Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhite Willow BarkBoswelliaDevil’s ClawBromelainTurmericGinger
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
White Willow Bark
Boswellia
Devil’s Claw
Bromelain
Turmeric
Ginger
If you are living with pain, addingherbsto your regimen may help to ease your discomfort, especially when combined with regular exercise, diet, andrelaxation techniques.
Inflammation is at the root of many pain-causing conditions such asarthritis,back pain, andtendonitis. Long-term inflammation puts you at risk factor for chronic diseases like cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.
What Is Inflammation?Inflammationis the body’s natural response to infection, injury, or illness. The immune system sends chemicals in the bloodstream to the area where you’ve been hurt or infected. These chemicals create “good” inflammation to protect your body from foreign invaders like bacteria and viruses.Sometimes, though, the body sends these chemicals when you don’t have a problem. Other times, the inflammatory process lasts longer than it needs to. This “bad” type of inflammation, called chronic inflammation, is associated with long-term pain or health problems.
What Is Inflammation?
Inflammationis the body’s natural response to infection, injury, or illness. The immune system sends chemicals in the bloodstream to the area where you’ve been hurt or infected. These chemicals create “good” inflammation to protect your body from foreign invaders like bacteria and viruses.Sometimes, though, the body sends these chemicals when you don’t have a problem. Other times, the inflammatory process lasts longer than it needs to. This “bad” type of inflammation, called chronic inflammation, is associated with long-term pain or health problems.
Inflammationis the body’s natural response to infection, injury, or illness. The immune system sends chemicals in the bloodstream to the area where you’ve been hurt or infected. These chemicals create “good” inflammation to protect your body from foreign invaders like bacteria and viruses.
Sometimes, though, the body sends these chemicals when you don’t have a problem. Other times, the inflammatory process lasts longer than it needs to. This “bad” type of inflammation, called chronic inflammation, is associated with long-term pain or health problems.
This article looks at six herbs that are often used for natural pain relief. It explains scientific research related to specific health claims and warnings about when you should avoid usingherbal treatments.
Containing an aspirin-like compound known assalicin, white willow bark has been used for centuries as a natural remedy for inflammation and pain. Research has shown that taking willow bark may be as effective as taking conventional anti-inflammatory medications for the relief of knee pain and musculoskeletal pain.
In addition to salicin, willow bark contains chemicals calledpolyphenolsandflavonoids. These plant compounds are an important part of a healthy diet because they support basic body functions. They also have been shown to significantly reduce inflammation.
Researchers think that the combination of material in willow bark make it effective at treating headache, easing muscle pain, and calming inflammation.It doesn’t seem to help with fever, though.
Practitioners ofAyurveda, a healing practice from India, have long used Bosellia to relieve joint and muscle pain. Modern scientists have found that there’s reason to trust that practice. Studies show that Boswellia can reduce pain and improve mobility in those with osteoarthritis.
Traditionally used for rheumatoid arthritis, the South African herbdevil’s clawmay also soothe pain resulting from osteoarthritis, tendonitis, and back and neck troubles, according to proponents.
Studies have shown that devil’s claw contains powerful pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties.It’s been shown to improve symptoms of arthritis and pain. People report that taking it has improved their quality of life and ability to live with certain conditions.
Bromelainreduces levels of hormones in the body that control inflammation. These hormones, known asprostaglandins, initiate inflammation and keep it going.
There is research showing brome can benefit people with arthritis and conditions associated with musculoskeletal tension such astemporomandibular joint (TMJ) syndrome. TMJ causes pain around the jaw and surrounding areas including the ears and eyes.
Bromelain may also help those with inflammation related to an accident or physical trauma. It may promote healing in muscles and connective tissues.
Bromelain is extracted from the stems of pineapples. While the meat of the pineapple does contain a small amount of bromelain, it isn’t enough to be medicinally helpful. Usually, it’s offered as a pill or tablet to people with inflammation or infection.
Another popular ayurvedic spice,turmericcontains an antioxidant compound calledcurcumin.
The properties in turmeric may also help decrease pain associated with two common disorders:
Turmeric for Pain Relief
One 2015 study even suggests that ginger could reduce pain and inflammation as effectively as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (such as aspirin), although more further research is still needed.
White willow bark, turmeric, and ginger contain natural blood-thinning compounds, so people taking many common medications and supplements and those about to undergo surgery should be careful and discuss these supplements with their doctors.
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Summary
Researchers have looked carefully at certain herbal treatments that traditional healing practitioners often tout as pain relievers.
However, some are not appropriate for children. There may also be instances where these herbal treatments interact with other medications you take, so always discuss these treatments with your doctor.
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10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Lennihan B.Homeopathy for pain management.Alternative and Complementary Therapies. 2017;23(5):176-183. doi:10.1089/act.2017.29129.bleJahromi B, Pirvulescu I, Candido KD, Knezevic NN.Herbal medicine for pain management: efficacy and drug interactions.Pharmaceutics. 2021;13(2):251. doi:10.3390%2Fpharmaceutics13020251González R, Ballester I, López-Posadas R, et al.Effects of flavonoids and other polyphenols on inflammation.Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. 2011;51(4):331-362. doi:10.1080/10408390903584094Mount Sinai Hospital.Willow bark.Shara M, Stohs SJ.Efficacy and safety of white willow bark (Salix alba) extracts.Phytotherapy Research. 2015;29(8):1112-1116. doi:10.1002/ptr.5377Cameron M, Chrubasik S.Oral herbal therapies for treating osteoarthritis.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014;2014(5):CD002947. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD002947.pub2Akhtar N, Haqqi TM.Current nutraceuticals in the management of osteoarthritis: a review.Therapeutic Advances in Musculoskeletal. 2012;4(3):181-207. doi:10.1177%2F1759720X11436238Hasriadi, Dasuni Wasana PW, Vajragupta O, Rojsitthisak P, Towiwat P.Mechanistic insight into the effects of curcumin on neuroinflammation-driven chronic pain.Pharmaceuticals. 2021;14(8):777. doi:10.3390%2Fph14080777Daily JW, Yang M, Park S.Efficacy of turmeric extracts and curcumin for alleviating the symptoms of joint arthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.J Med Food. 2016;19(8):717–729. doi:10.1089/jmf.2016.3705Bartels EM, et al.Efficacy and safety of ginger in osteoarthritis patients: a meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials.Osteoarthritis and Cartilage. 2015;23(1):13-21. doi:10.1016/j.joca.2014.09.024
Lennihan B.Homeopathy for pain management.Alternative and Complementary Therapies. 2017;23(5):176-183. doi:10.1089/act.2017.29129.ble
Jahromi B, Pirvulescu I, Candido KD, Knezevic NN.Herbal medicine for pain management: efficacy and drug interactions.Pharmaceutics. 2021;13(2):251. doi:10.3390%2Fpharmaceutics13020251
González R, Ballester I, López-Posadas R, et al.Effects of flavonoids and other polyphenols on inflammation.Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. 2011;51(4):331-362. doi:10.1080/10408390903584094
Mount Sinai Hospital.Willow bark.
Shara M, Stohs SJ.Efficacy and safety of white willow bark (Salix alba) extracts.Phytotherapy Research. 2015;29(8):1112-1116. doi:10.1002/ptr.5377
Cameron M, Chrubasik S.Oral herbal therapies for treating osteoarthritis.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014;2014(5):CD002947. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD002947.pub2
Akhtar N, Haqqi TM.Current nutraceuticals in the management of osteoarthritis: a review.Therapeutic Advances in Musculoskeletal. 2012;4(3):181-207. doi:10.1177%2F1759720X11436238
Hasriadi, Dasuni Wasana PW, Vajragupta O, Rojsitthisak P, Towiwat P.Mechanistic insight into the effects of curcumin on neuroinflammation-driven chronic pain.Pharmaceuticals. 2021;14(8):777. doi:10.3390%2Fph14080777
Daily JW, Yang M, Park S.Efficacy of turmeric extracts and curcumin for alleviating the symptoms of joint arthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.J Med Food. 2016;19(8):717–729. doi:10.1089/jmf.2016.3705
Bartels EM, et al.Efficacy and safety of ginger in osteoarthritis patients: a meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials.Osteoarthritis and Cartilage. 2015;23(1):13-21. doi:10.1016/j.joca.2014.09.024
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