Pain can send us racing to the nearest pharmacy for over the counter remedies in an effort to stop or at least mask it.
While anti-inflammatory pharmaceuticals can be useful, they can also be dangerous. They’re known to negatively impact the stomach lining and liver. Higher up the pain relief food chain, there are opioids and these represent a profound risk of addiction.
At Back & Body, we’re not huge fans of drug therapy, but we know it’s often a helpful adjunct to the therapies we offer at our clinics. All the same, if there’s a drug-free way to address, we recommend it. So here we offer our list of 5 natural pain killers that will heal you back to health, in the interests of reducing patient dependency on pharmaceuticals.
And surprise! Some of them are in your kitchen, right this minute.
1. Bromelein – the pineapple’s secret healer.
Pineapples are tasty, to be sure, so this one won’t be hard to swallow. Bromelein is the pineapple’s secret healing agent, found in the juice and stems of this popular, tropical fruit. Used to reduce swelling and inflammation, this healing agent is particularly useful following surgery, as it speeds healing. It can also reduce muscle and osteoarthritic pain.
2. Capsaicin – hot and spicy pain relief.
Spicy food enthusiasts will be happy to hear that the bite of red hot chili peppers has a lot more going for it than flavor. This substance reduces the body’s ability to feel pain, over time. Effectively, neuron pain transmitters are inhibited by those fiery peppers that make hot sauce on everything a must.
3. Extract of ginger root – delicious natural help for pain.
That fresh ginger in that gives a fragrant kick to your Vietnamese Pho can also help relieve the pain of osteoarthritis and muscle aches. Researchers are examining the anti-inflammatory properties of extract of ginger as a substitute for over the counter pharmaceuticals, due to its successful trials against placebos.
4. India’s gift to pain relief – turmeric.
This golden spice is most commonly associated with the exotic subcontinent, as it’s liberally used in the regional cuisine. But turmeric is also an effective pain relief agent which addresses inflammation in the joints, as well as the pain experienced from a sprain or strain and even bruising. So, tuck into that curry. Turmeric is a long-acknowledged natural pain reliever.
5. From Ireland with love – Aquamin.
Off the Emerald Isle’s fair shores is where you’ll find this variety of red seaweed. Replete with calcium and magnesium, Aquamin helps with the inflammation and pain commonly associated with osteoarthritis. It’s also proven to enhance bone density, with its high mineral concentrations. While this one may not be in your spice rack right now, it can likely be found at your local natural supplements provider.
These 5 natural pain killers that will heal you back to health may not work for everyone, but they’ve been proven to be effective for many, through clinical trials and studies. Contact us for more information.
