Do you ever worry about what painkillers and pain relief products contain? If so, you aren’t alone. Every year, more consumers are looking to natural pain relief products to get them through the difficulties of life rather than constantly choosing ibuprofen and other pain killers. Not only are natural pain relief products healthier for the body, but they’re also less likely to lead to reliance on painkilling products.
Turmeric
But isn’t this the ingredient found in curry? Absolutely, and it offers the flavour as well as the famous yellow colour. Turmeric might be a spice, but it also contains an antioxidant called curcumin. This antioxidant aims to rid the body of free radical molecules that destroy tissue and cells.
In the past, people have used turmeric to treat several conditions including upset stomachs, indigestion, ulcers, and psoriasis. What’s more, speak to some people and they’ll claim that turmeric relieves the pain associated with osteoarthritis since it reduces inflammation.
Willow Bark
While most medications are recent developments, you’ll have to go back centuries to find the first people using willow bark. You might think that more recent developments are more reliable, but people centuries ago knew what they were doing (even if they didn’t know precisely why they were doing it!).
The reason willow bark is so successful in relieving pain is that it contains the main chemical used in aspirin, salicin. Thankfully, you no longer need to chew this bark to enjoy the pain relief effects. Instead, you’ll find dried herbs sold online as well as capsules and liquid supplements.
In much the same way that aspirin can harm children, willow bark does the same when consumed in large quantities. Therefore, follow the same rules that you would with aspirin, and this includes avoiding it if you’re already taking anti-inflammatory drugs or other prescription medication.
CBD Extracts
Isn’t this cannabis? This is a common misconception and one that needs to be set straight. While CBD extracts come from the cannabis plant, and is considered one of the best plant-based body and mind products, they do not contain THC (the ingredient that makes people high when consumed). Medicinal CBD products in the UK cannot legally contain more than 0.2% THC.
Whether you consume CBD as oil or another form, it is known to help with chronic pain, anxiety, depression, stress, cancer-related symptoms (not cancer itself), acne, heart health, and diabetes prevention. Although testing is still limited on humans, a study on mice showed that diabetes incidence reduced by over 55% when treated with CBD.
Ice and Heat
It might sound simple, but ice and heat can sometimes be just as effective as medication. When should you use each? Ultimately, ice is better for injuries such as strained muscles, ligaments, or tendons. It should reduce inflammation as well as any swelling after an accident. Some people also use cold packs to relieve a headache.
On the other hand, heat is better with stiffness, a common side effect of arthritis. The best way to apply heat when arthritis is causing pain and discomfort is to buy a moist heat pack. If you haven’t seen these before, you warm them in the microwave and keep reheating whenever required.
Other Natural Pain Relief Products
Other potential natural solutions to pain relief include:
- Lavender essential oil
- Acupuncture
- Rosemary essential oil
- Cloves
- Capsaicin (found in chilli peppers)
- Feverfew
- Ginger
Why not try some of these natural pain relief products and see what works for you? Before making big changes, speak with a medical professional for advice!
