5 natural remedies to relief pain
Joy Onuorah
Many people rely on medications to relief pain in different areas of the body, but they come with the risk of side effects, drug interactions, and habitual use or addiction.
You can find the relief you need from a variety of natural painkillers instead.
See five surprising natural painkillers you probably didn’t know of before how:
Essential oils
Essential oil such as lavender, rosemary, peppermint and eucalyptus oils may help relieve pain naturally. People use lavender oil for pain relief, to help sleep, and to ease anxiety.
Willow bark
Originally, people chewed the bark itself to relieve pain and fevers. Now willow bark is sold as a dried herb that you can brew like tea. It also comes as a liquid supplement or in capsule form. You can use willow bark to help relieve discomfort from headaches, low back pain, osteoarthritis , and many other conditions.
Turmeric
Turmeric is the spice that gives curry its yellow colour and unique flavour. It contains the compound curcumin, an antioxidant that helps protect the body from free radical molecules that can damage cells and tissue.
Turmeric can also be used for the treatment of many conditions, including:
- indigestion
- ulcers
- stomach upset
- psoriasis
- cancer
Cloves
Like other herbal supplements, you can use cloves to treat a wide range of conditions. Cloves may help ease nausea and treat colds. They may also help relieve the pain associated with headaches, arthritic inflammation, and toothaches. Cloves can also be used as part of a topical pain reliever.
Acupuncture
This ancient Chinese medical practice seeks to relieve pain by balancing the body’s natural energy pathways. The flow of energy is known as qi (pronounced CHEE).
For this practice, acupuncturists place tiny, thin needles into your skin. The location of the insertion is related to the source of the pain. Based on the qi, a needle may be inserted far from the part of the body experiencing pain.
Heat and ice
Among the most common home pain remedies is applying heat and ice directly to sites of pain. While this treatment may seem obvious, not everyone’s clear on exactly when to use ice versus heat.
Applying an ice pack to reduce swelling and inflammation shortly after you experience a strained muscle, tendon, or ligament may bring relief. Interestingly, once the inflammation has disappeared, heat may help reduce the stiffness that comes with sprains and strains.
Remember, pain is the body’s signal that something is wrong. It may be temporary, as with a strained muscle. But pain can also mean you have a serious health problem that needs professional medical evaluation.
Don’t hesitate to seek out a healthcare provider to diagnose the source of your pain, and discuss some natural options for treating it.
