Feel the Relief: 5 Powerful Herbs for Inflammation & Pain
Ever wonder if there’s a more natural way to manage the inflammation & pain that come with getting older?
Getting older is not for the faint at heart. It’s kinda painful sometimes, and as we get older our bodies experience more and more low grade inflammation for a variety of reasons.
Do you have those aches and pains you didn’t used to have?
Sometimes it’s a constant dull ache that becomes so irritating it’ll drive you nuts. In some cases it’s not that it’s so horribly painful, but that constant annoyance can be maddening.
What is inflammation anyway?
Inflammation is your body’s natural response to an injury or infection, and it’s good for you in the short term. But if it doesn’t go away on its own, it can become a chronic condition.
As we get older our immune system can sometimes overreact or cells can be damaged, both of which can cause inflammatory responses.
This out of control inflammation can then become a painful long term condition that can lead to all kinds of health issues, including heart disease.
How can I keep it in check?
There are natural ways you can relieve this kind of pain. First and foremost is through diet. White processed sugar is the biggest culprit of chronic, systemic inflammation with refined grains running a close second.
But there are herbs that can help.
Here are five herbs that are great at helping to relieve the pain of inflammation. Of course, there are a ton of herbs that can help with inflammation, but these are a few that you’ve probably heard of and that are easy to get ahold of and use.
1. Arnica (arnica spp.): A vibrant yellow flower, used in topical applications only. Highly toxic when used internally. But It’s fabulous for relieving pain and reducing inflammation and swelling when used topically. Make an infused oil, a salve, tincture or just make a water infusion (otherwise known as a tea) and soak your feet in it. Again, NEVER TAKE THIS ONE INTERNALLY. This is one I use a lot.
2. St. John’s Wort (hypericum perforatum): Another pretty yellow flower that packs a big punch. Made into an infused oil, salve or tincture, it’s great for inflammation and nerve pain. It’s another one I use a lot. What’s really cool about this herb is when you infuse it into an oil or tincture it becomes the most vibrant beautiful shade of red you’ve ever seen. It’s so cool how such a bright yellow flower can create such a brilliant red final product.
3. Turmeric (curcuma longa): A yellow spice that stains everything it touches. The active constituent here that’s reducing the pain is called curcumin. It actually inhibits the molecules involved in the inflammatory process, which provides relief. Studies have also shown the effects of the whole plant are greater than using curcumin alone. As is nature, all the constituents of the plant work together to help each other work more effectively. This one is best used internally. Maybe add it to your eggs or rice. If you want to get the best effect from this one, add freshly ground black pepper to it just before you use it. Freshly ground black pepper can increase its effectiveness by 1600%.
4. Ginger (Zingiber Officinale): Another root that is pretty good for anything that ails you. Great for reducing inflammation and relieving belly aches. Ginger can inhibit the inflammation caused by metabolic imbalances like insulin resistance and diabetes. This can reduce the risk of heart disease which that type of inflammation can cause. You can use it as a tea or infuse it in oil. Ginger’s energetics can be quite drying so it’s not something a person with a dry constitution would want to use regularly long term.
5. Peppermint (mentha x piperita): This is great for relaxing muscles and relieving pain thanks to the menthol it contains. It inhibits the nerves that react to pain. Drink it as a cold tea for a cooling effect or as a warm tea for a warming effect. Or use it in a bath or as a foot soak to ease sore muscles. You can also use it as an infused oil and rub it into the areas that are causing you pain for more localized relief.
How do I use these anti-inflammatories?
In most cases my preferred method of using these kinds of herbs for pain relief is as an infused oil (except the turmeric because it stains so badly).
By putting the herb you want to use in a jar and pouring your preferred carrier oil over it (enough to cover it completely) you can easily make your own infused oil. You can find more detailed instructions for making infused oils here.
When it’s ready strain it and rub it in where it hurts once or twice a day.
If a warm bath is more your style, you can make a very strong quart of tea and add it to your bath and then add the benefit of Epsom Salts too. I LOVE these warm baths for helping me to relax just before bed.
And of course you can simply make a tea. Make a stronger than usual tea, using a tablespoon or so to a cup of water for pain relief. Enjoy your tea slowly while you sit and relax. Savor the flavor and aroma, and let the tea soothe your body and mind.
By using these natural remedies in your daily life, you can avoid the side effects related to the over the counter pain relievers. Have you read those bottles??? They can be down right scary.
These herbal remedies can be a gentle yet effective way to managing inflammatory pain. Yet another way to avoid the chemicals and get back to a more simply natural way of living.
Let me know what you think.
Have you ever tried any of these herbal remedies for your pain? Which one did you use? Did it work for you?
If you haven’t tried herbs for pain relief, is it something you might consider in the future? I’d truly love to hear your thoughts. Please leave a comment below and let me know which herbal pain reliever you’ve tried.
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