Fight Pain with Natural Remedies
Using Herbs and Foods to Fight Aches and Inflammation
The National Pain Foundation cites statistics showing that 25% to 65% of older adults living on their own or with family, and up to 80% of seniors in long-term care facilities, have pain. It's not unusual any more for people in this age group to seek pain relief through natural remedies, so what are the realities as to their efficacy?
Herbs to Consider for Pain Relief
There is still quite a bit of controversy as to which herbs can actually fight pain. Among the ideas:
Gingko has been used in traditional Chinese medicine as a pain reliever for centuries. A 2009 study by scientists in Seoul, Korea indicates that this herb has a beneficial effect in fighting a chronic form of pain called neuropathic. Peripheral neuropathy is a form of pain that affects the nerves, commonly experienced in the limbs, toes, and fingers by people with diabetes.
Ginger has been touted as fighting the pain of osteoarthritis. One key warning about ginger: it can interfere with the effectiveness of blood thinning medications.
Can Diet Help Fight Pain?
There are indications that a number of foods can relieve pain to one degree or another, mostly due to their anti-inflammatory properties. One of the latest is capsaicin, an element extracted from chili peppers. It is now widely used as a topical anti-inflammatory for problems like strains and arthritis, such as in Capzasin-HP cream. There are some theories that it might prove beneficial in fighting migraines, but these are extremely preliminary studies.
There are now indications that cherries or at least their juice could help fight pain. It was found to offer benefits to runners ages 18 to 50 who drank two 10.5 ounce glasses of 100% pure cherry juice every day for a week before and on the day of the race.
Stoking up on fruits and vegetables that are dark red, blue, and black are shown to be a good source of anti-inflammatory element called phytochemicals. Among the good choices: red onions and apples (keep the latter's skin on, that's where the benefits lie); eggplant; dark raspberries; blueberries, and strawberries.
Remember if fresh fruit isn't available or is too much of a strain on the budget, frozen items can be less expensive and more readily available. Seniors on a tight budget might consider teaming up with family or neighbors, buying in bulk at the larger outlets like Costcos or B.J.'s, and dividing them to provide everyone good health options while still saving money.
Proteins are a good way to build healthy tissue. Just choose wisely; e.g., lean meats and chicken, and soy products like tofu and soymilk.
Choosing the right type of oils in one's diet is a another good pain-relieving anti-inflammatory. Olive oil is a good choice for salad dressings and stir frying. Consider experimenting with grapeseed and walnut oil.
Cautions About Using Natural Remedies
Before running off to try natural remedies, however, remember several things:
Never abandon any current medicines or treatments in favor of a natural solution. Always check with both doctors and pharmacists to find out about possible drug interactions, side effects that might occur, and other dangers herbs and food choices can pose. (These dangers are discussed more fully in a previous article: "Is That Natural Remedy Safe?"
Bear in mind that even the most ardent supporters of the health care known as naturopathic medicine ("natural medicine" for lack of a better term) don't see natural remedies as the end-all and be-all. In their "Encyclopedia of Natural Remedies" (2nd edition) co-authors Michel Murray, N.D., and Joseph Pizzorno, emphasize the importance of instituting a healthy lifestyle, diet, and mental attitude before venturing into herbs for healing and other natural wellness options.
The bottom line is that there's still quite a bit of controversy about herbs and pain relief, so it might be wise to save those dollar outlays at the natural food store or vitamin shop. Instead, first consider a trip to the supermarket and fruit stand. Purchased and used wisely (remember, just because berries are helpful doesn't mean they should be overdone in one's diet), there do seem to be food options that can help seniors looking for non-drug options for fighting inflammation and/or pain.
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