7 Unbelievable Natural Painkillers You Have In Your Home
Among the medicines which have several side-effects on our body are the pain killing medicines. In the recent past, there have been many incidents that warn us against the regular use of painkillers. The health experts, these days, recommend using natural painkillers to beat the pain to avoid the potential side effect.
As soon as we start experiencing a headache, a toothache, stomachache, backache or any other type of pain, without thinking about anything else, our first impulse is to reach a painkiller. While these medicines give you relief from pain, but, the side effects associated with them, pose a big risk to your health.
On the other hand, if you try the natural painkillers for severe pain, or normal pain, you would not only get pain relief, but will also protect your body from the side effects of painkillers.
You can count on plants, spices and many other ingredients which are readily available in your kitchen to alleviate every type of pain ranging from a simple headache to severe arthritis pain or joint pain.
The natural pain relief for joint painis much more effective in the chronic pain than the pain killing medications which give momentary relief.
How Pain Killer Medications Affect Our Body?
The side effects of the painkillers on the body are segregated into two categories: short term side effects and long term side effects.
The popular pain killers like opiate pain relievers, tylenol, corticosteroids, advil, and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can cause rashes, heartburn, nausea, and stomach upset as the short term effects.
The prolonged use of the pain killing medications causes various harmful side effects, including liver damage, kidney problems, stomach ulcers, increased risk of stroke and heart attacks.
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That’s why, it’s important that you minimize the use of painkiller medicines and use natural painkillers to beat the pain.
7 Best Natural Pain Killers
- Turmeric
Turmeric is the bright-yellow colored Indian spice which is widely used in Indian cuisine. Many people know turmeric for its anti-inflammatory properties, but, very few know that it’s an amazing natural pain killer too.
Turemric is rich in a compound called “curcumin”, an antioxidant which helps in protecting the body from free radicals which badly damage the internal tissues and cells.
By relieving the inflammation, turmeric soothes the pain and is extremely good for body aches, joint pains and internal body injuries which result in inflammation.
The best way to use turmeric or “haldi” is by mixing a pinch of it in hot milk and drinking it. It is very effective in relieving inflammation.
Also, Turmeric can be applied on wounds to make them heal faster and relieve the pain caused by them. These days, turmeric tea made from raw turmeric is also gaining immense acceptance for its unique array of benefits.
- Hot and Cold Pack
One of the best natural ways to beat the pain is the application of hot and cold packs directly on the site of pain.
Applying an ice pack directly to the place where you are experiencing inflammation can help in relieving it effectively. Many health experts recommend using an ice pack for reducing swelling shortly after you experience a ligament problem, a tendon or a strained muscle.
Even if you have fallen down and are experiencing swelling, you can apply an ice pack on it to reduce both, pain and inflammation, an ice pack can be applied.
Moreover, an ice pack is extremely beneficial for a headache and it effectively removes the headache without a pill.
After your inflammation has disappeared, the hot packs can help in reducing the stiffness which often come with muscle strains and sprains.
If you are experiencing a joint pain or pain due to arthritis, moist heat applied to the affected area will help in easing the pain and gaining flexibility in the painful joint. A hot pack can also help in relieving the periods pain.
- Willow Bark
Using willow bark for easing the pain and inflammation is an age old remedy, which is being used for centuries.
People have been using the willow bark for relieving the inflammation, which the primary cause of of most muscular pains and aches. Willow bark is known to contain a chemical compound “salicin” which is quite similar to the main ingredient used in aspirin.
You can easily get the willow bark as a dried herb which can be brewed like a tree, and this tea can be used to get effective relief from the discomfort caused by osteoarthiritis, lower back pain, headaches and many other conditions where you are experiencing inflammation.
But, if taken in large quantity or too regularly, the willow bark can even cause some side effects like upset stomach, prolonged bleeding time and may even slow down your kidneys.
Also, willow bark is only for adults and it should not be given to the children as it could be poisonous for them.
If you are already taking an over the counter anti-inflammatory drug like naproxen, ibrufen, or aspirin, you must avoid taking the willow bark.
- Cherries
Cherries are rich in a compound known as “anthocynanin”, which is a phytonutrient and gives cherry its ruby red hue. Due to the presence of this compound, the cherries help in tamping down the pain.
Due to the presence of this phytonutrient, the cherries soothe the inflammation and inhibit the pain enzymes like the pain killer medicine naproxen, aspirin or the other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories etc.
Cherries are known to possess the highest natural anti-inflammatory content and this makes them ideal for the inflammatory problems like arthritis, and joint pain.
Another astounding benefit of cherries is that they help in curing insomnia and enhancing deep sleep.
- Pineapple
Another natural pain killer which you can find in your kitchen is pineapple. The natural pain relieving and inflammatory properties of pineapple can be attributed to the compound called “bromelain”.
While bromelain is present in all parts of the pineapple tree, including the fruit, but, its the pineapple stem which is exceptionally rich in this astounding compound.
Research shows the bromelain reduces the levels of the hormone “prostaglandin” which induces inflammation.
Bromelain is particularly effective for people who have arthritis or are suffering from the conditions marked by musculoskeletal tension such as TMJ syndrome.The trauma related inflammation can also be cured with the help of pineapple and pineapple stem, which can be consumed in the form of tea.
- Cloves
Cloves are among the common spices which are used worldwide for their unique test and outstanding aroma. But, a lesser known fact is that cloves, and especially clove oil is one of the best natural pain relievers.
The cloves can reduce the pain associated with arthritis inflammation and headache. Cloves and clove oil can also be used as a topical pain reliever.But, cloves and clove oil are particularly effective against the toothache.
In the event of toothache, rubbing a small amount of clove oil or chewing a clove so that it can release the oil can give immense relief.
The pain relieving properties of cloves can be attributed to the active ingredient “eugenol” which is present in them.
While clove oil does not have any side effects, but, people consuming blood thinning medicines or the ones with bleeding disorders should be careful about consuming the clove products because clove oil enhances the risk of abnormal bleeding.
- Cranberry Juice
Cranberry juice is very effective for the stomach pain evolving due to bouts of ulceritis.
Stomach ulcers can be caused due to various reasons, and one the most prominent reason behind them is the pathogen known as “H.pylori”. This pathogen attacks the stomach lining as well as the small intestines causing immense pain in the stomach.
Pure cranberry juice can kill it while providing effective pain relief. So, instead of consuming high doses of antibiotics (which also have significant side effects), destroy the bacteria causing UTIs and stomach ulcers with cranberries.
Conclusion
These herbal pain reliefremedies are worth trying. Our body better absorbs the natural ingredients as compared to the compounds used in the allopathic medications, and natural pain killers ensure long term relief.
So, next time, when you experience any pain, ditch your regular pain killer medicine and turn to natural pain killers without side effects. Your health is your biggest asset and don’t let some pain killing medications offering temporary pain relief ruin it.