Five Powerful, All-Natural Pain Relievers

Pain relief is one of the chief concerns of so many people.

I get it. It’s zero fun being in pain.

Plus, pain is generally a signal that something is wrong. So, if you’re in constant pain, you obviously want to fix the issue and fix the pain.

Sadly, there’s an entire industry in pharmaceuticals that is meant to deal with pain, but…the products they offer aren’t exactly good for you.

I wrote that recently in an article about kratom, which is an all-natural substance that people use to wean themselves off of opioids.

The bottom line is to deal with pain effectively. It’s important to have natural, low-risk alternatives.

And today’s article will deal with just that.

Five All-Natural Pain Relievers

The scope of this article is less about dealing with chronic pain that results from an underlying health condition and more about knocking out pain that you’d normally turn to Tylenol or ibuprofen for.

So, if you’ve been in a major surgery, these aren’t the kinds of pain relievers I’d recommend necessarily (but I certainly wouldn’t discourage you from using some of them).

Let’s get into this:

1 - Evening Primrose Oil for Menstrual Pain:

Menstrual Pain is something most women will deal with for most of their lives.

It’s… just a fact of life.

And for many women, it can be downright debilitating. And even when it isn’t, there’s no doubt that it’s still less than desirable to live through.

An all-natural substance called evening primrose oil has been demonstrated to help with this pain.

Extracted from the evening primrose plant, this supplement is popularly used for managing menstrual pain due to its rich content of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), a type of omega-6 fatty acid.

The operating theory is that the body can convert the GLA in evening primrose oil into substances that resemble prostaglandins, which are hormone-like compounds.

Prostaglandins play a key role in the inflammation process associated with menstrual pain. By modulating prostaglandin synthesis, evening primrose oil might help reduce menstrual cramps and discomfort.

Researchers also believe that GLA may create substances in the body with anti-inflammatory properties. Inflammation is a significant factor in menstrual discomfort and pain, so reducing inflammation can alleviate these symptoms.

2 - Spicy Foods for Pain Relief:

If your stomach can handle hot foods then you may be happy to know that these foods, especially chili peppers, can help knock out pain.

Cayenne pepper offers a range of benefits for natural pain management. In fact, research shows that they can help mitigate pain following surgeries, such as after mastectomy or limb amputation.

And here’s something that’s fascinating, cayenne pepper may help fight candida. The reason this matters is candida infections are often associated with joint pain and other symptoms related to this common fungal issue, so using it to help with pain in that fashion is a novel treatment.

The mechanism at play here is a compound present in many peppers, capsaicin.

Capsaicin is a crucial natural analgesic that addresses muscle stiffness, tension, and certain skin infections. This ingredient is frequently found in natural analgesic creams.

Wasabi, another spice known for its heat, possesses qualities that may alleviate pain.

Research, including studies by the University of California San Francisco, explores how isothiocyanates found in wasabi could serve as effective pain relievers. These compounds have been shown to potentially inhibit an inflammation receptor, highlighting their significance as natural analgesics.

3 - Arnica For Muscle Bruising and More:

I’ve written about arnica before, as I believe it’s a great homeopathic remedy. It comes from a flowering plant that grows throughout the Western United States and Europe.

While people turn to Ben Gay or Tiger Balm for relieving bruising and muscle pain, arnica is a great alternative.

Part of the reason is that it’s extremely safe to use when applied topically. More importantly, it helps address the inflammatory discomfort caused by insect stings, bruises, and arthritis episodes.

For bruise management, using arnica oil twice a day on unbroken skin can be more effective than treatments with low-dose vitamin K in diminishing the inflammation associated with bruising.

Arnica oil also stands out as an effective natural remedy for carpal tunnel syndrome, something more than a few office workers have dealt with.

It has been reported to reduce pain significantly, in some cases, making it so people who considered surgery ended up skipping out on the option.

4 - Lavender and Peppermint Oil

Essential oils do more than just make your home smell nice. They can also help you deal with nagging pain.

I will admit lavender oil might not be something to use regularly because of its phytoestrogen properties, which could disrupt hormones, but it’s not a big deal on occasion.

Peppermint oil can be used as a natural analgesic and muscle relaxant.

What’s really cool is that research has shown its potential to significantly mitigate the symptoms associated with fibromyalgia and myofascial pain syndrome, which many people have to treat with drugs!

For those seeking a natural remedy for headaches, both essential oils can relieve the pain. Peppermint oil's ability to enhance circulation, combined with lavender oil's muscle tension-easing properties, presents a synergistic approach to swiftly counteract headaches.

And if you have read my work, you know I like synergies.

And for those of you who listen to my recommendations to work out or who do it without needing to hear me tell you that working out helps extend lifespan, you’ll be happy to hear that the synergy of peppermint-lavender can help with post-exercise recovery.

Research indicates these oils can significantly reduce muscle pain following workouts.

Incorporating these oils into a homemade muscle rub concoction can offer a soothing and effective treatment for sore muscles, enhancing your post-workout recovery process and smelling good at the same time.

5 - Epsom Salts As a Muscle Relaxant

Perhaps you’ve been following me for a while.

If so, you know how much I love magnesium.

Epsom Salts are a form of magnesium that people worldwide use to help relax tense and pain-riddle muscles.

Magnesium-enriched Epsom salt is widely recognized for its natural analgesic properties. It effectively addresses bone and joint discomfort, as well as muscle aches, and specifically provides relief for heel spur pain.

It also has anti-inflammatory properties, which help reduce pain.

But the benefits don’t stop there.

Epsom salt can easily be used to extract painful splinters, and many women use it to treat postpartum soreness.

Best of all, soaking in it with essential oils can provide a 1-2-3-4-5… you get it. Punch for pain.

I highly recommend Epsom salt for effective pain management.

And There Are More Natural Pain Relievers

The truth is that creating an article with just five natural pain relievers does not even come close to covering everything available.

I’d highly recommend looking at other natural products such as…

• CBD
• Willow Bark
• Thunder God Fine
• MyoFascial release
• MSM
• Devil’s Claw
  

Along with dozens of others!