Herbal Medicine
Ginger
Used in Chinese medicine for thousands of years, ginger is a natural anti-inflammatory associated with helping with arthritis pain, headaches and muscle soreness.
One study out of the University of Miami concluded ginger extract could be a substitute for NSAIDs for treating pain. The study of 247 patients with knee osteoarthritis found that ginger reduced pain and stiffness in knee joints by 40%, compared to the placebo.
Rosemary
Much like ginger, rosemary inhibits inflammation, but it is not as powerful. It also provides analgesic for relieving headache pain, muscle aches and even arthritis pain. However, there isn’t enough clinical evidence to confirm or rule out its effectiveness.
Devil's Claw Root
Devil’s claw is a natural analgesic and anti-inflammatory herb. There is some scientific evidence showing devil’s claw may be effective in managing back pain and arthritis.
In one random, double-blind study out of France, devil’s claw was taken over a period of four months by study participants with knee and hip osteoarthritis. It was shown to be just as effective as NSAIDs and analgesic drugs. The participants who took the devil’s claw experienced significantly lower side effects than the patients who took a prescription analgesic. The most reported side effect with devil’s claw was diarrhea.
Ginseng
In one fibromyalgia study, participants who took a daily ginseng supplement were reporting a 31.7% reduction in pain by the sixth week. By the twelfth week, study subjects were reporting a 39.4% pain reduction.
Pain reduction in the ginseng subjects was similar to the study participants taking the prescription medication amitriptyline. In addition to managing pain, ginseng may also help you to manage fatigue, sleep and mood. It causes side effects, including anxiety, nervousness, diarrhea and headaches, and it may interact with your other medicines, so check with your doctor before using it.
Valerian Root
There has been some research indicating valerian root may help with muscle pain, cramps and spasms. Valerian root works through the nervous system as a natural analgesic.
In one study reported in The Indian Journal of Experimental Biology, researchers found valerian root created a significant analgesic effect in animal models and the essential oils of the valerian root increased the helpfulness of aspirin.
Some Things to Remember
Anti-inflammatory herbal remedies can help you to manage pain naturally, without the side effects of prescription medications. Used alone, or in combination with physical activity and stress relief measures (i.e. meditation or relaxation breathing), these herbs can help to significantly reduce pain.
Just remember to be cautious with herbal remedies, as some of those may not help or have unwanted side effects, may interact with other medicines, or you may be allergic to some ingredients. Always check with your health care provider or a licensed alternative medicine practitioner before starting any herbal medication.
