When your muscles are sore or pain flares up anywhere on the body, the first impulse is to reach for pain medication. In some circumstances, over-the-counter pain medication may be required, and if the pain is sudden or intense, seek medical attention as quickly as possible.
Now, in some cases, we reach for pain medication when we could easily get relief from a variety of natural pain relievers.
Natural pain relievers not only reduce the chemical overload in your body, but they also have little to no side effects. They also have other healing properties that leave you a little bit healthier each time.
They are often used in alternative treatments like yoga, acupuncture, and other practices.
There are many benefits to relieving pain naturally but remember that these natural remedies might interact with the medicine you are taking. Talk to a health professional before using natural remedies if you are being treated for health conditions or have chronic issues.
Here are some natural remedies and what they do.
Ginger
Ginger helps in soothing muscle pain. It helps remove compounds in the body that damage cells through wear and tear.
Pineapple
The digestive enzyme bromelain found in pineapples has pain-relieving properties for stomachache, bloating, and gas. It can also help when you have sinusitis, a burn, or joint pain. Vitamin C in pineapples also reduces inflammation.
Cherries
Cherries suppress the action of inflammatory proteins and oxidative stress which helps reduce joint pain and headaches. It also decreases uric acid levels making it essential for gout patients.
Peppermint
Peppermint has a calming and numbing effect on sore muscles, headaches, nausea, skin irritation, cramps, diarrhea, and anxiety.
Blueberries
They have a compound called anthocyanin which gives them their healing powers. They help speed up the healing of urinary tract infections, skin irritation, and mental health. They also contain 24 percent of the recommended daily vitamin C intake.
Cloves
They are full of antioxidants which can help soothe toothache and gum inflammation. The antioxidants fight free radicals which damage cells and lead to inflammation and other diseases.
Apple cider vinegar
This is a remedy for a number of health issues and one of them is heartburn. To get relief take a tablespoon of the vinegar and add it to two tablespoons of water and drink. It has anti-microbial properties which are effective in stopping the growth of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans.
Turmeric
Turmeric helps in soothing sore muscles, stiffness, inflammation, and joint aches. You can enjoy it in food or make a cup of turmeric tea.
Conclusion
Natural pain remedies are not as fast reacting as medical drugs. So they are best suited for simple pain relief and boosting immunity.