and now the top 10 herbs for pain relief
number 10 feverfew
feverfew has been used for centuries for headaches stomachaches and toothaches and more recently
it's even been used for rheumatoid arthritis and migraines the american migraine foundation says
that feverfew is likely helpful at preventing migraines but so far there are mixed results on
its effectiveness while fever few isn't linked to many side effects it has occasionally been
known to cause abdominal pain nausea vomiting tanker sores and increased risk of bleeding
so as always it's important to talk to your doctor before trying any new herb
number 9 - peppermint
various research suggests that peppermint can help with headaches one of the main methods for this is applying diluted peppermint oil directly to your forehead or temples to help relieve
tension headaches as it is also an anti-spasmodic peppermint can also help relieve digestive pain
cramping and according to a 2015 review it can help with painful spasms associated with arthritis
for a more detailed breakdown you can watch my video all about the health benefits of peppermint
and there's quite a few
number 8 - boswellia
boswellia sounds like the name for a new tv series about aliens but don't let the name fool you this is actually the plant that produces indian frankincense the same frankincense that would have been gifted by one of the wise men at the birth of
jesus according to a study on rats boswellia gum resin showed analgesic effects similar to morphine
one 2003 study found that all 30 people with osteoarthritis knee pain who received
boswellia reported a decrease in knee pain they even reported an increase in knee flexibility
and how far they could walk boswellia may decrease the effects of your anti-inflammatory medication
so please consult with a physician if you're taking any anti-inflammatory medication and want
to try boswellia
number 7 - bromelain
bromelain is a type of enzyme that is actually extracted from pineapple stems bromelain may benefit people with arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions like tmj syndrome a review of several studies found that bromelain is an effective treatment
for soft tissue swelling and joint stiffness associated with osteoarthritis bromelain can
cause sensitivity in people who are allergic to bee stings olive tree pollen and grass pollen so
if you have problems with these bromelain likely isn't for you number six cloves a 2006 study found
clove gel to be as effective as benzocaine gel which is a topical gel that dentists often use
to reduce needle pain cloves are actually one of the first herbs i ever used for paint
and i actually found just how effective it is at reducing toothache pain and you can do this with
whole cloves or just a small amount of diluted clove oil while more research is needed it is
also believed that cloves can help with arthritis and headaches as with many pain relievers people
with bleeding disorders are taking blood thinning medications should be careful when taking clove
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number five devil's claw
it may be named after big bad beelzebub but devil's claw has traditionally been prescribed for well basically any pain that throbs one study found that devil's claw had a
significant effect on pain reduction with more than 60 percent of patients seeing a
positive impact it also suggested effective long-term pain relief use and improvement
for those with chronic back pain devil's claw extract has been shown to reduce
osteoarthritic hip or knee pain by 25 percent and improve mobility within a few weeks studies also
show that it can help with rheumatoid arthritis as well devil's claw extract is considered safe at
the typical dosage of 750 milligrams taken three times a day but again it shouldn't be taken with
blood thinning medications and it might not be safe during pregnancy for young children
nursing mothers or people with liver or kidney disease gallstones or digestive system ulcers
number four willow bark
now you could easily make a case for willow bark being number one on this list as white willow contains the chemical salicin and when scientists discovered this in
willowbark it actually led to the creation of one of our most popular modern pain relievers
aspirin back in the old days people just grabbed a hunk of willow bark and chewed on
it to relieve pain and fever nowadays willow bark is commonly found in pill powder or even tea one
study found willow bark to be as effective as conventional medicine in lessening pain among
people with mild to fairly severe knee and hip problems white willow bark is also regularly
used for sports performance injuries lower back pain headaches joint pain and osteoarthritis
will bark does come with its own risk of side effects it can cause stomach upset affect kidney
function and increase the risk of bleeding which of course is just like aspirin but again this
is mostly if you have an allergy to it or don't stick to the recommended daily allowance so just
proceed with caution as i know you will
number 3 - capsaicin
perhaps the funniest or oddest entry on this list capsaicin is a natural pain reliever that is also responsible for the heat in hot chili peppers that makes no sense let me explain how it works it's believed that capsaicin
reduces the skin sensitivity to pain by numbing your nociceptor fibers which are the nerves
that carry pain signals commercial capsaicin containing creams containing 0.025 percent
capsaicin can significantly reduce osteoarthritic pain and a higher concentration of 0.075 percent
works best for peripheral nerve pain like diabetic nerve damage hiv pain and pain following cancer
surgery now it's best to remember that this is the same stuff that can make chili peppers smart
spicy eyes so you need to be using it correctly when applying topically and don't touch your eyes
number 2 - ginger
multiple studies have now found that ginger can be as effective as other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen and aspirin one study found that
ginger reduced pain and stiffness in knee joints by 40 percent over a placebo a 2015 review found
that taking 2 grams of ginger per day modestly reduced muscle pain from resistance exercise
and running when people took it for at least 5 days another study found that taking 2 grams of
ginger supplement daily eased muscle soreness by 25 over 11 days there is also evidence to suggest
that ginger may offer some relief from pain caused by fibromyalgia while it is very safe
within recommended guidelines excess use has been known to cause mild heartburn diarrhea and stomach
discomfort some women have also reported extra menstrual bleeding from taking too much ginger
honorable mentions
the American pain foundation also lists these herbs for pain management
ginseng
Kava kava saint john's wort and valerian root
some other strong anti-inflammatory and mild pain relieving herbs include
comfrey corydalis cinnamon holy basil rose hip cat's claw
eukomia mother wart eucalyptus oil and arnica
and now the number 1 herb for pain relief - turmeric
or more specifically curcumin the active main ingredient in turmeric which is a monster
anti-inflammatory and pain reliever a 2014 study found that curcumin extract
is as effective as ibuprofen for pain management in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis over four
weeks researchers in italy found osteoarthritis patients taking turmeric supplement
experienced a 58% drop in pain and stiffness and even reduced their reliance on traditional drugs
however one study found that turmeric was more effective at joint inflammation prevention rather
than reducing the joint pain itself still very helpful when dealing with pain in fact curcumin
matches or outperforms ibuprofen acetaminophen and other over-the-counter painkillers without side
effects turmeric root contains just 2% to 5% curcumin so when reaching for a
supplement be sure you're actually buying curcumin not powdered turmeric root for maximum pain relief
you'll also want to choose high potency curcumin and combine it with a carrier oil as curcumin is
not easily absorbed into the digestive tract while herbs aren't the only way to manage pain
especially chronic pain they certainly can help with pain trouble and make your life
just a little bit easier and that is the top 10 herbs for pain relief
do you agree with my list is there anything else you think should have been included
let me know in the comments down below
if you liked this video then please watch the top 10 herbs for sleep next or the top 10 herbs for anxiety next
please be kind take care of each other
and if you're dealing with pain i really do hope that some of the herbs on this list can make your life just a little bit more pain-free