Ibuprofen?

[joshtaylor]

I work hard and play hard and have the aches and pains that go along with this. Usually I'll take about 4-6 Ibuprofen a day and I know it can't be good for me. I'd like to get completely away from ANYTHING in a pill or unnatural form. What does nature provide that will cure a headache, toothache, or backache? Is there a "cure all" in plant form? Other than marijuana? I always think back 200 years ago. What'd the indians do when they had lower back pain? What did the colonists do when they got headaches?

[Prairie]

Remember to stretch before going at it too hard. As for legal pain killing plants, I seem to recall that there is a tree bark that has some medicinal qualities. Can't remember if it is willow or birch. You're right, marijuana's too dangerous. One of the side effects is jail. Opium is out too, it's side effects are jail AND severe addiction.

Do you have anybody around who can give you a massage? That might help.

ETA: Oh, hey. I almost forgot. the flowering tops and foliage of marijuana is illegal, but are the seeds or the oil from the seeds illegal in your area? They contain no psychoactive drugs but are loaded in Omega 3-6-9's and are extremely healthy. They also lubricate the joints (no pun intended) and relieve pain. My dad was on a ton of meds for his neck pain and I bought him a bottle of hempseed oil capsules. After a week of taking them, he didn't need the meds any more for his neck.

[DM]

The indians chewed on the inside of willow bark, that's where aspirin came from.

DM

[CatherineID]

I have chronic inflammatory disease (like arthritis but it is all over my body). I take a lot of ibuprofen and other anti-inflammatories.

The best alternative pain treatments I've found either confuse or numb the nerves or make them relax.

Capsaicin (hot chili oil) confuses the pain nerves. You can find it in lots of over the counter products. One I use is "Stop Pain" but there are others. Origins - a cosmetic company - also sells a product make with menthol or eucalyptus oil that you rub on your temples or the back of your neck if you have a headache. It is pretty effective.

As for tooth pain, orajel helps. For severe tooth problems, oil of clove is used.

And aspirin is about the most natural anti-inflammatory you can get because, like above, it is extracted from white willow bark. For tooth pain, some people put an aspirin tablet directly on the tooth.

Another effective treatment is a TENS unit (electrical stimulation). At first the unit helps relieve pain by confusing the pain signals but over a period of time it really does help with inflammation, too.

Of course, applying a cold compress helps. While a lot of people like warmth for sore muscles, heat can make inflammation worse. Some people alternate.

Exercise is also effective, especially for chronic pain. Think of all those endorphines.

Prevention is, additionally, a good way to go. While working make sure you stay well hydrated. Make sure you're doing work in your fitness level (again the more you exercise, the fitter you'll get and the more you can do). Work smart. If you need help doing something, get help either in the form of more manpower, a machine or leverage. While a lot of people rest when they are in pain, gently working those muscles is a better way to go. BUT if you really have over-done it, DO slow down a little and give yourself time to heal.

As far as actual muscle damage, mega-dosing on vitamin C (5000 mg a day at least) will help repair the muscle faster.

I think those are the big hitters.

[NCLee]

One note of caution....

If you take prescription medications, research any herbal remedies that you'd like to try. In some (not all) cases, an herbal remedy can either render the prescription drug useless or enhance its effect (overdose). Or, trigger some other adverse side effect.

This also applies to herbal teas and such. Some of which I'd dealy love to try, but can't due to prescription meds conflicts.

Lee

[momma_to_seven_chi]

I would suggest a shuzi or a q-link to prevent injuries by improving performance. The SRT3 qlinks are over $100, but you can get an older SRT2 for under $40. Shuzis run about $70. They really are amazing chips. I go to CAM who highly suggest both for many illnesses and for athletes.

[Catalpa]

I would suggest a shuzi or a q-link to prevent injuries by improving performance. The SRT3 qlinks are over $100, but you can get an older SRT2 for under $40. Shuzis run about $70. They really are amazing chips. I go to CAM who highly suggest both for many illnesses and for athletes.

In English, please? There must be a part of my education missing, because I haven't a clue what you're talking about......help?

[momma_to_seven_chi]

shuzi
http://www.clearemf.com/pdfs/HowShuziWorks_v2.pdf

q link
http://www.qeshop.com/Productsearch.aspx?SearchID=q%20link

They really do work as strange as that seems. After you put one on the results are apparent within one day. Not a miracle cure for everything, but they do help. They resonate with an echo of the waves your own body puts off kind of like the way a shell has an echo that you can hear when you put it to your ear. I learned about them from an alternative practitioner. They say it is impossible, but I swear I can hear the shuzi vibrating. It's a high pitched very soft sound. I know several people who actually have them, and I have never heard anyone who doesn't like them if they have them. The effect is almost immediate, but you can really tell the difference within a day. I have read lots of nay-sayers who put them down who don't have them, but if people actually try one, they love it. I have both, and love them. The first thing you notice within minutes is better balance, then the first night you will find it much easier to sleep. Pain relief comes within a few days. It's not a miracle cure, but there is a huge difference. Mine were not as expensive as the ones on the website, but I bought mine from a doctor's office at his twenty percent discount on the wholesale price.
Anyway, they aren't plants, but they are non-chemical treatments that do work for pain and other issues.

[CapeCMom]

I too have an inflammatory disease but I can't take aspirin as it promotes bleeding. I have Ulcerative Colitis. I have done some research, and fish oil and olive oil have natural anti inflammatory properties. Bio feedback and reikki seem to also work for some to help control chronic pain-so it might help for symptomatic pain as well.

[risita]

We drink aloe juice. It helps some.