Chronic pain affects an estimated 50 million Americans, according to the American Pain Foundation, and covers a wide range of illnesses, including arthritis. In addition to causing problems in a sufferer's personal life, the financial impact of chronic pain on professional lives is staggering — pain is the second-leading medical cause of skipping work.
Although there are numerous over-the-counter and prescription medications to fight pain, there are also safe, natural remedies that ease pain without debilitating side effects. They include:
Willow bark. A natural anti-inflammatory, willow bark contains salacin, a chemical similar to acetylsalicylic acid found in aspirin. According to the University of Maryland, there's good evidence that willow bark both relieves pain and reduces inflammation. It's especially useful to treat headaches, osteoarthritis, and low back pain.
Devil's claw. In people who have arthritis, studies have found that taking devil's claw regularly reduced pain and improved physical as well as a prescription medication. Another study showed devil's claw effectively relieved low back and neck pain.
Magnesium. According to About.com, magnesium can reduce muscle pain in some people as well as boost their energy. Studies have found that it can ease the pain caused by migraines, arthritis, and fibromyalgia.
Glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin. According to CBS, evidence shows that these two supplements work together to defeat the pain of arthritis, as well as reduce inflammation and slow the progression of the disease. An analysis of 25 studies on glucosamine alone found that it reduced the pain of arthritis by an average of 22 percent.
SAM-e. Eleven randomized, controlled studies found that SAM-e is as effective at reducing the joint pain of arthritis as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Turmeric. Studies show that this herb used in Indian cooking reduces inflammation as powerfully as the prescription drug phenylbutazone (Butazolidine). “It works really well,” Dr. Tanya Edwards, MD, medical director of the Center for Integrative Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic, told WebMD. “I’ve had patients with arthritis who start using turmeric and are able to go off their NSAIDs entirely.”
Fish oil. The omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil can soothe the pain and inflammation caused by many chronic diseases. Even though omega-3 oils can be found in other foods, many experts recommend fish oil, citing it has the best scientific evidence for being beneficial.
Bromelain. Found in pineapples, bromelain appears to help osteoarthritis and knee pain. Some experts believe bromelain may actually break down proteins in the blood that cause inflammation — which leads to pain.
Capsaicin. A derivative of chili peppers, capsaicin appears to soothe pain when applied to the skin. Studies have shown it to be helpful in relieving back pain as well as pain caused by arthritis, shingles, headaches, fibromyalgia, psoriasis, and diabetic neuropathy.
Vitamin D. Recent studies have linked low levels with higher levels of chronic pain. A 2009 study found that patients who were deficient in vitamin D needed almost twice the pain medication as those who had adequate levels.
All of the nutrients discussed above are available as supplements. Follow the directions on the bottle.
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