Are you sick of the pain? How about the endless pills and the damage they do to your body? Nobody should have to live their lives popping medicine all day, and it turns out there are many things you can do to get rid of the pain in a more natural way.
Chronic joint discomfort, or back problems can make simple everyday tasks a complete chore due to agonizing pain. The good news is that most of the hurting is caused by inflammation, and there are many ways to eliminate it, and make yourself feel better without reaching into your medicine cabinet. Although your typical NSAID does seem to work, they also come with a whole host of side effects you may not be aware of.
It doesn’t matter if your pills are off the shelf or via the pharmacy, they all come with a certain level of risk, and a known amount of side effects. Once you swallow any of them, you open yourself to the risk of gastrointestinal problems, kidney trouble, liver damage, delays in muscle regeneration, and the reduction in healing of ligaments, tendons and cartilage.
When you try anything else instead, you can get the same level of relief without much of the risk, but it’s tough to know which alternative to try when discomfort builds. There are two main categories of treatments when looking at natural alternatives, so the first thing to decide is whether you should ingest something, rub something on, or do both. Once you decide the delivery method, relief should quickly follow.
Below you will find a list of commonly used alternatives that are proven to work. Variations, combinations or things not listed may be more effective in some cases, depending on the exact problem you’re trying to fix, but keep reading to find out what works for most people when treating common pain and discomfort using natural home remedies.
Foods, herbs and dietary supplements are all ingestible remedies that can reduce inflammation, heal muscles and take away pain. These will not offer the fastest fix, but they will offer more long term benefits. It’s always recommended to consult with a doctor or other professional prior to using any new pain reliever because even natural options can react and interfere with medications you may be already taking. A change in diet, a one time treatment, or a life-long vitamin habit have all been proven to reduce pain in joints, and chronic pain in other areas.
The perfect vitamin for combating the common cold, Vitamin C is also useful for reducing inflammation and helping to promote collagen production. One of the easiest ways to benefit from this nutrient is to increase your consumption of foods like oranges, broccoli, peppers and other fresh produce, but you can also take it in supplement form.
Because high levels tend to increase the benefits, even people with perfect diets may want to take a pill on a regular basis too. When optimal levels are achieved, and maintained, swelling should decrease, and your body should begin to produce more cartilage. Once this takes place, friction will lessen, and you will feel less pain when moving around.
This nutrient is tough to consume naturally, but fortified foods like milk and cereal are a couple viable sources. Several studies have linked low levels of vitamin D with increased levels of chronic pain, so consuming more may help to eliminate sensations that other options fail to remedy. When consumed at high levels, vitamin D has all sorts of benefits, but specific to pain, it can reduce chronic pain, joint pain, and symptoms of fibromyalgia.
Not just for baking, this medicinal root can also cure upset stomachs and fight pain all over your body. For headaches, joint discomfort, cramps and other minor problems, this could be the natural option you’re looking for. When consumed, it will trigger endorphin production, and that’s how your body naturally reduces painful sensations, so it really just augments, and initiates your own intrinsic abilities.
Ginger Root is available in supplement form, but you can also find chews and lozenges that offer adequate delivery methods. As with anything else, eating foods that contain it will be one of the best ways to consume it, so try some tea, or add a honey ginger coating to your favorite fish.
Commonly found in fish oil, plants like algae, seeds like chia and flax, or nuts, this special oil can be administered to reduce inflammation, and alleviate pain. It can be consumed in supplement form, or by upping your intake of foods that contain it. Real food sources are always the best, but gel caps of the right quality may be easier for some. This option is good for nerve pain, headaches, back aches, and even arthritis. Fresh fish like salmon and sardines offer some of the best sources for this oil.
This remedy goes back a long way, and has been used for centuries in both Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine. Curcumin is derived from turmeric, and it’s widely employed as an anti-inflammatory agent. Research is pretty clear on it’s benefits for those with arthritis, but it can also help with other chronic and neurodegenerative conditions. One easy way to consume more of this nutrient is to eat more Indian food because it’s heavily used in most curries.
Topical treatments are those that you rub on, or apply directly to your skin in some other way. These can offer some of the quickest routes to relief, but the effects may be more temporary when compared to other techniques that work more internally. One thing is for sure, when joints are swollen, or muscles ache, using one of the natural methods below will definitely make you feel better.
Because the material is pretty powerful, you’ll want to make sure that your skin is not broken in any way before you apply it. You’ll also want to avoid the use of a heating pad or any bandage over the top, and you should definitely wash your hands right when you finish. If you neglect to clean up after the treatment, you may end up irritating your eyes or areas of sensitive skin if it transfers from your hands.
One of the most simple remedies, can also offer some of the fastest relief. When you apply one or the other, or alternate between the two, you may be able to quickly reduce pain in sore joints and muscles. Although you may think to grab a tube of gel or cream from the medicine cabinet, it’s best to stick with actual ice or a heating pad for this type of therapy. Try cold to reduce swelling, or try hot to soothe stressed out muscles.
This is a pretty standard homeopathic remedy for life’s bumps and bruises. It has been used for centuries to soothe muscle aches due to it’s special ability to heal soft tissues quickly. Just rub some on in cream form instead of popping ibuprofen,. It can eliminate muscle pain, heal bruises, reduce swelling and more. Never apply to broken skin, but do apply liberally whenever pain becomes unbearable, or accidents happen.
This medicinal plant has been used for ever to help older people treat the symptoms of arthritis. Once applied, it can reduce swelling in joints, and that has shown to decrease pain significantly. For this reason, it’s also useful for sprains and strains, and is known to help sports injuries heal faster. A light coating right to the area that is hurting or swollen will quickly make a difference, and help promote a faster recovery.
The perfect ingredient for any salsa or taco dish, this fiery compound is more than just a heat component. It is the main thing that makes a chili pepper a chili pepper, and it may feel hot when first applied, but afterward, it will begin to reduce pain in any area you place it. Rub on right where it hurts to treat muscle aches, sore backs and other common problems.
In some cases, painful sensations are due to weak muscle groups, or prolonged periods in the same position. Once your body gets tired of holding up a part, it lets you know by delivering a message to the area. If you know you have a weak back, or if you will be sitting for a long time, using a back support on your chair can eliminate the pain that usually builds over time. Instead of being tired and strained, it will be stretched and supported to maintain alignment, and help make up for any strength issues in the area.
Natural home remedies can be just as effective as store bought medicines, and in some cases they work even better without any introduction of harsh side effects. Instead of destroying your liver with more pain pills, try one of the simple and effective methods above, and help your body to heal in a more natural way. You may be surprised at how effective they are, and how simple they are to administer. Once you become less dependent on ibuprofen and acetamedaphin, your body will begin to repair itself and the occurrence of pain and swelling will decrease.
Have your own natural methods? The list above is good, but it could never be complete. There are many ways to eliminate pain without turning to drugs, and our list includes some of the best, but not every one in existence. If you use a food, supplement or topical treatment that we didn’t mention, please use the comments section below to share your secret.
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