People take
a lot of pills today. And sometimes that's okay. But using too many painkillers
can really cause damage to your body. So, if your pain is mild to moderate, you
should know that nature has provided us with quite a number of natural
painkillers.
These 19 foods are natural remedies that can be used to alleviate
many types of pain.
1. Muscle
Pain – Ginger
Danish
researchers found that regular consumption of ginger could reduce chronic
muscle and joint pain, as well as swelling and stiffness within just a couple
of months. The credit goes to the main ingredient in ginger – Gingerol, which
inhibits the production of pain-inducing hormones. A teaspoon of dried ginger
or 2 teaspoons of fresh ginger every day will do the trick.
2. Toothaches
– Cloves
Powdered
cloves are a known home remedy for toothaches and gingivitis. Furthermore,
recent research from the University of California proved it scientifically by
isolating the active ingredient that reduces the pain. It is an organic
compound called eugenol – a powerful natural anesthetic. ¼ teaspoon every day
will help keep your heart healthy, and scientists are saying that it also aids
in stabilizing blood-sugar levels and even starts lowering cholesterol levels
within three weeks.
3. Acid
Reflux – Apple Cider Vinegar
If heartburn
constantly plagues you, you can stop it with apple cider vinegar. The active
ingredients in the vinegar that treat reflux are malic acid and tartaric acid,
which quicken digestion and help your body break down fats and proteins. Faster
digestion means fewer chances for the stomach to overflow with acids, causing
the reflux. By adding just a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to a cup of
water before every meal can prevent acid reflux within 24 hours.
4. Earache –
Garlic
Often
referred to as “nature’s antibiotics”, garlic indeed possesses powerful
anti-inflammatory qualities. Experts from the Mexico School of Medicine claim
that applying two drops of warm garlic oil into the ear can cure an ear
infection in five days. Garlic contains minerals such as selenium, germanium
and sulfur, which are all very toxic to most kinds of bacteria.
To make your
own garlic oil, slowly cook (do not boil) three garlic cloves in half a cup of
olive oil for two minutes. Filter the oil and use it as instructed (make sure
it’s not too hot). The oil can keep for up to two weeks in the fridge.
5. Headaches
and joint pains – Cherries
Michigan
State University found that the daily consumption of a bowl of cherries is
highly beneficial for people who suffer from headaches and various joint
inflammations. Anthocyanin is the pigment that gives cherries their bright red
color. It is also a powerful anti-inflammatory, ten times more powerful than
ibuprofen or aspirin. Anthocya Make the Pain Go Away with These Foods and Drinks!nin actively paralyzes the enzymes that cause
tissue inflammation, making cherries the perfect treatment. Eating about 20
cherries every day will do the trick.
6.
Stomachaches – Fish
Indigestion,
irritable bowel syndrome, enteritis – all of these can be treated by eating
fish. Many a research has shown that Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish can
actively reduce stomach cramping and enteritis. In some cases, Omega-3 was
found to be as effective as prescription medicine. The fatty acids aid in
maintaining the general health of the digestive system thanks to their
anti-inflammatory properties.
1 pound of
fish per week is enough to support the digestive system. The fish richest in
Omega-3 are salmon, tuna, herring, mackerel, sardines, and trout.
7. PMS –
Yogurt
food-remedies
80% of women
suffer from PMS-related pain before and during their periods. The reason for
the pain is the nervous system’s sensitivity to the changes in estrogen and
progesterone levels. A study conducted at Columbia University found that eating
two servings of yogurt daily can reduce the intensity of PMS pain by almost
50%. Yogurt is rich in calcium, a mineral that naturally soothes the nervous
system, thus preventing painful symptoms despite the hormonal changes.
8. Chronic
Pains – Turmeric
Turmeric was
found to be three times more powerful than ibuprofen, aspirin, and naproxen.
Researchers from Cornell University found that turmeric can heal up to 50% of
people suffering from arthritis and fibromyalgia. The active ingredient in
turmeric – curcumin, paralyzes the enzyme that causes serial pain. A ¼ teaspoon
of turmeric every day will reduce your chronic pain considerably.
9.
Endometriosis – Oats
When the tissue
that normally grows inside the uterus grows outside the uterus, it may cause a
severe and painful inflammation that drags on long after the end of the period.
Luckily, an oats-rich diet can reduce up to 60% of the pain within six months.
The reason is that oats don’t contain gluten, which can induce inflammation in
many women.
10. Ingrown
Toenails and Toothaches – Salt
An ingrown
toenail is a common ailment that affects millions of people around the world.
Luckily, it’s easily treatable by using salt-water. Stanford University
researchers found that soaking your feet in salt water can heal ingrown-related
infections in just four days. Salt is antibacterial and anti-inflammatory.
To make use
of its benefits, add just a teaspoon to a cup of warm water, and then add it to
your foot bath to use twice a day until the infection is gone. Additionally,
dentists recommend gargling with salt water to treat and prevent gingivitis.
Doing this can also help when you’re suffering from a throat infection.
11.
Indigestion – Pineapple
Pineapples
are a delicious tropical fruit that are rich in protein-breaking enzymes. These
enzymes help the body with the digestion processes, speeding it up and reducing
stomach pains that come from gas buildups. Researchers at Stanford University
found that one cup of fresh pineapple every day can treat pain caused by gas
within 72 hours.
12. Muscle
Pains – Mint
Cramped
muscles can be painful for months, especially if they originate from incorrect
posture or reoccurring overexertion. A hot bath with ten drops of mint oil,
three times a week, is 25% more effective than prescription drugs. The hot
water helps relax and loosen the muscles while the mint oil soothes the aching
nervous system. Such treatment will also help reduce the frequency of future
pain.
13.
Backaches – Grapes
In a study
conducted at the University of Ohio, researchers found that one cup of fresh
grapes per day can help improve blood flow to the damaged tissue in the back,
sometimes within as little as three hours. The spine is highly dependent on the
nutrients and oxygen in the blood, making eating grapes a highly beneficial
act.
14.
Injury-Related Pains – Water
Good old H2O
– we need it to survive, but researchers at Manhattan College in New York found
that water can also ease pain from injuries. When body tissue is damaged, it
produces a chemical compound called histamine, which causes pain. Water dilutes
the amounts of histamine in the blood, thus effectively reducing the level of
pain.
Water is
also essential for the health of the cartilage tissue between our bones, as
well as lubricating our joints and the soft tissue in our spine. A
well-hydrated body is a well-lubricated machine, which prevents joint pains.
Doctors recommend drinking 8 cups of water per day.
15. Sinus
Pain – Horseradish
Sinusitis
is a chronic disease that affects many people. It is effectively a state of
infection of the cavities in the skull. Sinusitis causes severe headaches, face
pains and can even hinder breathing. German researchers discovered that
horseradish can increase the blood flow to the sinuses, decongesting them and
draining any obstructions that may cause the infection. Eat a teaspoon of horseradish
every day until your symptoms are gone.
16. Oral
Infections – Honey
Experts from
the Dubai Center for Health recommend treating mouth sores, cold sores and
other oral infections with honey. Honey contains anti-inflammatory enzymes that
destroy viruses and speed up the healing process. To effectively treat such
sores, it is recommended that you apply unpasteurized honey directly onto the
wounds four times a day. The healing process will take 43% less time compared
to OTC ointments and creams.
17. Chest
Pains – FlaxSeeds
Flax-seeds
contain phytoestrogen, a compound that prevents changes in estrogen levels that
cause some women pain. All you need to do is to add three tablespoons of
flax seeds to your daily diet. This should help with the pain within 12 weeks.
18.
Migraines – Coffee
People
suffering from chronic headaches or migraines can benefit from drinking coffee.
Caffeine improves the stomach lining's ability to absorb medication, increasing
its effectiveness by up to 40%. If you’re taking headache medication – take it
with a cup of coffee.
19. Cramped
Muscles – Tomato Juice
Our muscles
tend to cramp when our bodies don’t have enough potassium. Diuretics or
excessive sweating can cause potassium deficiency. Potassium is a mineral that
is essential to our muscles’ health. A study conducted by the University of
California found that drinking one cup of tomato juice every day can help ease
cramped muscles and prevent future occurrences, thanks to the high levels of
potassium in it.
Elm Belle <elm2belle@gmail.com>
