Incorporate these natural pain relievers into your diet to reduce inflammation and stop chronic pain. Learn more about each food and how it can help you.
March 2022. This article is independently written by Shelby Golding. All opinions given are hers. Shelby has been certified as a personal trainer and nutritional specialist since 2007. In 2008, she found her passion for writing about these topics and hasn’t looked back.
Chronic pain affects 20.4% of adults in the United States. An additional 4.8% have high-impact chronic pain, defined as pain that lasts longer than three months and severely restricts at least one essential life activity- like walking. Traditionally, patients with chronic pain are treated with a combination of over-the-counter medications and physical therapies.
Pain management is one of the largest industries in health and wellness today. Chronic pain persists even after the original cause of the pain has healed, so treating it is a challenge. Most of the attention is focused on managing a person’s pain symptoms to restore them to a productive state.
One of the best ways to treat chronic pain is to reduce inflammation. Inflammation often exacerbates chronic pain, and our diet plays a huge role in either reducing or aggravating inflammation. Many of the world’s famed “health foods” fight inflammation, allowing you to manage and even reduce chronic pain. Keep reading to learn which natural pain relievers you should incorporate into your diet.
Natural Pain Relievers to Incorporate into Your Diet
Many of the natural pain relievers on this list have medicinal origins that date back thousands of years. Their use in modern supplements and medicines is a testament to the power of these humble ingredients.
1. Turmeric
As with many herbal remedies, the scientific uses of turmeric are still being explored. However, turmeric contains a curcumin compound that has promising implications in managing pathological pain. Curcumin has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties that make this herb essential for a pain relief diet.
Turmeric has been used medicinally for almost 4000 years and originated in the Vedic culture in India. Traditionally, it was used to treat skin problems, respiratory issues, joint pain, and poor digestion. Several studies suggest that about 1000 mg/day of curcumin taken in the form of turmeric extract is an effective treatment for arthritis. Other more modern uses for turmeric include digestive disorders, respiratory infections, allergies, liver disease, and depression.
Turmeric has been used medicinally for almost 4000 years and originated in the Vedic culture in India. Traditionally, it was used to treat skin problems, respiratory issues, joint pain, and poor digestion. Several studies suggest that about 1000 mg/day of curcumin taken in the form of turmeric extract is an effective treatment for arthritis. Other more modern uses for turmeric include digestive disorders, respiratory infections, allergies, liver disease, and depression.
2. Ginger
After turmeric, ginger is the most widely studied natural pain reliever. Of course, most people know that ginger aids healthy digestion, but this superfood has other pain-relieving qualities. Ginger has been proven to help with dysmenorrhea, muscle soreness, osteoarthritis, chronic low back pain, and migraines.
Ginger reduces the production of inflammatory substances in the body. It also contains salicylates which are transformed into salicylic acid in the body. When you have tissue damage, an infection, or chronic inflammation, a group of lipids called prostaglandins rush to the site of the injury. Salicylic acid stops the nerves from making prostaglandins which can ease the pain.
Ginger reduces the production of inflammatory substances in the body. It also contains salicylates which are transformed into salicylic acid in the body. When you have tissue damage, an infection, or chronic inflammation, a group of lipids called prostaglandins rush to the site of the injury. Salicylic acid stops the nerves from making prostaglandins which can ease the pain.
Ginger’s uses vary widely, and it has medicinal properties when eaten, smelled, and rubbed directly onto the skin.
3. Cherries
The compounds that give cherries their deep red coloring are also responsible for their incredible pain-relieving benefits. These compounds are called anthocyanins, and their anti-inflammatory properties have been proven to lower inflammation biomarkers associated with chronic diseases.
Cherry juice has recently become popular for its capacity to aid in recovery from exercise. It lessens pain and speeds up the healing of strength post-workout. Cherries might also improve athletic performance because of their low glycemic index and anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties.
Cherry juice has recently become popular for its capacity to aid in recovery from exercise. It lessens pain and speeds up the healing of strength post-workout. Cherries might also improve athletic performance because of their low glycemic index and anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties.
4. Willow Bark
You probably aren’t going to want to chew on a piece of bark for pain relief, but holistic medicine practitioners have used this natural pain reliever for centuries. Thankfully, modern uses of willow back include ready-made teas that ease inflammation from most aches and pains.
Willow bark contains salicin, a chemical also present in the popular pain medication aspirin. Salicin decreases the production of pain-inducing chemicals in your nerves. A tea made from willow back can be used to treat headaches, arthritis and joint pain, low back pain, and menstrual cramps.
The effects of drinking willow bark may come on slower, but they also last longer. Be sure to talk to your doctor before using willow tea medicinally.
5. Cloves
Cloves are a surprising natural pain reliever because of the active ingredient, eugenol. Eugenol is used in many over-the-counter pain relief creams. The most common medicinal use for clove is to treat toothaches, but it can also be used for digestive and respiratory issues.
In addition to its anti-inflammatory properties, eugenol also has antioxidant and antimicrobial uses. Clove is usually used topically in oil form for pain relief. However, adding cloves to your diet may also provide some benefits. Clove tea has been specifically recommended for arthritis. Its antimicrobial properties could also help fight off bacterial infections that aggravate systemic inflammation.
In addition to its anti-inflammatory properties, eugenol also has antioxidant and antimicrobial uses. Clove is usually used topically in oil form for pain relief. However, adding cloves to your diet may also provide some benefits. Clove tea has been specifically recommended for arthritis. Its antimicrobial properties could also help fight off bacterial infections that aggravate systemic inflammation.
6. Salmon
Adding foods high in omega-3 fatty acids will help relieve pain, but certain fish, including salmon, anchovies, and mackerel, contain significant amounts of this essential anti-inflammatory substance.
Omega-3 supplements are recommended for people with arthritis and cardiovascular disease. For people with chronic joint pain and arthritis, omega-3s slow down the erosion of bone cartilage that could contribute to joint inflammation. In addition, the American Heart Association (AHA) has recommended Omega-3s for the past 20 years to reduce your risk of heart attack or stroke.
While a supplement will do the trick if you do not like fish or eat meat, consuming your omega-3s in food is generally the recommended approach. Consider trying chia and flax seeds if salmon is not to your taste.
Omega-3 supplements are recommended for people with arthritis and cardiovascular disease. For people with chronic joint pain and arthritis, omega-3s slow down the erosion of bone cartilage that could contribute to joint inflammation. In addition, the American Heart Association (AHA) has recommended Omega-3s for the past 20 years to reduce your risk of heart attack or stroke.
While a supplement will do the trick if you do not like fish or eat meat, consuming your omega-3s in food is generally the recommended approach. Consider trying chia and flax seeds if salmon is not to your taste.
Change Your Diet, Change Your Life
Incorporating these natural pain relievers into your diet may feel like a nuisance, but the alternative is much worse. Systemic inflammation eventually causes damage to healthy cells, tissues, and organs. As a result, you have an increased risk of developing a life-threatening disease and your quality of life will fall dramatically.
If you are experiencing chronic pain, consider how your diet could stop inflammation, reclaim control over your health, and stop the suffering in its tracks.
And don’t forget to use your Kailo pain patch to manage chronic pain right now. Our recent clinical study showed that 99% of patients felt pain relief with Kailo within 10 minutes of using a Kailo patch.
If you are experiencing chronic pain, consider how your diet could stop inflammation, reclaim control over your health, and stop the suffering in its tracks.
And don’t forget to use your Kailo pain patch to manage chronic pain right now. Our recent clinical study showed that 99% of patients felt pain relief with Kailo within 10 minutes of using a Kailo patch.
Disclaimer: Kailo should not be used if you have a pacemaker or if you are pregnant. Always consult your doctor or health care professional before using Kailo.
