Danny Davis
In this article: Mother nature’s botanical cures for all natural pain relief.
Introduction To Herbs And Herbalism
There’s more to herbs than meets the eye, or more precisely, your taste buds.
While every food junkie could attest that herbs make almost everything from soups to pastas more exciting and flavorsome, not many are aware, much less convinced, that herbs could be lifesavers beyond the kitchen.
Most of what we now consider herbs are seed-producing plants that do not continually develop woody tissues; hence, they usually die down at the end of a particular growing season. For this reason, cooking herbs are usually used as dried versions of the leaves or bark from which they originate in order, for example, to have your thyme flavored soup possible even when it is rainy and cold outside.
While many know herbs for their savory or aromatic properties, they also have therapeutic or medicinal properties.
For generations upon generations, humankind has discovered and relied on plants for food and nourishment, but from the practice of using plants as food sources also came the knowledge that some types of plants could spur a host of bodily reactions ranging from increased perspiration to hallucinations.
Human knowledge of the workings of certain plants has since set society on an historical trajectory shared intimately with the practice of healthcare grounded on both the art and the science of using herbs and other plants to promote good health and treat a host of ailments.
From ancient times and all throughout modern civilization, across various cultures and societies, herbalism, or the use of herbs for therapeutic and medicinal purposes, has served humankind’s copious need for cures and relief.
Herbalism In History
As far as anthropological records are concerned, ancient Chinese society is the first one recorded to have practiced herbalism. Some 5,000 years ago, Chinese emperor Chi’en Nung wrote a book entitled Pen Tsao, which served as a treatise on over 8,000 medicinal preparations involving over 300 types of herbs. His prescriptions included the use of ma huang (called ‘ephedra’ in the Western world) to treat a host of respiratory ailments.
To this day and age, traditional Chinese medicine is grounded firmly on their ancient society’s use of herbs to treat symptoms ranging from the simple to complex.
Similar systems of herbalism also developed in Japanese and Indian societies that involved the use of herbs that are both unique and endemic to the region that such healing practices originated.
In India, for example, an altogether unique healing practice known as Ayurvedic medicine developed which incorporated the use of herbs and cultural rituals. Other eastern societies, such as, the Sumerians and Babylonians of Mesopotamia (present-day Iraq) were also noted to have practiced herbalism.
Although both anthropological evidence and actual practice are probably more widely known and developed in the Eastern world, herbalism as a healing practice is not unique to this part of the world. Historical accounts show that Eastern herbalism also permeated Western civilization.
The practice of medicine in ancient societies of the Greek and Roman empires were influenced by the Babylonians. The philosopher-medicine man Hippocrates, regarded as the “Father of Medicine,” was an herbalist and developed a system of healing and medication based on the use of the herbs that he studied and tested.
By the time of the middle ages, herbalism, both as a practice and as a subject of scientific study, gained solid ground in the West when European monks studied and grew herbs and other medicinal plants.
By the 17th century, herbal knowledge was already widely disseminated in Europe, owing largely to the writings of apothecarist Nicholas Culpeper that outlined herbal pharmacopeia as a manual to be understood and practiced easily by ordinary people.
In the US, the first authoritative listing of medication was published in 1820 as Pharmacopeia, a book of herbal drugs, their medicinal properties, uses, tests of purity and recommended dosages.
Herbalism In The Modern World
When the Western world developed and standardized the practice of conventional medicine, however, what was once a practice of herbal healing that even lay people could assimilate and perform became coded in scientific terms, studied in medical schools and protected by licensure and copyright rules.
For better or for worse though, this does not mean that conventional medicine and pharmacology has departed from the age-old science and practice of herbalism, in fact, much of the early drugs invented and later mass produced were derived from years of studying the properties and chemical composition of plants and their medicinal uses.
In our contemporary world, even as chemists in various laboratories worldwide are learning and improving on humankind’s ability to mimic plant compounds with the use of synthetic substances, a quarter of pharmaceutical drugs available to us are still derived from plants.
- Modern man’s Aspirin is derived from willow bark
- The cancer therapy drug Taxol is extracted from Pacific yew
- The heart muscle strengthener drug, Digitalis has its origins from a plant called foxglove.
Herbalism indeed continues to be a solid foundation of our healing practice today.
The World Health Organization estimates that about 80% of the world’s
population use herbal preparations as part of their primary health care.
Whether people the world over are finding pharmaceutical drugs prohibitive or the popularity of sustainable living is actually leading to a back to the basics approach for many, there is no denying that herbalism continues to provide human beings with effective cures and a rosy prospect at achieving good health using all natural means.
Although botanists and medical researchers have yet to fully discover and document the intricate medicinal properties of our whole plant system, present-day human knowledge is rife with an understanding of thousands of therapeutic herbs offering valuable cures for anything, from burns and minor bruises to more severe pain and chronic illnesses.
Relieving Pain With Herbs
Pain could be a debilitating experience for many. Whether suffering from acute or chronic pain, some people find themselves unable to perform their normal routines when they are experiencing pain and this greatly affects their quality of life.
If untreated for long periods of time, chronic pain could go from bad to worse, sending off a series of biological processes, unleashing the chemical cortisone in the blood which could even disturb the immune system and harm kidneys.
Studies show that as many as 80 million Americans suffer from chronic pain, which has made the treatment of pain a multibillion industry.
Even those who suffer from acute or localized pain are not necessarily off the hook. In fact, in the US alone more than 116 million American adults suffer from some form of pain, which equates to 1/3 of the US population.
Scientists believe that the pain system of the body is akin to plastic, meaning the body’s nerve system operates in such a way that the body’s process of addressing pain causes further pain.
In what is termed as a “chronic pain wind-up,” the body’s pain nerves seem to recruit other nerves, thus involving the entire nervous system.
Some scientists even discovered that when the body experiences prolonged pain or injury, deeper pain cells in the spinal cord are activated by the body, thus developing chronic and progressive pain.
Because the body’s pain sensors are located in the nerves, those suffering from pain are treated by conventional medicine using synthetic non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and many of those who suffer chronic pain cannot help but take huge doses of anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen for long periods of time.
These anti-inflammatory drugs, unfortunately, are also known causes of gastrointestinal bleeding and liver damage.
The good news, however, is that those who suffer from acute and chronic pain could find an ally in herbs and herbalism. There is now over a hundred herbs known for their efficacy in the treatment of pain from arthritis, migraines, menstrual cramps, fibromyalgia, and other types of acute and chronic pain.
If used properly, herbs are safe and effective natural alternatives to NSAIDs in the treatment of chronic pain and mild to moderate acute pain.
With proper preparation, the chemical compounds found in plants are unleashed to bind to receptor molecules in the human body, thus enabling these compounds to affect the way the body works, such as, allaying the body’s pain sensors so they could effectively and efficiently deal with pain sensations.
These chemical compounds in herbs and other plants work the same way as synthetic drugs, but without the harmful side effects known to such drugs.
Those who suffer from pain could even use herbal preparations
along with their conventional medication to enhance
healing and reduce the use of synthetic drugs.
Those wanting to take the path of a truly natural alternative to pain relief could even progressively wean away from the use of conventional drugs and fully embark on a path to healing using herbs.
How Herbs Are Used
- As with other herbal therapies, herbal preparations for pain relief need to be done in specific ways to unleash their therapeutic properties.
- Some herbs could be prepared as decoction, tinctures, tea infusions, or poultice.
- Other herbs could be grown at home, prepared as a homemade pain remedy, while others could be more difficult to grow, and more easily accessed as over-the-counter herbal capsules, tablets, teas, or food supplements from health stores or apothecaries.
- Some herbal remedies to alleviate pain are also available as topical oils and ointments, salves or aromatherapy essences.
Common Herbs for Pain Relief
There are several specific herbs used to relieve pain, here are some of the most effective and widely used ones.
1| Aloe Vera
Although Aloe Vera may resemble a cactus, it is actually part of the Lilly family.
Originating from Africa, this tender tropical herb is a staple in the practice of herbalism for its anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and antiviral properties, as well as, for its anti-inflammatory and immune-stimulating benefits.
While Aloe Vera gels are readily available in pharmacies and stores, it might be interesting to know that Aloe Vera is quite easy to grow and keep, plus you can reap the added benefit of indoor air purification that the Aloe Vera plant is said to perform.
How To Use It
The fresh gel/pulp from Aloe Vera is applied topically to soothe aching joints and also painful scrapes, wounds, burned skin and painful skin irritations.
Food grade Aloe Vera juice can also be taken orally to relieve pain caused by stomach inflammation and constipation. It is best purchased in the form of pure Aloe Vera juice, not aloe flavored drinks.
2| Burdock
A biennial flowering plant native to Asia and Europe, burdock is an herb integrated in Chinese traditional medicine since ancient times and is used as a cooking herb in many cultures.
The roots of the burdock plant are reputed for its liver cleansing property, which purifies the blood by eliminating wastes and toxins.
As a result, burdock is said to promote health from inside and out, making it a potent herb for lowering the uric acid in the kidneys and controlling blood sugar levels as well as promoting healthy skin.
Burdock also contains essential fatty acids, which makes it a great anti-inflammatory food supplement.
How To Use It
Burdock root can be integrated in stir-fry cuisines and other recipes from either fresh or dried roots.
Capsule forms of the burdock root are also available in health food supplement stores.
Dried seeds of the burdock herb, meanwhile, can be steeped in boiling water to use as a remedy for painful sore throat, boils, and measles.
3| Cayenne Pepper
Anyone who has eaten something laced with cayenne pepper knows how it could send a hot and stimulating jolt to your senses.
A popular ingredient to spice up common dishes, cayenne pepper also treats pain by increasing blood flow throughout the body, warming stiff arthritic joints, relaxing sore muscles and soothing lower back pain.
- Taken orally, cayenne pepper works to decrease the concentration of chemical substances in the pain-transmitting nerve cells of the body.
- When applied through balms and ointments, cayenne pepper induces the dilation of capillaries to increase blood circulation and warmth throughout the body. Be aware though that it may take time for results to be felt so it is best to be patient.
How To Use It
Cayenne pepper powder available in supermarkets could be used to make herbal oils, liniments, and salves to use as a topical relief for pain. Mix four tablespoons of cayenne pepper powder with one cup of extra virgin olive oil to make a potent herbal oil infusion or with one cup of coconut oil to make a pain relief salve.
Cayenne pepper powder may also be mixed into herbal teas.
It is advisable to take cayenne pepper medication every day until pain dissipates.
4| Devil’s Claw
An herb native to South Africa, Devil’s Claw is an herb widely known as a treatment for osteoarthritic pain in the hips or knees and for pain and limited mobility caused by rheumatoid arthritis.
It is also known to ease tense muscles and pain localized in the neck, back, or shoulder.
The chemical compounds harpagoside and harpagide found in Devil’s Claw have pain relief and anti-inflammatory properties.
How To Use It
Drinking a tea decoction of Devil’s Claw daily offers slow, but sound relief from joint pain caused by arthritis, muscle pain and sports injuries.
Whenever available, a typical dosage of 750mg of Devil’s Claw in capsule form or 1 teaspoon of tincture three times daily may be taken orally.
Devil’s Claw, however, is not safe for those who are taking blood-thinning medications, for pregnant or lactating women, for young children or for those with kidney or liver diseases.
5| Eucalyptus
Aside from easing the breathing passages, eucalyptus also provides relief from arthritis and sore muscles when applied topically on affected areas.
Tannin, which is the healing substance of eucalyptus, is concentrated in its leaves and is known to relieve swelling and the pain associated with arthritis.
How To Use It
Using eucalyptus for pain relief necessitates the use of its essential oil.
Eucalyptus oil is extracted through steam distillation of the leaves and twigs of the plant.
The oil has a characteristic woody camphor aroma that effectively penetrates air passages and is also absorbed by the skin when applied topically.
6| Feverfew
A relative of marigolds and dandelions, this small flowering herb produces small daisy like flowers and good smelling leaves and is packed full of anti-inflammatory benefits.
Used For:
- Migraines & headaches
- Toothaches
- Stomach aches
- Inflammation
- Menstrual cramps
- Arthritis
- Fever
- Body aches
Feverfew inhibits the aggregation of platelets in the bloodstream, which, in turn prevents the blockage of small capillaries to improve blood circulation and relieve pain.
How To Use It
While feverfew is available dried, as a tincture and as capsules, a more holistic approach to using this herb is to use it whole and fresh by chewing on two or three leaves daily to treat and prevent headaches.
Unfortunately, many people exhibit an allergic reaction to feverfew; therefore, a better option is to use them in freeze-dried and encapsulated forms.
Although there are little known contraindications of feverfew, it is always advisable for pregnant women to refrain from taking this herb as medication.
7| Flax Plant
The seeds of the flowering flax plant are considered a high source of vegan fat Omega-3 (ALA), which is important in maintaining a strong immune system and for fighting inflammation.
While oils are important source of protein and vitamins, animal fats exacerbate inflammation among those who suffer from arthritis; hence, the vegan fat found highly concentrated in flaxseed oil provides them with necessary nourishment while reducing inflammation.
How To Use It
Incorporating raw, cold processed flaxseed oil in your daily diet will help manage pain caused by inflammation.
Whole flax seeds can also be ingested raw to relieve indigestion and the stomachache associated with it.
There are also many recipes for flax seeds that are a great way to add this healing botanical to one’s diet.
8| Ginger
While it offers additional zing to food when used in cooking, ginger is also a staple in many herbal pharmacies and apothecaries.
The roots of the ginger plant are proven beneficial in pain treatment because of their anti-inflammatory properties that offer potent relief for:
- Arthritis
- Abdominal cramps
- Stomach pain
- Fibromyalgia
- Sore throats
Ginger is also widely used in the treatment of colds for its ability to raise body heat and eliminate toxins from the body.
How To Use It
Ginger root or powder could be made into a tea as a daily tonic.
Freshly grated ginger root could also be added sparingly to other herbal teas.
Essential oil from ginger may also be added to a carrier oil and used as a massage oil to soothe muscle aches.
Ginger also blends well with turmeric to double its anti-inflammatory and pain relieving properties and is available this way in supplement form.
9| Ginseng
Ginseng is one of the most widely used herbs in Chinese traditional medicine as a general restorative and adaptogenic tonic, offering a variety of cures for debilitating cases of fatigue, stress, liver disease, fibromyalgia and other chronic diseases.
Although the exact effect of ginseng has not been exhaustively researched, it is believed that it works to protect the brain from stress hormones while also enhancing the body’s immune response to ward off bacteria and viruses.
In Chinese medicine, ginseng is considered as a heat restoring tonic to improve the body’s circulatory system.
How To Use It
The roots are the prized parts of ginseng when it comes to healing. Ginseng root powder is often added to teas, juices, soft drinks, and soups.
Ginseng can also be taken directly in capsule form as a health supplement.
It is advisable to take ginseng a month at a time with a two-week interval or rest period.
Pregnant women or those with blood thinning diseases should always refrain from taking ginseng.
10| Lavender
The ancient reputation of the sedative properties of lavender has long been corroborated by the clinical trials of conventional medicine.
Lavender promotes relaxation, which in turn makes pain more manageable.
Clinical studies show that individuals suffering from migraines and fibromyalgia benefit from regular and long-term exposure to the topical application of lavender oil.
Combined with the analgesic herb, rosemary, lavender is said to be a potent tool for relieving almost all types of pain including arthritis, nerve pain, and sore muscles.
How To Use It
Dried or fresh lavender flowers could be prepared as a decoction and taken as an herbal tea to soothe discomfort, but the therapeutic properties of lavender is perhaps most accessible through oil therapy.
Lavender essential oil is extracted from the herb’s flowers through steam distillation. A diluted version of the oil can be applied directly on painful parts of the body, mixed with carrier oils to use in massage, or inhaled through the practice of aromatherapy.
It is one of the safest essential oils that can be applied directly on the skin in a diluted form and can be used during pregnancy.
11| Licorice
Licorice root is a potent pain-relieving herb due to its high concentration of compounds that are known to alleviate aches:
- 9 anesthetic
- 10 analgesic
- 20 anti-inflammatory substances
It has a fast-acting anti-inflammatory action because it contains triterpenese glycyrrhizin and glycyrrhetic acid that act like steroids.
While blocking prostaglandin production, glycyrrhizin also promotes anti-arthritic reactions similar to hydrocortisone.
How To Use It
Licorice root is best taken as a tea by simmering two teaspoons of dried root (double the amount if using fresh roots) for every cup of water.
Caution: It is advised that people with heart ailments, hypertension, kidney disease, and diabetes refrain from taking licorice as it may cause adverse effects.
12| Nettle
Aside from being a potent source of a wide array of healthy vitamins and minerals, stinging nettle also has natural antihistamine and anti-inflammatory properties. It acts to open up constricted nasal and bronchial air passages, alleviates sinusitis, and relieves fever.
As a pain remedy, the anti-inflammatory substances of stinging nettle combined with its high concentration of the minerals calcium, boron and silicon promotes pain relief while also helping to build stronger bones.
Stinging nettle is thus an effective and remedy for pain caused by arthritis, gout, fibromyalgia, osteoporosis.
How To Use It
A cup of tea made from steeped nettle leaves could be taken daily to help dissipate pain symptoms.
Applying a poultice of fresh nettle leaves on painful joints could also encourage the flow of blood to problem areas.
13| St. John’s Wort
The flowering plant St. John’s Wort is popularly used as a tonic for the nervous system. It has long been considered in herbalism as a strong antidepressant owing to its phytochemical substances hyperforin and hypericin.
How To Use It
A strong decoction containing the flowers of this pain relieving herb could be taken as tea as a general tonic for the nervous system.
The flowering parts of St. John’s Wort can also be prepared as an oil tincture for use in topical applications to ease the pain caused by fibromyalgia, arthritis, sciatica, muscle soreness, menstrual cramps, and breast tenderness.
It can also be used as a poultice for dressing wounds and lessen pain caused by bacterial infections.
It is also available in supplement form.
14| Turmeric
Widely considered as a first-rate anti-inflammatory herb, turmeric contains at least two pain-relieving chemicals, curcumin and curcuminoids, which reduce inflammation the same way that NSAIDs or synthetic anti-inflammatory drugs work by decreasing the body’s production of the inflammation-inducing hormone prostaglandin.
Incidentally, turmeric’s anti-inflammatory effect also makes it a potent treatment to prevent Alzheimer’s disease, cancer and cataracts.
How To Use It
Turmeric may be incorporated as a spice to daily diet to reap its benefits over time, but it may be best to take it in supplement form to experience its full medicinal benefits.
Turmeric powder may also be added to water to make a tea and or mixed with oil and applied on sore muscles or joints.
Fresh turmeric roots, which look similar to ginger but more yellow in color, may also be boiled to make a potent tea infusion or steeped in oil to make tincture.
Caution: Turmeric does not mix well with blood thinner medications, and should not be used prior to surgery. Additionally, it can make gallbladder conditions worse. Ask your doctor.
15| White Willow Bark
Used for thousands of years to treat pain and fevers, white willow bark may prove to be the oldest pain remedy known to man. The inner bark of the white willow tree has a high concentration of salicin, which turns into salicylic acid when processed by the body.
Acetylsalicylic acid, a derivative of salicylic acid, is the active compound in Aspirin.
Practitioners of herbalism use white willow to treat:
- Fever
- Pain
- Inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, menstrual cramps, and neuralgia.
It functions much in the same way as Aspirin does, only without the gastronomic side effects.
How To Use It
White willow bark can be used orally in a tea or tincture.
It may also be procured and administered orally in capsule form.
White willow is best taken regularly and over long periods of time to maximize its therapeutic benefits.
Precautions When Dealing with Herbs
There is a common misconception that the use of natural products, such as, herbs is always safe and so there is no need to take precautions or consider safety factors. Like any living organism, however, the chemical makeup of herbs could prove to be a complex system that requires proper understanding and a good level of familiarity to be able to use their therapeutic properties in a safe and effective manner.
Similar to prescription medication, the improper use of herbs could lead to adverse reactions that are at times life threatening or even lethal. As with nightshade or poison hemlock, for example, some herbs are unsuitable for human consumption.
Other herbs, meanwhile, could lead to adverse side effects when taken alongside other herbs or used in conjunction with common drugs or even a simple food or beverage.
For the most part, problems arising from using herbs as medicine are attributed to over dosage, improper extraction, and processing or even by using herbs that are chemically compromised.
Herbalists And Specialists
Even if they all have pain relief properties, bear in mind that specific herbs offer specific relief and treat specific symptoms.
Different parts of the herb plant may even provide different therapeutic effects and some methods of preparation may be more potent in extracting the therapeutic benefits of certain plants.
It is thus important to know how herbs work and how best to prepare your all-natural herbal medication for pain relief.
Therefore, it is advisable to avail the services of a trained herbalist or a holistic medical professional that is trained in herbalism in order to get professional guidance as to which herbs are best and how to use them to suit your specific needs.
While most herbal preparations are simple enough to perform in the comfort of your own kitchen while poring over a formula you copied from the internet or recalled from your grandmother’s stories, some herbal preparations are best prepared with the guidance of someone more knowledgeable and experienced in herbalism.
If you are new to herbalism, or are trying to treat a compendium of ailments that may require several herbal concoctions, keep in mind that it is always best to consult with experts in the field of herbalism.
A visit with an herbalist before embarking on your path to natural therapy may not only save you from trudging challenging waters without necessary protection but could lead you to a more effective process of herbal therapy.
Holistic medical practitioners are typically qualified in herbalism and can guide you in the right direction.
A good herbalist will want to know other medications that you are taking, your eating and drinking habits, known ailments or allergies and your genetic health predisposition.
When presented with this situationas most likely you will bebe liberal in sharing these important information in order to assist your herbalist in coming up with the best possible herbal therapy for you.
Expanding Your Knowledge
Always bear in mind that as with the general development of human knowledge, the study, and practice of herbalism is continuously developing.
Every day new discoveries are made in this dynamic practice of using herbs for medication. Especially when dealing with chronic conditions or ailments, it is always important to continuously study, whether on your own or with your trusted herbalist, to incorporate emerging knowledge in herbal therapy.
Growing Your Own Herbs
While the most widely used herbal remedies are now available in your neighborhood supermarket, health stores or apothecaries, you might also consider growing your own herbs, especially, if you live in a region where your commonly used therapeutic herbs could thrive.
By growing your own organic herb to garden, you can rest assured that no potentially harmful chemicals were used and the herbs are in the best possible form.
Additionally, growing your own herbs may prove more economical and sustainable as a lifestyle, while also providing you with a new hobby or outlet for your energies.
Herbal Therapy Versus Conventional Medicine
Unlike conventional drugs, natural herbal medications are gentler and may take longer to achieve desired effects. Embarking on a journey of herbalism thus takes patience and diligence especially when treating serious conditions.
It could even test your mettle to keep treading the path of herbalism. When you consider the benefits of herbalism, however, you will be able to keep your expectations in check and put your newfound practice in proper perspective.
While conventional drugs could often burn a hole through your pocket, herbalism is still relatively cheaper because of the absence of value-added copyright and intellectual property costs, not to mention the strain of relying on an industry that built its empire on wide profit margins.
As far as ethical living is concerned, herbalism is also relatively unperturbed in comparison to the big pharmaceutical’s labor exploitation and cruel animal testing practices.
However, perhaps still the most promising allure of herbalism is its take on holistic health. Unlike conventional medication, herbal therapy offers relief from pains and other illnesses without compromising your overall health.
While synthetic drugs are more fast-acting and sometimes more convenient to use than herbal medications, conventional drug use is replete with side effects that in the long run could actually multiply your illnesses or weaken other organs of your body.
On the other hand, healing with herbs enhances your body’s natural healing ability and in the long run holistically restores your body to optimum health.
Much of our contemporary woes about pains, illnesses and other adverse health conditions could benefit from the innate power of herbs, as our ancient ancestors, who built the knowledge of using herbs for their health benefits, paved for generations upon generations of their children to keep on and build better.
Disclaimer: The information in this publication is not intended to be medical advice, it is for informational purposes only. You should always consult a licensed physician for any medical problems you are experiencing.
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