Natural Painkiller Tackles 4 Types of Pain
The number of people worldwide living with some kind of chronic pain isn’t in the millions… it’s in the billions.
Whether it’s from back pain, arthritis, autoimmune disease, injury, or something else entirely, the result is often the same. Pain takes a toll on your quality of life, mental health, relationships—and so much more.
It can also lead to addiction to opioids and other drugs, simply because people are desperate for relief.
I can’t promise that Nature has the cure for every type of pain.
But I can share a natural remedy with you that’s been scientifically proven to ease some of the most common—and debilitating—types of pain.
If you’re a fan of Indian or Middle Eastern cuisine, then you know that many of the sauces have a vibrant yellow-orange color.
Well, it turns out that one of the same compounds responsible for the bold flavor and vibrant color in these dishes has some pretty bold health benefits, too.
Especially when it comes to pain relief.
I’m talking about a compound called curcumin, found in the spice, turmeric.
Curcumin, the active compound in the golden spice, effectively relieves joint, muscle, and nerve pain because of two key properties:
- It’s a powerful anti-inflammatory.
- It can reduce sensations of pain by targeting pain receptors in your body.
With that in mind, here’s what science has to say about curcumin’s power against four of the most types of pain.
In one study, curcumin was just as effective as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in relieving osteoarthritis pain with fewer side effects.
Another study confirmed that it was comparable to another type of anti-inflammatory (diclofenac) in relieving osteoarthritis pain, again, with fewer side effects.
In other research on rheumatoid arthritis (joint pain caused by an autoimmune disease), turmeric reduced inflammation and improved clinical symptoms of the disease.
Curcumin also shows promise for diabetic neuropathy—pain caused by nerve damage. In a review of studies that included people suffering from diabetic neuropathy, the authors concluded that curcumin was a promising option for neuropathic and postoperative pain.
Another study showed that curcumin effectively reduces muscle damage and soreness after intense exercise. This is likely because curcumin fights two leading causes of muscle damage: inflammation and oxidative stress.
And when combined with Boswellia (frankincense), people suffering from back pain experienced significant pain relief in just 76 minutes.
You can search online for recipes that include turmeric to find some new dishes to try. Or simply add turmeric to some of your favorite old standbys like scrambled eggs or baked chicken.
Whether you’re dealing with chronic pain or not, including more turmeric into your diet is a tasty way to boost your antioxidants while turning down the dial on inflammation.
And, of course, less inflammation = less pain.
For a heavier dose of curcumin, supplements are available. Just be sure to look for ones that contain 95 percent curcuminoid, as well as black pepper extract, which helps your body utilize more of the curcumin.
P.S. Try these Top 5 supplements for BETTER joints.
View Sources
Sun J, Chen F, Braun C, et al., Role of curcumin in the management of pathological pain. Phytomedicine. 2018;48:129-140. doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2018.04.045
