Nature is all around us. And it offers more than just a pretty view — there’s an incredible list of medicinal benefits to be found in plants, including an endless string of herbs that offer remarkable pain relief.
Chronic pain is experienced by more than 700 million people every day. This pain is not only physically debilitating for most, but it creates a ripple effect impacting mobility, productivity, cognitive functions, and social interaction. Pain can interfere with every aspect of life and often leads to emotions such as sadness, feelings of hopelessness, anxiety, and depression. All of these experiences cause a greater risk of chronic disease and social isolation. Chronic pain is still not completely understood. But it can chip away at the foundations of an individual’s sense of purpose, identity, and belonging.
Natural Painkillers
Pain can lead to desperation, especially when answers can’t be found. This is why so many seek out the easiest solutions, which often rely on medical prescriptions. However, research is increasingly beginning to show that this is often a big part of the problem. One small example of this is neurological pain.
I have spent a large part of my life struggling with neurological pain — and I know what it feels like to succumb to desperation for anything that can take away even a slice of that pain. When it comes to pain relief — I’ve tried it all. But what helped the most began with understanding the mechanisms behind the pain. What I didn’t know at the beginning of my journey, is exactly how
“Naturally, our brain has an incredible way of rewiring and re-routing pathways to cope with things that go wrong. Relying on pain medication for too long can inhibit this.“
pain functions, how it can be relieved, and how it can worsen with the solution. Because in the depths of despair, you often don’t care. You only want it to stop. However, although medications can provide immediate relief from pain, a lack of proper education fails to inform us that sometimes the medicine provided for relief, can interfere with the body’s natural healing system. Blocking those pain pathways through drugs can inhibit the brain’s natural responses by providing artificial pain relief. This isn’t to say medication is not a solution — medication can be crucial for acute pain. However, long-term use can cause the brain’s pathways to stop firing. Naturally, our brain has an incredible way of rewiring and re-routing pathways to cope with things that go wrong. Relying on pain medication for too long can inhibit this and create a dependency on these drugs as the only form of relief for a long period of time.
We can’t deny that prescribed medication can be a powerful aid in coping with acute chronic pain. But, it’s crucial to expand our scope of options to look at some of the natural approaches to pain we also have on offer. When
“Meditation, acupuncture, nutrition, and more provide great support. But nature also provides us with a whole world of plants that offer many pain-relieving compounds and anti-inflammatory benefits.“
When it comes to natural approaches, the incredible benefits of practices such as meditation, acupuncture, nutrition, and many more provide great support. But nature also provides us with a whole world of plants that offer many pain-relieving compounds and anti-inflammatory benefits.
5 of the best pain-relieving plants
Turmeric
The primary active constituent in turmeric is curcumin, which has potent anti-inflammatory properties due to lowering the levels of inflammatory enzymes in the body. Turmeric has been shown to improve circulation and prevent blood clotting and can help in managing joint pain and arthritis, neuropathic pain, headaches and acute muscle pain. Turmeric can be used as a fresh root or as a dried, powdered spice. You can add turmeric to a hot tea or latte, or as its own turmeric drink, to rice, salads, eggs, vegetables or curry dishes.
Willow Bark
Willow bark comes from the bark of several species of willow trees. Willow bark contains active constituents salicin (also the active ingredient in aspirin) and salicylic acid, responsible for its analgesic and anti-inflammatory benefits. Willow bark can be taken as a liquid extract, tea or tablet/capsule. You can find willow bark in health stores and pharmacies or from a naturopath or herbalist.
Evening Primrose Oil
Evening primrose oil is derived from the seed of the plant and is one of the most potent sources of GLA (gamma-linolenic acid), an anti-inflammatory essential omega-6 fatty acid. Evening primrose oil reduces inflammation and aids in the repair and regeneration of damaged nerves, improving symptoms of neuropathic pain. Evening primrose oil can be used topically or as an oral supplementation.
Ginger
Ginger is a powerful anti-inflammatory shown to be more effective than many pain-relieving drugs such as ibuprofen, according to this study. The active ingredients in ginger are phytochemicals known as gingerol and shogaol, which block the formation of inflammatory compounds prostaglandins and leukotrienes. This also provides antioxidant effects that break down existing inflammation and acidity in the fluid within joints. Ginger can be used as an addition to foods in the form of fresh gingerroot, powdered ginger, crystallised (sugar) ginger and ginger juice. Add fresh ginger to fruit, vegetables, and smoothies; powdered ginger to juice, soup, lemonade or tea; stir-fries, curries or marinades; sugar ginger to cereals, fruit salads or nut mixtures or straight from the jar.
Capsaican
Capsaicin, derived from chilli peppers, is known to reduce pain by depleting the pain signals from sensory nerve fibres (known as substance P) to the brain, resulting in fewer pain signals firing. Capsaicin can be used as a gel, cream or patch and has been shown to have great effects in relieving pain quickly.
While an integrative approach to pain management can provide incredible relief from pain, it is important to consult your doctor before adopting any natural remedies to treat your pain.
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