Over-the-counter medication may have its benefits, but it can also have its negative side-effects if relied on. For those that want a break from manufactured painkillers, here are just eight natural forms of pain relief that may be able to do the job instead.
Ginger
This popular cooking spice is also one of the most renowned organic painkillers. Ginger can be particularly effective at fighting stomach aches and arthritic pain. You can drink it as a tea or consume it in foods such as ginger biscuits.
Turmeric
Turmeric is related to the ginger plant and has similar anti-inflammatory effects. Joint pain is one of the most common pains that turmeric is used to relieve and it has been shown to be as effective as many over-the-counter drugs. It’s often consumed as a powder, which can be sprinkled on food or mixed with water. Some coffee bars have even started doing turmeric lattes.
Devil’s Claw
Devil’s claw has anti-inflammatory effects and is used particularly to target lower back pain. This ingredient is commonly sold as a concentrated extract in the form of capsules. You can usually find it at your local herbal pharmacy.
Cloves
Cloves have long been used to treat toothache. They can be applied by dabbing clove oil onto the gums with a cotton ball. There are also cloves gels on the market that can be directly applied to the gums.
Marijuana
You can also use marijuana to relieve pain. The plant has been seeing growing legality and there are now many products out there from vape liquids to edibles. Some people learn how to make shatter so that they can get a more effective numbing effect from it. There are also products like CBD that contain none of the high.
Capsaicin
Capsaicin is the ingredient in chillies that makes them hot. There are creams made of pure capsaicin, which can be very effective forms of pain relief. Capsaicin should never be taken orally.
Willow bark
Willow bark’s pain relief properties have been compared to aspirin. It can be used to treat all kinds of pain from menstrual pain to headaches. Like devil’s claw, it is often taken as a pill, however you can also make your own willow bark tea.
Feverfew
Feverfew is a flowering plant that has been found to be particularly potent against migraines. It is commonly taken in capsule form although it’s also possible to brew feverfew tea.
