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Natural Pain Management Options

Pain is an awful thing to have to deal with. Acute pain can range from the mildly uncomfortable to the agonising. According to a 2020 UK study into chronic pain, some 19 million adults in the UK are in pain daily and around 8 million are in pain “constantly.”

Living with chronic pain can be debilitating. And what makes it more difficult is the fact that the typical pain relief options available come with their own problems. Opoid based painkillers, while effective, can be addictive. And non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen can cause stomach ulcers and other problems if taken frequently over a long period of time.

So What Alternatives Might Exist?

We sought the advice of nutraceuticals specialist and founder of Formulatehealth.com, Mina Khan.

She advised us of a number of natural ingredients that can help in relieving pain.

Boswellia

Boswellia is a resin that’s often referred to as “Indian frankincense.” Studies have shown boswellia to have anti-inflammatory properties, which in turn can assist in reducing pain levels.

Boswellia supplements are widely available.

Curcumin

Curcumin is the active ingredient found within turmeric. This is another natural ingredient that is widely available and frequently used in Indian cooking. Again, clinical research has shown this to have anti inflammatory properties too. 

You’d probably have to eat a whole lot of it very frequently to see the benefits! So supplements are a sensible option again here.

Supplements that also include bio-perine (a black pepper extract) are thought to be beneficial because this ingredient increases the bioavailability of curcumin meaning you can absorb more of it.

In addition to its inflammation relieving qualities, studies have also linked curcumin the potential of reducing the risk of cancer, though research is on going.

Should You Take Pain Relief Medicine?

Millions of adults suffer pain every single day and the daily use of pain relief over time could be problematic.

If you’re in pain, paracetamol or Ibuprofen can often deal with it quickly. And for the odd headache or toothache, most people will experience no problem as the result of taking these medicines (see your doctor if you’re not sure).

But when it comes to managing chronic conditions that result in pain, perhaps more research into naturally occurring prospective remedies would be beneficial in helping deal with the situation.