The natural route to healing—we’ve shared the remedies for allergies, bloating, PMS, and indigestion (to name a handful of our favorites). Today we’re adding to the list with painkiller alternatives. If you’re in excruciating pain, call your doctor or head to urgent care, of course. For uncomfortable yet manageable pain where you’d typically reach for over-the-counter relief from pills like Tylenol or Ibuprofen—before you do that, try one of these natural options.
Lean on Mother Earth as your medicine and take a holistic approach to knock out the discomfort. You can’t say, “This isn’t for me, I need the real stuff,” until you give the natural path a fair shot. From headaches and oral aches to nasal congestion and sore muscles, we’re breaking down what to take for different points of pain. Add these 10 herbs and ingredients to your medicine cabinet for the next time you’re in need so you can experience the natural route to healing and hopefully decrease the amount of unnecessary OTC drug consumption in your life.
Read on for natural hacks to relieve all types of throbs, aches, and pain.
Turmeric
The active ingredient in turmeric, curcumin, decreases inflammation, which helps lower pain levels and alleviates chronic issues like headaches that are caused by swelling. Start your morning with a turmeric latte to ease the pain.
Original Turmeric Superfood Latte Blend
Price: $29
Golde
Arnica
This herb is great for bruises, especially post-surgery or after an invasive skincare treatment to help reduce and prevent gnarly discoloration. You can apply the herb topically with a cream or orally in pellet form. If you take it orally, be sure to stay on top of your water intake as it can cause dehydration.
Arnica Montana Pellets
Price: $8
Boiron
Horseradish
Get ready to clear your sinus pressure and congestion with a baby spoon full of the potent root vegetable. To cut the horseradish taste and help it go down, add a generous squeeze of lemon juice plus a dash of water, mix together, and shoot it back.
Pure Horseradish
Price: $13
Woeber's
Aloe juice
Got a sour stomach? Aloe to the rescue. Aloe jelly and juice can soothe an irritated tummy as it’s an anti-inflammatory that helps with pain, and it can help reduce an excess of stomach acid.
Aloe Vera Leaf Juice
Price: $10
Nature's Way
Calendula oil
Swap the IcyHot for an organic formula with calendula oil. The soothing ingredient with antioxidant properties helps to calm muscles, heal tissues, and relieve pain from an intense workout.
Warm as Toast Soothing Muscle Balm
Price: $11
Jumby Beauty
Butterbur
Butterbur is a shrubby herb well known for its antihistamine effects, and has even been touted to be as powerful as over-the-counter antihistamines, sans the drowsiness.
Butterbur With Feverfew
Price: $18
Now Foods
Clove oil
Toothaches are no fun, and they tend to arrive at the worst times, right? So here’s what to do: mix a few drops of clove oil with a carrier oil. Grab a Q-tip and then apply to the aching tooth. Allow the DIY combo to sit on the area for a few minutes and reapply as needed throughout the day.
Pure Clove Essential Oil
Price: $17
UpNature
Ginger
Anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer, and great for nausea, ginger is one of our favorite healing roots. Try steeping the fresh root in a tea, or buy the tea dried. You can also add it to smoothies daily, or juice it for an immune boost.
Organic Ginger Tea Bags
Price: $15
FGO
Garlic
Garlic is a natural way to fight bacterial infections, thanks to the compound allicin found in the herb. Pinch your nose and nibble on some raw garlic to help alleviate the throbbing ear discomfort (just be sure you don’t do it before a first date, wink, wink).
Organic Peeled Garlic
Price: $4
365 by Whole Foods Market
Apple cider vinegar
The combination of apple cider vinegar and Epsom salt can help treat and soothe painful ingrown toenails and clear up toe fungus. Sexy, right? Try a healing bath soak with one to two cups of ACV and a scoop of Epsom salt. Mix the ingredients with your foot and soak for at least 20 minutes.
Organic Apple Cider Vinegar
Price: $13, 2 Pack
Bragg
The content provided in this article is provided for information purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice and consultation, including professional medical advice and consultation; it is provided with the understanding that Poosh, LLC (“Poosh”) is not engaged in the provision or rendering of medical advice or services. You understand and agree that Poosh shall not be liable for any claim, loss, or damage arising out of the use of, or reliance upon any content or information in the article.
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