Do you have any nagging aches and pains that just won’t go away? Give any one (or all) of these natural pain fighters a try…
- Turmeric. This Indian spice has been used for 4,000 years to treat numerous ailments like digestive problems, colds and fever. It’s also a powerful pain reliever. Research suggests that’s because of it’s ability to reduce inflammation, improve circulation and prevent blood clotting.
- Eat spicy. Capsaicin is what gives peppers their ‘kick.’ And research published in the Journal of the Australian Pharmacists Association found that capsaicin can help ease joint and muscle pain as a result of arthritis. Start by adding red pepper to some of your foods. Or if you can handle it, go hotter (which means more capsaicin in every bite to relieve the pain!).
- Try acupuncture. This is one of the oldest healing practices in the world. Many people find relief once they try it and the National Centre for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (part of the government’s National Institutes of Health) states that “Acupuncture is being studied for its efficacy in alleviating many kinds of pain. There are promising findings in some conditions, such as chronic low-back pain…”
- Get some sun! Research done at the Mayo Clinic found a link between low vitamin D levels and chronic pain. Patients with low vitamin D needed to take significantly higher doses of a narcotic medication to treat their pain, compared with those with higher D levels. Anywhere from 10 – 20 minutes of being out in the sun every day can keep your levels where they need to be.
