For those of us fortunate enough to only ever need the odd paracatemol for a headache here or there, we perhaps don’t think too much about the potential effects of pain killer use over time. But for those who suffer chronic pain, long term pain killer use could be a concern.
Now, make no mistake here. If you’re taking painkillers once in a while for a short term condition or the odd headache you probably don’t need to worry about any effects like that. But relying on them nearly daily over the long term can present problems such as these.
For this reason, more and more people with chronic pain take to trying more natural remedies with fewer risks of side effects. But we all know what the marketing of supplements can be like – a green “healthy” looking bottle of something and some internet claims that it’s 100% natural and can pretty much cure you of ANYTHING!
But we know better than to just believe the marketing hype. So we’ve cast aside our cynicism and read through hundreds upon hundreds of research papers on ALL SORTS of herbs and remedies that are claimed to have pain killing powers, to find out which ones have some science behind them.
And with that in mind, here are 8 natural pain relievers that are scientifically proven to help.
Let’s start with the golden child of natural remedies right now – CBD. Some of the marketing around CBD supplements could have you believing that this is a miracle cure for all things bad. But let’s not get caught up with the hype.
The thing is though, even when you take marketing hype out and anecdotal “evidence” out, CBD has some impressive credentials that are backed by research.
According to research, there’s real promise in the use of CBD for better sleep and in the use of CBD for anxiety.
But what about pain?
Well, once again CBD comes out looking pretty good. Here are just some examples of scientific research papers that show CBD has real promise as a painkiller.
Title | Year | Summary of Findings | Link |
---|---|---|---|
Beyond Pain Relief: A Review on Cannabidiol Potential in Medical Therapies | 2023 | CBD shows potential in pain management due to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticonvulsant, and anxiolytic properties. | Link |
Medical Cannabis for Gynecologic Pain Conditions: A Systematic Review. | 2022 | CBD provided significant pain relief in gynecologic pain conditions, with a notable decrease in pain after 3 months of treatment. | Link |
Cannabinoids for Chronic Pain: Translating Systematic Review Findings Into Clinical Action | 2022 | THC-to-CBD ratio products showed small improvements in pain severity in chronic neuropathic pain. | Link |
Promising Health Benefits of Adjuvant Acmella and Zingiber Extracts Combined with Coenzyme Q10 Phytosomes | 2022 | Combined use of CBD with other supplements resulted in significant pain relief in chronic pain subjects. | Link |
Efficacy of Cannabidiol Versus Ibuprofen in the Relief of Menstrual Pain in Females Living with Dysmenorrhea (severe period pains) | 2022 | CBD showed potential as an alternative therapy for intense period pains, suggesting effectiveness in menstrual pain relief compared to ibuprofen. | Link |
So let’s look at the key points from each of those studies:
I almost feel like a broken record when I summarise scientific papers around CBD because I constantly say “it looks promising but…”
And I’m about to say it again. It looks super promising. BUT this is new research, we’re still learning lots about CBD and these were papers that looked at lots of different painful conditions. This doesn’t mean CBD will DEFINITELY help you with your pain.
But with so few side effects, providing you’re not on any medication it messes with (speak to your GP) some may well say there’s absolutely no harm in trying.
Capsaicin is thr active ingredient in chilli peppers. So if you’ve ever had chillis you’ve probably had some of this anyway! Here are some research papers that show some real promise for its impact in treating pain.
Title | Year | Summary of Findings | Link |
---|---|---|---|
The Utility of Capsicum annuum L. in Internal Medicine and In Dentistry: A Comprehensive Review | 2022 | Capsaicin, used as a topical medication, has shown effectiveness in treating neuropathic pain, including oro-facial pain. | Link |
The role of the capsaicin 8% patch in the treatment of painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy | 2022 | The high-dose (8%) capsaicin patch provides effective pain relief with minimal side effects for diabetic peripheral neuropathy. | Link |
Persistent neuropathic pain treated with capsaicin patches: a novel promising approach | 2022 | Treatment with an 8% capsaicin patch significantly reduced symptoms of persistent neuropathic pain. | Link |
Identification of a Partial and Selective TRPV1 Agonist CPIPC for Alleviation of Inflammatory Pain | 2022 | A novel TRPV1 agonist named CPIPC has been identified for reducing inflammatory pain with fewer side effects compared to traditional capsaicin treatments. | Link |
Development of Capsaicin-Containing Analgesic Silicone-Based Transdermal Patches | 2022 | Developed transdermal patches containing capsaicin effectively treated traumatic and inflammatory pain with controlled capsaicin release. | Link |
Here’s a summary of those most important key points from those scientific papers:
So in summary, there’s some promising research here for the effects of capsaicin on certain types of pain. I know we say it a lot but more research is certainly needed.
Feverfew looks remarkably like a daisy – not to be mistaken for one though!
An ingredient found in this pretty little bloom has been found in scientific research to have potential in treating pain. Let’s take a look at some recent studies:
Title | Year | Summary of Findings | Link |
---|---|---|---|
Anti-inflammatory properties of the extract of maruna virgin (Tanacetum parthenium L.) on chronic inflammation in rats | 2022 | Feverfew extract showed significant anti-inflammatory effects in a chronic inflammation model in rats. | Link |
Phenolic profile, antiradical and anti-inflammatory activity of a thick hydroalcoholic feverfew herb extract | 2022 | The phenolic complex of Feverfew extract demonstrated pronounced anti-inflammatory effects in edema models in rats. | Link |
Effects of abiotic elicitors on parthenolide biosynthetic pathway genes and content in feverfew plant | 2022 | Treatments increased parthenolide content in Feverfew plants, potentially enhancing its pain-relieving properties. | Link |
Composition of a soft medicine for therapy of inflammatory musculoskeletal system diseases | 2023 | Development of a semisolid dosage form with Feverfew extract for treating musculoskeletal system diseases related to pain. | Link |
The Association of Tanacetum parthenium and Salix alba Extracts Reduces Cortex Serotonin Turnover in migraine model | 2022 | Feverfew and Willow extracts combination reduced serotonin depletion, indicating potential effectiveness for migraine pain. | Link |
In plain English, here’s what those studies found:
These summaries show that Feverfew could be a promising natural remedy for various types of pain, especially those related to inflammation and migraines. Again more research is needed and these studies highlight specific types of pain. But as is the case with many of the natural pain relievers in this list, it’s well tolerated by humans.
This is another one of those ingredients you’ve had in your cupboard for years and then recently it seems to have been touted as a wonder spice!
Well, there’s some science behind curcumin’s use in the relief of pain and inflammation. Take a look:
Title | Year | Summary of Findings | Link |
---|---|---|---|
Curcumin Diethyl γ-Aminobutyrate for Enhanced Treatment of Inflammatory Pain | 2022 | CUR-2GE, a modified form of curcumin, was more effective than regular curcumin in reducing inflammatory pain in mice. | Link |
Curcumin and Curcuminoid Effects in Spinal Nerve Ligation Model | 2022 | Curcumin decreased chronic mechanical sensitivity and improved mitochondrial function in a nerve pain model. | Link |
Curcumin and Hydromorphone Hydrochloride Alleviates Postoperative Pain in Rats | 2022 | Combining curcumin with pain medication was more effective in reducing post-surgical pain in rats than either treatment alone. | Link |
Curcumin in Reducing Pain in Osteoarthritis Patients | 2022 | Curcumin extract showed benefits in treating osteoarthritic pain and is suggested as a safe addition to traditional treatments. | Link |
Effectiveness of Curcumin in Reducing Pain in the Orofacial Region | 2022 | Curcumin demonstrated analgesic properties in the orofacial region, suggesting its use as an alternative therapy for oral pain. | Link |
So, in plain English summary, here’s what studies tell us about curcumin and pain:
These summaries indicate that curcumin, especially in modified forms, has potential as an effective and safe treatment for various types of pain, including nerve pain, post-surgical pain, and pain from osteoarthritis.
Boswellia is a tree native to India and its fragrant resin is often used as the basis for supplements. Widely touted as effective in the relief of certain types of pain, we took a look to see what the science has to say:
Title of Study | Year | Summary of Findings | Link to Study |
---|---|---|---|
The Efficacy of Boswellia carterii Oleogel in Pain Relief and Functional Improvement Among Patients with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome | 2021 | Topical Boswellia significantly improved pain and function in carpal tunnel syndrome patients, more effective than placebo. | Link |
Fast pain relief in exercise-induced acute musculoskeletal pain by turmeric-boswellia formulation | 2022 | A turmeric and Boswellia extract formulation rapidly and significantly relieved exercise-induced musculoskeletal pain. | Link |
Clusters of Responders and Predictive Factors for Response to Supplementation with Boswellia, Turmeric, and Red Algae Extracts in Painful Knee Osteoarthritis | 2020 | A combination of Boswellia, turmeric, and red algae extracts improved pain in knee osteoarthritis, with maximal relief observed by Day 90. | Link |
The effectiveness of olibanum orally disintegrating tablet in the treatment of oral aphthous ulcers | 2022 | Olibanum extract tablets significantly reduced pain and size of oral aphthous ulcers, accelerating healing. | Link |
Efficacy of a herbal formulation in rheumatoid arthritis | 1992 | A formulation with Boswellia and other herbs provided significant relief from pain and symptoms in rheumatoid arthritis. | So in essence, some research truly does point to Boswellia being effective for certain times of pain relief. Most studies here centre around musculoskeletal pain. |
In all, these studies here (which are not the only studies into Boswelia at all) showed that this naturally occurring ingredient helps to reduce pain, particularly musculoskeletal pain.
Again, the usual caveats apply about speaking to a medical professional before beginning any type of supplement regime.
Nobody would recommend you simply stop taking pain killers. And make no mistake, paracetemol and ibuprofen have their place in the cupboards of most of us for short term occasional use. But for those who suffer with chronic pain and who want to explore natural remedies with less likelihood of side effects, some of these scientific studies make for interesting reading.
Always consult your Doctor before starting on supplements in case they interact with existing medicines. And don’t stop an existing prescribed pain medicine regime without speaking to the professionals first.