Using Herbs To Combat Pain
Certain herbs should always be ready to use in your medicine cabinet to
combat pain. The best herb for this of course is White Willow. White
Willow will actually relieve pain, reduce fevers, and reduce inflammation such as that found with certain types of arthritis.
White Willow is the original source of modern day aspirin and many of the common anti-inflammatory medicines you can buy over the counter or get in stronger doses via prescription. These include standard NSAIDs such as Motrin, Ibuprofin, and Aleve.
White willow is an all natural herb which reduces pain by reducing inflammation. The good news though, is that it does not have the same side effects and risks that come with synthetic versions of this type of pain reliever. In fact, standard aspirin based medicines cannot be given to children, because it can cause a disease known as Reye's Syndrom. White willow however, does not carry this same risk.
The main natural ingredient in White Willow is known as Salicin. This substance is converted by the body naturally into Salicylic Acid, which is mild to the stomach. So the upset stomach and bleeding ulcer issues that are commonly found with standard aspirin useage are not a problem with this herb either.
As with any other herbs, it's important to make sure you buy high quality White Willow supplements. If you simply buy a product which says it contains white willow, it is not likely to have enough of the actual herb in it to be overly helpful. Try to buy pure, 100% white willow in gelcaps for the best results.
Also realize that if a person has taken large doses of synthetic pain killers in the past, their body may not respond the same when taking white willow. You need to compare the dosage amounts first of all: If you normally take two extra strength Tylenol for pain relief for instance, then you may need three or four white willow supplements because they usually contain lower doses per pill than the Tylenol does.
Valerian Root is another useful herb to keep on hand for treating pain. This herb is actually a powerful and effective antispasmotic which helps calm and quiet the body. It relieves pain, helps promote sleep at night with no narcotic effect, and helps calm heart palpitations as well.
Valerian Root has been used for a wide variety of pain related issues such as menstrual cramps, childbirth afterpains, muscle cramps and spasms, headaches, and arthritis pain.
Note: Some statements in this article may not be approved by the FDA. This article is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as professional medical advice.
Note: Some statements in this article may not be approved by the FDA. This article is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as professional medical advice.
The Compleat Mother Magazine
