If you’re in pain and would rather turn to a natural remedy for pain relief than face the side effects of a strong medication, there are a number of great options that are probably right inside your kitchen.
Joint and muscle pain
A 2012 study out of Denmark, published in the journal Arthritis, compared ginger extract to the common drugs cortisone and ibuprofen for the treatment of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. They found that when people suffering from the aches and pains of these conditions added ginger to their diet, it eased muscle and joint pain, swelling and stiffness for up to 63 percent of the study participants within two months. The researchers credited ginger’s potent compounds known as gingerols, which prevent the production of hormones that trigger pain.
To relieve your pain, sip ginger tea, add fresh ginger root to a smoothie or add it to meals. Fresh ginger’s tangy freshness, light spiciness, warmth and mellow sweetness complement a range of dishes, from sweet to savory.
Toothaches
If you’ve got a toothache and can’t get to your dentist, try gently chewing on a clove to ease the pain and inflammation. Experts say cloves contain a natural compound called eugenol, which is a powerful anesthetic. You can also use clove oil by dipping a cotton swab into the oil and dabbing it onto the affected area, just be careful not to use too much as it can sting.
Headaches
If you’ve got a headache, brew up some rosemary tea. It helps to keep the blood vessels dilated and also has anti-inflammatory properties which work together to reduce the pain. Use one teaspoon of rosemary per cup of hot water, steep for 10 minutes, strain and sip. Alternatively, you can try massaging your head with rosemary oil to alleviate the pain.
Heartburn
Apple cider vinegar can help to relieve heartburn. Just combine one tablespoon with eight ounces of water before every meal and you can stop painful bouts of heartburn in as little as 24 hours. As it’s rich in malic and tartaric acids, it helps to speed the breakdown of fats and proteins so that the stomach can empty before the food gets up into the esophagus where it triggers heartburn pain.
Sinus pain
A warming, drying herb like thyme can help relieve sinus pain and pressure due to it’s strongly antiseptic nature as well as being a traditional remedy for respiratory infections. Steep one to two teaspoons of dried thyme in a cup of boiling water for about ten minutes. Drink three times a day.
Foot pain
The salt helps to naturally battle inflammation in addition to offering antibacterial components, quickly destroying the germs that cause pain and swelling. Mix one teaspoon of salt per cup of water, heating to the warmest tolerable temperature, and then soak the affected foot for 20 minutes twice a day, until the infection subsides.
Stomach upset
If you’ve got a painful rumbling in your gastrointestinal tract, drinking peppermint or ginger tea can help. They’re both well known to be highly effective remedies for digestive distress. These herbs contain compounds that help stomach and intestinal contractions to occur in regular, rhythmic patterns and prevent digestive muscles from tensing erratically, which are known to cause nausea and pain.
-The Alternative Daily
Sources:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23365744
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/251.html
http://www.prevention.com/mind-body/natural-remedies/food-remedies-pain?s=3&?cid=OBtrafficPV_TBD_AR1
http://www.ivillage.com/natural-pain-remedies-your-kitchen/4-b-334141#334373
http://www.grannymed.com/remedies/conditions/digestion/mint-and-ginger-tea-for-digestion