9 min read
Cecily Grace Morgan
Pain is the most common reason that people seek healthcare. While many of us will have a stash of over-the-counter painkillers in our medicine cupboard, these are not always sufficient for relieving our pain. But with stronger pain medications bringing some undesirable side effects, many people are now seeking natural relief from pain.
Key takeaways
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Sometimes, pain is a necessary evil that alerts us to other problems in our bodies, such as sprains, muscle tears, and infections; however, at other times, pain can persist for days, weeks, and even months, with no obvious cause. Pain is a broad spectrum that can range from small cuts and occasional headaches to consistent and more disruptive symptoms. For this reason, pain is commonly separated into two main categories: acute and chronic.
Acute pain is defined as pain that is a normal response to trauma, including injury, surgery, or other medical conditions. Onset is usually sudden and short-lived.
In contrast, chronic pain is more persistent. It can be related to both physical and mental trauma and in some cases, the cause may not be clear. For a diagnosis of chronic pain, symptoms usually must have persisted for at least three months.
If you’re experiencing new or severe pain anywhere in your body, you should speak to your GP.
Pain relief methods can vary depending on the cause and severity of pain. However, in many cases, pharmacological interventions will be recommended to ease symptoms. These can include:
Non-opioid painkillers (including over-the-counter painkillers, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and antidepressants)
Opioid painkillers (including oxycodone, morphine, tramadol, codeine and fentanyl)
Adjuvant/co-analgesics (used in the treatment of medical conditions where pain is a secondary indication)
Corticosteroids (also called glucocorticoids or steroids)
Many of these common pharmacological interventions are associated with serious side effects. For example, opioids carry a risk of addiction and overdose. As a result, many patients and clinicians are pursuing alternative treatments for pain management.
Sometimes, pain is a necessary evil that alerts us to other problems in our bodies, such as sprains, muscle tears, and infections; however, at other times, pain can persist for days, weeks, and even months, with no obvious cause. Pain is a broad spectrum that can range from small cuts and occasional headaches to consistent and more disruptive symptoms. However, pain is commonly separated into two main categories: acute and chronic.
Acute pain is defined as pain that is a normal response to trauma, including injury, surgery, or other medical conditions. Onset is usually sudden and short-lived.
In contrast, chronic pain is more persistent. It can be related to both physical and mental trauma and in some cases, the cause may not be clear. For a diagnosis of chronic pain, symptoms usually must have persisted for at least three months.
A number of patients living with chronic pain are interested in natural chronic pain relief techniques. But this is far from a new phenomenon. Humans have been using natural herbal pain relief ingredients for thousands of years, many of which are still a staple in traditional medicine in many parts of the world. So what exactly do we mean by ‘natural’ pain relief?
Put simply, natural remedies refer to treatments derived from nature that could have analgesic or anti-inflammatory effects. This could include natural pain relief supplements, herbs, and other holistic techniques. Now, let’s take a closer look at some of the best-known methods for natural pain relief.
Plants have been an incredibly important resource for nutrition and medicine throughout human history. In fact, many of the medicines we use routinely today are actually derived from these natural ingredients.
It is estimated that around 11% of the ‘basic’ and ‘essential’ drugs used today first originated in flowering plants. Take aspirin, for example; this common over-the-counter medicine was first developed in a lab from salicin, a compound found in willow bark. In modern pill-form aspirin, the active ingredient, acetylsalicylic acid, is now made synthetically.
Other herbal pain relievers and natural anti-inflammatory remedies that may help include:
True Lavender, or Lavandula angustifolia Mill.: Lavender essential oil has been found to have therapeutic potential as an analgesic and anti-inflammatory ingredient.
Turmeric: Turmeric extract has been found to have analgesic effects, with one study demonstrating that, compared with placebo, turmeric was beneficial in knee osteoarthritic pain and function.
Ginger: A common store cupboard ingredient, some research indicates that ginger may be as effective as ibuprofen in relieving menstrual pain.
Cloves: Clove oil, whose main active compound is eugenol, is an aromatic oil that has long been used topically to treat pain associated with toothache.
Lavender oil can cause skin reactions in some people, clove oil can be harmful if swallowed, and turmeric supplements have occasionally been linked to liver problems. You should therefore always double-check with a doctor or pharmacist before using any of these.
Plants are also the source of many well-known painkillers, including opioid pharmacotherapies. Opium, diamorphine, morphine, codeine and oxycodone are all derived from the poppy plant. Opium has been used for thousands of years as a pain reliever; however, like other opioids, it carries a strong risk of addiction and overdose.
Nature can also be a source for natural pain relief outside of herbal extracts. In recent years, supplements have become a key part of our health and wellness regimes, from fish oil capsules to vitamin gummy bears, but many of these products may also be beneficial for relieving some kinds of pain and inflammation.
Supplements can contribute to a holistic approach to pain management, whether you are looking for natural remedies for nerve pain relief, back pain relief, or even muscle pain relief. Some common supplements have been found to possess analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties including omega-3 fish oil (which might be beneficial for arthritic pain and inflammation), and magnesium (which is thought to play a role in pain signalling).
It’s important to note that turmeric, ginger, fish oil and some other supplements can interact with medicines like blood thinners, so speak to a GP or pharmacist before trying them.
Holistic approaches to pain relief also include a number of techniques outside the world of supplements and medicines. For example, physical and talking therapies are often prescribed in the treatment of chronic pain to complement pharmacological interventions.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a kind of talking therapy that aims to help patients manage symptoms by changing the way they think and behave. It is often used to help relieve secondary conditions that commonly co-occur with chronic pain and fibromyalgia, such as anxiety and depression as evidence suggests that these symptoms can make pain worse.
Physical therapy and regular light exercise, such as yoga and tai chi, have also been found to be beneficial as part of a holistic approach to pain management, and some patients may benefit from mind-body techniques such as meditation and breathing exercises.
Other ways to potentially ease pain without medicine include getting good sleep, sharing stories with other people experiencing chronic pain and distracting yourself with hobbies you enjoy.
A growing body of clinical research and real-world evidence suggests that cannabis and its derivatives may help patients manage pain, such as joint pain, and it’s thought that certain terpenes may be able to support pain relief. For this reason, chronic pain is one of the most common reasons patients seek medical cannabis treatment.
However, more research is required to better understand the potential pain-relieving properties of medical cannabis.
Turmeric is often thought to be closest to ibuprofen because it has been shown to lower inflammatory markers. Similarly, ginger may also be able to relieve some pain by lowering inflammation and it’s been compared with ibuprofen in a small osteoarthritis trial, where ibuprofen came out ahead. White willow bark has also been studied for its pain-relieving properties, but it’s thought to be closer to aspirin than ibuprofen.
Some herbs may react with medication, so it’s important to speak to a GP or pharmacist before trying any natural pain relief.
For older people with aches and pains, staying active and taking part in gentle exercise should be encouraged. If pain is caused by osteoarthritis, topical NSAIDs are now considered a front-line treatment. These come in many forms, including creams, gels, sprays and patches and you should always consult a pharmacist before trying them.
If an older person is experiencing new or severe pain, it’s important that they speak to their GP about it.
Pain can affect us in many different ways, making it difficult to know what approach will be most beneficial. However, many patients who experience persistent or chronic pain are now seeking a more natural and alternative approach to managing their symptoms.
If you’re affected by pain and would like to know if medical cannabis could be an option for you, our online eligibility checker is quick and free.
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