Herbs for Pain Relief
Using herbal medicine has been a practice that has been dated all the way back to 1500 BC and possibly earlier. An Egyptian papyrus called The Ebers Papyrus was a very long scroll about 20 meters long which contained around 700 different formulas and remedies that the Egyptians used.
Herbal medicine has always been around and practiced by many individuals but recently in the past decade or so it has definitely made quite a comeback. Everything from individuals looking for healthier alternatives, to people looking to turn their passion into a career.
One of the many ailments that people are turning to herbal medicine for that is rather common is for pain. There are a wide variety of medicinal plants that are available that contain pain relieving therapeutic properties to them. These properties are due to certain chemical constituents that the plant contains. For relieving pain, some of the properties one may look for would be anti-inflammatory and analgesic. You could also look for medicinal plants that have sedative and nervine properties to them also to help alleviate the stress response that is commonly experienced when someone is in pain. So let’s take a look at some of the herbs that could be used for pain relief…
Arnica
Scientific Name: Arnica montana
Family: Asteraceae
Parts Used: Flowers
Uses: Sore muscles, bruising, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antiseptic.
Ashwaghanda
Scientific Name: Withania somnifera
Family: Solanaceae
Parts Used: Roots, leaves, seeds
Uses: Relieves stress, adaptogen, leaves are anti-inflammatory/analgesic/sedative, antimicrobial, immune booster
Cayenne
Scientific Name: Capsicum annuum
Family: Solanaceae
Parts Used: Fruit
Uses: Pain relief, warming/hot, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, arthritis, toothache
Chamomile
Scientific Name: Matricaria recutita
Family: Asteraceae
Parts Used: Flower heads
Uses: Fevers, indigestion, heartburn, stress, pain relief, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antiseptic, antibacterial, antispasmodic, sedative, insomnia.
Lemongrass
Scientific Name: Cymbopogon citratus
Family: Poaceae
Parts Used: Grass
Uses: gastrointestinal issues, fever, arthritis, flatulence, pain, insomnia, anxiety, anti-inflammatory, sedative
Skullcap
Scientific Name: Scutellaria lateriflora
Family: Lamiaceae
Parts Used: Whole plant
Uses: Insomnia, anxiety, nervousness, stress, muscle spasms, anti-inflammatory, arthritis, joint pain
***DISCLAIMER**
Before you decide to use any herbal treatments for an ailment, I advise you to do your own research and be sure to correctly identify any contraindications for your own safety and well-being. Using herbs is never to replace medical attention and I advise that you speak with a medical professional before using them. There are many herbs that cannot be used by pregnant women, breastfeeding women, children, persons on certain medications, and persons with certain medical diagnoses. Any and all statements made on this web-site have not been evaluated by the FDA. Te herbs listed are not to be used to treat, diagnose, cure, or prevent disease.
