5 foods that relieve pain naturally
As the years march on it seems that pains – think aching joints, back pain and headaches – seem to creep up more often than before. So what is one to do? Before you head to the medicine cabinet, remember that even over-the-counter pain relief can be detrimental to your health in the long run. If taken in excess, drugs like ibuprofen and paracetamol can cause kidney and liver problems and even gastrointestinal bleeding.
Dr Ronald McCoy, spokesman for the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners explains says, "Painkiller dosages, like all medicine doses, are designed to give the body the ability to rid itself of the medicine, but taking too much doesn't give the body a chance to do this”.
To avoid putting up with constant agony, why not consider trying a natural remedy? Food is a great place to start. Here are five foods that fight pain naturally.
1. Basil
Basil has historically been used in India for thousands of years to reduce fevers, headaches, joint and arthritis related pain. Eugenol, the oil that gives basil its distinctive aroma, is the active molecule responsible for the anti-inflammatory effect.
2. Chamomile tea
Chamomile tea contains compounds that may help fight infections due to colds and even relieve tummy cramps. Research has shown that drinking the herbal remedy results in significantly higher levels of two compounds in the urine – hippurate and glycine – which are linked to antibacterial activity and nerve relaxation.
3. Olive oil
This heart-loving oil is well known for its anti-inflammatory benefits as it contains oleocanthal. This enzyme is thought to interfere with the production of chemical messengers that cause pain and swelling.
4. Ginger
A 2004 study by the University of Miami concluded that ginger has anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer and antioxidant activities, as well as a small amount of analgesic properties.
5. Tumeric
Research has identified curcumin as the active ingredient in turmeric. Curcumin protects cells from the normal, but damaging, process of oxidation by scavenging molecules known as free radicals, which are one of the root causes of aging.
What natural pain relief do you have in your kitchen cupboard? Let us know in the comments below.
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