Although medications are recommended by doctors in most situations to treat any medical condition, a lot of people around the world don’t really like the idea of medicine, vaccines, or surgical procedures. They don’t like to turn to these supplements, as they may have long-term side effects, which will impact their organs later on in their lives. Instead, they have strong beliefs that the world is filled with natural ingredients which can be a solid solution to all health issues and chronic pains. Also, many people like to turn to therapy, exercising, and dieting to solve their health issues, without having to take any sort of medication. A lot of research has been done about the use of alternative medicine in pain relief, and a large number of scientists agree with the idea. According to Maroon et. Al, “although nonsteroidal medications can be effective, herbs and dietary supplements may offer a safer, and often an effective, alternative treatment for pain relief, especially for long-term use.” (2010).

What are the side effects of steroidal medications?

It is well-known that constant and excessive medicine intake is not good for the person’s health. It is absolutely forbidden for a patient to take an inaccurate dosage of their medical treatment; it should be prescribed either by the doctor or based on the leaflet of the drug. According to Harvard Health, a lot of medications have serious and dangerous side effects which cannot be disregarded (2020). For example, in their paper, Marron et. Al (2010) talked about all the effects that NSAIDs can have on the human body, such as muscle degeneration, gastric tissue damage, a reduction in the healing process of ligaments, tendons, and cartilages, renal failures in extreme cases, and more. Here is a table of some of the most common side-effects for steroid-based medications.

It is important to note that these side-effects do not generally occur, but as people’s bodies differ, each person might react to these medication in several ways. Therefore, a lot of people showed more interest in the use of natural ingredients, which can solve their health issues and reduce their chronic pain.

What are the most popular natural painkillers?

As previously mentioned, a lot of research is ongoing regarding the effective impact of natural ingredients in pain relief. From oils, to plants, to herbs, natural painkillers are widely popular in pain relieving.

Here is a list of some of the best scientifically proved natural pain relievers:

• Fish Oil (Omega-3 EFAs): While many people might be surprised, fish oil contains fatty acids, which act as anti-inflammatory agents: “Research has shown that the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are some of the most effective natural anti-inflammatory agents available.” (Maroon et. Al, 2010). It has shown benefits in treating a lot of conditions related to the nerves, treating coronary artery diseases, arthritis, reducing inflammations, treating cervical and lumbar disc diseases, and more. It should be noted that an excessive consumption of fish oil may also have side effects, such as belching, which is why it should be taken in moderation.




• Willow bark: For hundreds of years, people have been using willow bark as an alternative to medicine. It dates back to the ancient Roman and Egyptian civilizations, and it was widely used to treat aches back in the days (Maroon et. Al, 2010). Its effect on the human body is similar to that of aspirin, only with fewer side effects. Nowadays, people either chew willow bark to relieve their headaches, or put it in their tea as an easier way to swallow it. It is not advisable to give this treatment to children; it should only be taken by adults. Also, it is not recommended for people with diabetes, renal disorders, or peptic ulcer disease.

• Cloves: Cloves can be used to treat many conditions, such as nausea, headaches, toothaches, and arthritic inflammations. Research have found that it can be used for fungal infections as well (Healthline, 2021). It can also be used as a topical pain reliever, where the patient can simply rub cloves powder or oil onto the affected area to ease the sensation of pain.

• Turmeric: This spice is mainly made of curcumin, which has been proven to have anti-inflammatory properties. It reduces inflammation and protects the body from free molecules, which can harm all the tissues and cells. It is used to treat problems with digestion and works great on wound healing. Plus, it has been proven that turmeric can be used with people who suffer from chronic neurodegenerative conditions, cancer, and arthritis. It is mainly a very effective natural alternative for steroidal medications. High doses of turmeric should be avoided, as it might upset the stomach or worsen gallbladder conditions (Bhatia, 2016).

• Green Tea: Many theories arose as per the consumption of green tea, but what’s definitely sure is that it is excellent for cancer and cardiovascular diseases patients. It is considered an anti-inflammatory substance and it is widely used among people. It is recommended to drink not more than 3 or 4 cups of green tea per day, as increasing the intake might cause stomach irritation, because of the caffeine abundance (Marron et. Al, 2010).




• Ginger: Ginger is a very famous natural ingredient, widely used for treatment purposes. According to Medical News Today, ginger “shows promise as a natural pain reliever.” (2021). It is known to reduce muscle and joint pain, as well as accelerate the recovery from any injury following severe exercising. This root contains phytochemicals, which are the best anti-inflammatory substances. Using natural ginger is recommended, as they have more health benefits than processed supplements.

• Feverfew: It is a natural component, but it is widely used in medicine. It treats pain in several parts of the body such as the stomach, teeth, and head. Traditionally, it has been proven that feverfew can treat migraines, arthritis, and has the ability to increase breast milk (Medical News Today, 2019). It also contains ingredients which treat muscle weakness and spasm. Not taking the right dosage leads to some side effects, like tongue and mouth irritation, risk of bleeding, nausea, and vomiting.




• Capsaicin: The more used appellation of this natural ingredient is simply “chili pepper”. Americans have been using this ingredient for hundreds of years to treat medical conditions (Maroon et. Al, 2010). Using pepper as a topical treatment is very effective in pain management. While some people have shown allergic reactions to it, others use it almost daily on their aching spots to reduce their pain. When taken orally, it is not used alone; it is rather mixed with other ingredients, which lowers its intensity.




• Essential Oils: There are numerous essential oils which are used in pain relief methods, and each of them treats a certain condition in a specific way.

  • Peppermint Essential Oil: Not only does peppermint act as an anti-inflammatory agent, but it is also anti-microbial. When applied to the area of pain, it acts like magic. It relieves headaches when applied to the forehead, arthritis, and spasms. It shouldn’t be applied on broken skin, as it might irritate it.

  • Lavender Essential Oil: Used to treat anxiety and help with sleep difficulties, this relaxing oil has been proven to treat migraines, because of the placebo effect it has. It should not be taken orally, as it can be toxic, and should only be applied on the specific achy area or inhaled.

  • Rosemary Essential Oil: Thanks to its use in folk medicine, this essential oil has been showing some outstanding results. It has a lot of health benefits such as improving brain functions, reducing stress, decreasing joint inflammation, and most importantly, relieving pain. According to Healthline, the following has been stated: “In a two-week study, stroke survivors with shoulder pain who received a rosemary oil blend with acupressure for 20 minutes twice daily experienced a 30% reduction in pain.” (2021).

• Ice and Heat: Whether the patient is taking medications or not, applying heat pads or ice packs on painful areas is one of the most popular pain relieving methods. Using an ice pack on inflammed or swollen areas is highly effective in reducing them. It was also very popular to reduce fever back in the days. As for heat pads, they are widely used on the stomach in case of pain, or on strains or sprains.

• Resveratrol: This molecule can be found in plants, like grapes, and is also called Japanese Knot Weed. It plays a very important role in reducing inflammations and treating damaged tissues. Its anti-inflammatory properties are widely studied, and it has been proven to be very effective, as no serious side effects have arisen from its use.

Are there any other ways to “naturally” relieve pain?

Many people turn to these herbs and plants to relieve their pain, while another big part of the world turn to some other sorts of remedies. Endorphins are the natural body-produced painkillers, and they can be released abundantly when your body pumps blood through physical activity. Therefore, a well-organized workout plan may be a highly effective natural pain killer.

In addition, meditation and yoga have been proven for years to be the best methods to reducing sensations of pain, stress, and discomfort.

Also, studies have found that vitamin D can be very useful in reducing chronic pain (George, 2020). So, doing outdoor activities, during which you get exposed to sunlight for 10 to 15 minutes daily, is recommended to boost vitamin D, to improve your mood, and to make you feel better, which effectively reduces pain.

Laughing, sleeping, stretching, finding the right people around you – they are all natural and simple pain-relieving methods. They should all be considered along the person’s journey with pain. These are recommendations, and every person is free to choose the method that they find fit. However, if the pain persists and causes extreme discomfort, compromising your daily life activities, consult with a specialist in order to get the right treatment.

If you or anyone you know is suffering from pain, call us today on (469) 562 4188 to book an appointment with our expert doctors.