Natural Painkillers You Need to Know About

This post may contain affiliate links. Read full disclosure here.

When you’re in pain, you just want it to end. You’ll take anything the doctor or pharmacist gives you to make it stop and that’s just fine. However, many people find that the medications they use to ease their pains have side effects that they would rather avoid. If you’re one of them, here are a few of the best natural painkillers it would be useful to know about.

Exercise

If your doctor or healthcare professional has given you the OK to exercise, it might be worth giving it a go because, providing you aren’t doing anything to potentially make your problems worse – a good physiotherapist can help you with that – it could actually provide you with the relief you need.

You see, when you exercise, your body releases endorphins, which are a natural pain killer. You’ll need to exercise at a moderate to high-intensity pace for at least 30 minutes to benefit from them but it’s free and has many other health benefits so what do you have to lose?

Sunlight

Some studies have shown that chronic pain symptoms can be improved by vitamin D. So, if you are suffering from long-term aches and pains, ensuring that you get 10-15 minutes of sunlight each morning could see you feeling better in no time at all.

Epsom salts

You don’t have to major in alternative medicine at Everglades University to know that Epsom salts are great for easing muscle aches and pains. They contain a high level of magnesium, which can be absorbed through the skin, and which will get to work relaxing tension and making you feel better in no time at all. Simply run a warm bath and add a cup of Epsom salts, then soak for at least 30 minutes (longer is better) to get the relief you seek.

Essential oils

Essential oils aren’t just a great way to make your home smell amazing — many people find that the right combination of oils can have an analgesic effect, which helps them to feel less pain than before.

Some of the best essential oils for this purpose are lavender, rose, peppermint, and rosemary. You can diffuse them in the air, but you can also add them to massage oil and rub them into your sore joints and muscles if you prefer.

Massage

Speaking of massage, having one is also an excellent natural painkiller in many circumstances. Good massage therapy will encourage better blood flow, get rid of muscle tension, and simply improve your wellbeing — all of which will help you to feel less pain. So, why not treat yourself to a session? There’s no point in suffering in pain when there is something that can be done about it.

Yoga

Stretching your body, providing you do it right — you should always work with a yoga teacher who understands the causes of your pain — is a great way to release muscle tension and realign areas like the spine so that they cause you fewer problems in the pain department. But again, be careful and don’t do too much or try anything too complicated.

Meditation

You might not think that sitting quietly, closing your eyes, and watching your breath will do your pain levels much good, but you’d be dead wrong. In fact, meditation and prayer are some of the best natural painkillers there are. Why? Because it helps you to get in touch with your body, get control of your thoughts, and look at your open in a new, more positive way. Although pain is definitely physical. We often make it worse due to how we engage with it and this is something meditation can really help us deal with.

Turmeric

There is some evidence to suggest that turmeric can help to lower inflammation levels in the body, which is why, if you suffer from chronic pain, arthritis or swelling, eating more turmeric – supplements are a good way of getting enough – is probably a good idea.

Ice

Ice can also reduce inflammation and have a gentle numbing effect on painful parts of the body, which is why it is often recommended to put an ice pack on an injury. You can leave an ice pack in place for as many as two hours if you feel comfortable enough to do so, and it’s a great way to get temporary relief from your pain problems.

You might be in pain now, but you don’t have to keep on suffering. Check with your doctor, and then try one or more of these remedies and you’ll be amazed how much better you feel.

*This article is based on personal suggestions and/or experiences and is for informational purposes only. This should not be used as professional advice. Please consult a professional where applicable.