatment using boswellia capsules should be carried out for a period of three months to get rid of pain completely.
Gingerroot
Ginger root is majorly used in the treatment of abdominal cramps caused by improper and partial digestion of food. The herb has both analgesic as well as anti-inflammatory properties. The herb should be used as a concoction in the treatment of pelvic pain associated with fibromyalgia. Ginger root is mainly taken in tea form for relieving pain but adding raw pieces of the herb to your food will reduce episodes of abdominal cramping.
Clove Oil
Clove is again a spicy herb that is also a common ingredient in cooking. However, the oil of clove is known to relieve headaches and toothaches. Many people massage clove oil into their gums every night to treat the inflammation and pain caused by cavities.
Painful gas in infants and toddlers can be treated by rubbing warm clove oil over their tummies. Many women prepare tea using raw clove pods to treat menstrual cramping.
Devil’s Claw
This herb is commonly found growing on the lands of South Africa and is majorly exploited by the native tribes because of its effective medicinal properties. The root of the herb is commonly used in the preparation of medicines meant for muscular pain especially that of the shoulders, neck and the back. Extreme pain related to osteoarthritis and rheumatism can also be treated using Devil’s claw. The herb contains naturally occurring chemicals called harpagide and harpagoside that are responsible for the analgesic as well as anti-inflammatory properties present in Devil’s claw.
The herb can be safely used for treating joint aches as well though care should be taken that the daily dose of the herb should not be more than 750mg. The herbal medication should be taken thrice daily for about two months to get rid of pain associated with arthritis. It is recommended that the herb be taken only after consultation with your health care provider as well as herbalist. Pregnant women should not take the herb for easing muscular pain.
Peppermint
Peppermint tea is commonly used for elevating symptoms of headache because the flavor and aroma of peppermint is known to calm the nerves and uplift the mood. Many times the tea is also given to women suffering from mild menstrual cramping. The herb has anti-spasmodic qualities that help relieve muscular ache. The essential oil of peppermint is a popular remedy against severe toothache and is also used for treating colic among adult patients. However, the herb, its oil and extracts are not meant for use in infants and toddlers as it may lead to jaundice. In adults, peppermint capsules are prescribed for relieving abdominal cramping due to irritable bowel syndrome.
Cayenne Pepper
Cayenne pepper is a spicy herb that is popularly associated with fast weight loss. The herb contains capsaicin that not only imparts a distinct taste and flavor to the herb but also aid in easing muscular pain because of its natural analgesic properties. Intake of capsaicin is known to release endorphins or the feel good hormones. When there is an overflow of endorphins in the body the brain receives the signal that all is well and this effectively suppresses any feeling of pain. In fact, capsaicin is also a common ingredient in creams and gels used for topical treatment of muscular pain. Many doctors recommended use of creams that contain .025 per cent of capsaicin for treating pain associated with osteoarthritis.
Creams containing capsaicin effectively soothe and calm the frayed and inflamed nerves thus reducing pain in the muscles. However, for treating nerve related pains the creams should contain at least .075 per cent of capsaicin; the more the better. Strong dosage of capsaicin in creams is very effective in treating pain related to nerve damage. Capsaicin creams are widely used in the treatment of post surgery pain as well as pain associated with HIV.
