If you want to avoid popping pills every time your body hurts, try these expert-approved natural pain relievers.
When we have backache, toothache or any other body pain, we tend to turn to medicines. Although medicines can provide immediate pain relief, their long-term use can increase the risk of side effects and cause problems. If you are tired of taking too many medicines to deal with these issues, try natural painkillers. Thanks to my mother’s wisdom, I have come to know of many natural painkillers that can help me deal with the problem. I discovered that these are not only approved by my mother, but also by Ayurveda.
According to Ayurveda, natural painkillers relieve pain without causing any significant side effects on your health. If you are frequently in pain and want to relieve it, try some natural painkillers. These are good home remedies but are not a substitute for medicines.
7 Natural Pain Relievers You Should Try
If you’re tired of taking pills every time you feel pain anywhere in your body, try these natural pain relievers instead.
1. Lavender essential oil
Essential oils are known for their pain relieving properties. One oil worth trying is lavender essential oil. A staple in aromatherapy, lavender essential oil has anti-inflammatory properties that are calming to the body and mind. According to Ayurvedic expert Dr. Chanchal Sharma, lavender essential oil can control pain-sensing serotonin and acetylcholine. According to a study published in Complementary Therapies in Medicine, lavender oil aromatherapy can help people reduce pain.
How to use lavender oil?
It can be applied to the skin, used as an essential oil, in hot compresses, in baths, and for aromatherapy.
2. Turmeric
Turmeric is a natural spice readily available in any kitchen and is known for its healing and pain relieving properties. A study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that turmeric is effective in relieving pain. “This spice contains a compound called curcumin, which has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. These have the same mechanism of action as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which are known to relieve pain and reduce inflammation. It has fewer side effects compared to other painkillers. Turmeric is a natural painkiller and can also relieve bone pain due to osteoarthritis,” the expert adds.
How can I incorporate turmeric into my diet?
One of the best ways to incorporate turmeric into your diet is by drinking golden milk, which can be used in curries, stews, rice, roasted vegetables, smoothies, soups, teas, and many other dishes.
3. Ginger
Ginger, a fragrant spice, is often used in traditional as well as modern medicine due to its anti-inflammatory properties. A study published in the journal Osteoarthritis and Cartilage found that ginger has a similar pain-relieving effect to the popular painkiller ibuprofen. Another study conducted by the American College of Rheumatology found that people who took ginger capsules twice a day experienced relief from osteoarthritis symptoms. Ginger acts as a natural painkiller as it contains shogaols and gingerols, which synthesize prostaglandins. Ginger naturally reduces swelling and is extremely helpful for patients with migraines, menstrual cramps, stiffness, and arthritis.
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How can I incorporate ginger into my diet?
There are several ways to incorporate ginger into your diet: you can make ginger tea, smoothies, or add it to soups, stews, and curries.
4. Acupuncture
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese therapy that helps relieve pain and maintain the body’s natural energy pathways. To reduce pain, acupuncture involves inserting needles into the body at the source of pain, which stimulates the body to produce serotonin, which makes you feel happier and less stressed. Dr. Sharma explains that this pain-relieving technique is highly effective for patients suffering from back pain, knee pain, tension headaches, and neck pain.
5. Cloves
Native to Indonesia, cloves are an essential part of traditional Indian cuisine. Cloves contain eugenol, which acts as a natural painkiller and helps relieve toothaches, colds, nausea, and headaches. A study published in the journal Heliyon found that cloves have anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties.
How to include cloves in your diet?
Cloves can be added to spice blends. You can also make tea and add cloves to it. Cloves can also be added to soups, stews, drinks, curries, spices, and smoothies.
6. Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties and help balance the Vata dosha, which causes pain. They can be used to treat arthritis and intestinal disorders, and reduce the intensity of all kinds of pain.
A study published in the Journal of Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, and Oral Radiology found that omega-3 fatty acids can help relieve bone and joint pain. They may also help with lower back and thigh pain caused by menstrual cramps. A study published in the Journal of Mind-Body Medicine Obstetrics and Gynecology found that taking omega-3 fatty acids can reduce menstrual pain.
How can I add omega-3 fatty acids to my diet?
Fatty fish like salmon, mackerel and sardines are rich sources of omega-3 fatty acids that you can include in your diet. Try also plant-based foods like flaxseeds, chia seeds, walnuts and hemp seeds.
7. Capsaicin
Nerve pain is a term that refers to a specific type of pain (burning or stabbing pain in the nerves) that capsaicin is used to treat. In addition, capsaicin is also used to treat minor discomfort due to rheumatoid arthritis and muscle sprains and strains. “Capsaicin is an extract of chili peppers that helps reduce pain. These compounds can calm sensory neurons. Researchers have concluded that capsaicin is very useful in treating pain due to psoriasis, arthritis, and other nerve-related pain,” says the expert.
How can you incorporate it into your diet?
Incorporate capsaicin-rich chili peppers into your cooking: these spices can be added to hot sauces, spicy marinades, infused oils, snacks, and a variety of curries.
Remember that!
The amount of these herbs should be balanced as too much of any substance can be harmful to your health. Buy these herbs from authentic sources. If you are pregnant or have allergies to these herbs, avoid these herbs or consult your doctor before incorporating them in your diet.
