Natural painkillers: The best alternatives to ibuprofen & Co

Painkillers like ibuprofen are a quick and easy solution. However, they are not healthy for your body in the long term. / Natural painkillers

We will show you tried and tested herbal home remedies that can relieve your pain without any side effects. Here are the best natural pain relievers.

Medications and their side effects

Nowadays, medications can be obtained quickly and easily in pharmacies without a prescription, without the appropriate dose or treatment time being adequately communicated. Ibuprofen in particular is one of the most commonly used medications. Many people take ibuprofen as soon as they experience any kind of discomfort, such as a headache. The active ingredient in the product usually works quickly and promises relief. However, as with other medicines, taking them can cause side effects and put your health at risk. Therefore, if the symptoms are not too severe, use herbal, natural remedies.

Herbal painkillers and their effects

It doesn’t always have to be conventional painkillers that help us with severe pain. Natural remedies have always existed; a healing effect has also been confirmed and usually solves the problem. They are used not only because they are natural, but also because they work naturally and do not harm the body with side effects . As a chronic patient, you should of course be in constant consultation with your doctor. However, taking additional natural painkillers can usefully complement therapy and alleviate your symptoms.

Important: As long as the symptoms are limited, natural remedies help to relieve our pain. If there is no noticeable improvement after taking the home remedies , please see a doctor for advice.

Top 8 Natural Pain Relievers

Below we will introduce you to helpful, natural alternatives to the painkiller ibuprofen .

1. Arnica for pain

Arnica is now a widespread and often used plant that is best known for its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties . It is particularly helpful for muscle pain and tears, shocks, stomach pain, rheumatoid arthritis and inflammation.

You should only use arnica externally and not ingest it. To use, pour a teaspoon of arnica into a cup of warm water. Then use a clean cloth to apply the active ingredient to the affected areas.

2. Ginger for pain

Many people know that ginger is healthy and strengthens the immune system – but the fact that it can also be taken for pain is certainly new to some people. In addition to strengthening the immune system, ginger has an anti-inflammatory and analgesic function, similar to the active ingredients of arnica.

Ginger can be used externally, particularly for sprains, arthritis, general inflammation and carpal tunnel syndrome. To do this, cut off a piece of ginger, pour warm water over it and let it steep for about five minutes. Then dab the affected areas with a cloth and the natural treatment is complete.

If you are sick with nausea, ginger can also lead to improvement. Eat a small piece of ginger to stimulate your appetite and keep your gastrointestinal tract busy.

3. Turmeric for pain

The natural active ingredient turmeric is anti-inflammatory and keeps our joints healthy. The medicinal plant therefore relieves pain in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis . Simply refine your dishes with turmeric, which goes particularly well with oriental dishes such as curry. Golden milk is particularly popular and beneficial to health. A drink that consists of plant milk, turmeric, ginger and a few other ingredients. In Ayurvedic teachings, golden milk has been considered a healing, stimulating and cleansing drink for centuries. Turmeric milk relieves joint pain, supports digestion and strengthens the immune system. If you don’t like turmeric in a dish or in milk, you can also take the active ingredient in highly concentrated capsule or powder form.

4. Licorice for pain / Natural painkillers

Before you start taking licorice, you should talk to your doctor about it first . If you don’t have any concerns about treatment with licorice, you can easily buy licorice as a tablet, cream or capsule from pharmacies or health food stores and take it instead of conventional painkillers. However, the active ingredient of the medicinal plant should be avoided in cases of hypertension, potassium deficiency, type II diabetes, hepatitis and during pregnancy. The reason: The substance increases blood pressure , cortisol levels and placental permeability, so that the healthy hormonal gland and brain development of the unborn child is disrupted.

5. Cayenne pepper for pain

The natural plant cayenne pepper is not only a culinary delight for seasoning, it also acts as an anti-inflammatory. However, you should keep in mind that cayenne pepper is hot and very tasty, not everyone can handle the spiciness. Avoid contact with the mucous membrane and protect your eyes. If you don’t want to use it as a powder, you can buy it as an ointment, cream or oil essence from health food stores.

If you prefer the powder for treatment, pour hot water over 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper and drink small sips every now and then throughout the day. Once you have decided on the ointment, apply it carefully to the affected area. Wash your hands thoroughly afterwards or use gloves right from the start. Otherwise, unpleasant side effects such as severe burning could occur.

6. Willow bark for pain

Willow bark has an analgesic effect. It is particularly often used as a natural pain reliever for headaches, muscle and menstrual problems . Willow bark, for example as a tea , also helps reduce fever and treat osteoarthritis and arthritis. If you are allergic to the drug aspirin, we advise you not to use willow bark because both willow bark and aspirin contain salicylic acid, to which some are allergic.

7. Peppermint oil for pain

Peppermint oil is also a real all-rounder among natural painkillers. It not only helps with digestive problems and irritable bowel syndrome, but especially with tension headaches and muscle pain. The reason for this is probably the ingredients contained in the oil, which stimulate the cold receptors in the skin and make pain fibers less sensitive . If you would like to take advantage of this effect, massage the diluted oil directly onto the painful area.

8. Onions for pain

Onions are not only known for their flavor, but also as a well-known home remedy for sore throats, earaches and insect bites. The onion acts as a natural anti-inflammatory and has an antibacterial, pain-relieving and germ-killing effect. Therefore, if you have a sore throat or cough, you can mix onion juice with honey and take it regularly.

The onion is also used for painful middle ear infections. Cut an onion into small pieces and wrap them in a tissue. Then place the onion bag on your ear. The onion relieves the symptoms and has a decongestant effect.

Foods as natural painkillers

Not only remedies such as arnica, turmeric and ginger serve us as effective natural painkillers . Food can also reduce inflammation. Plant-based omega-3 sources in particular bring the ratio of inflammatory omega-6 fatty acids and anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids back into balance. Therefore, eat walnuts, hazelnuts , almonds, linseeds and dark green leafy vegetables regularly, but also vegetable oils such as olive and linseed oil. Oily fish can also be on the menu once a week, such as salmon, sardines and trout. Try it!

You should avoid white flour products if possible due to the large amounts of omega-6 fatty acids. You should only consume animal products in moderation, as the purines they contain can attack your joints and lead to gout.

Further tips against physical complaints

Exercise is good for the joints: even painful knees or hips benefit immensely from exercise. If the symptoms are severe, walks, cycling, Nordic walking and swimming are suitable. This way you can stimulate the production of the important synovial fluid and strengthen your muscles without putting unnecessary strain on your joints!
Relieve muscle stiffness : Many pain patients do not suffer directly from joint pain, but from the poor posture they have become accustomed to. This leads to severe muscle tension, which manifests itself as severe pain around the tendons, muscles and joints. Fascia rollers , massages, yoga, stretching exercises and warm bathsare suitable measures to combat tension and hardening

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