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Herbal Home Remedies for Aches and Pains
There are probably more herb and folk remedies dedicated to the easement of aches and pains than any other condition. And each new generation of herbalists manages to add a number of their own original remedies to the list. Being born a mammal guarantees that there will be no escape from pain. Most creatures suffer in silence, but we were born with a much lower threshhold and the ability to voice our complaints to anyone who could ease our suffering. Into this vacuum of need stepped the first witch doctor - part healer, part primitive psychiatrist with a spiritualistic bent - and began to ply his trade.
Various herbs used for aches and pains
| Black Cohosh |
(Cimicifuga racemosa) |
Also antispasmodic and sedative and useful for menstrual pain and arthritis. |
| Black Haw |
(Viburnum prunifolium) |
Same as Cramp Bark. |
| Cramp Bark |
Viburnum opulus) |
Useful for menstrual cramps, spasmodic pan and especially pain in lower back and legs associated with menstruation. |
| St Johnswort |
(Hypericum perforatum) |
Specific to pain caused by traumatic injury. |
| Valerian |
(Valeriana officinalis) |
Used when pain is causing insomnia. |
| Wild Yam |
(Dioscorea villosa) |
Also antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory and suited to spasms of the gall bladder and uterus; may also help neuritis. |
Herbal Remedies for aches and pains
- 1 part willow bark, 1 part ginger, ¼ part cloves, ½ part peppermint. Use 1 tsp per cup of water just off the boil. Steep 10 minutes.
- 1 tsp fresh grated ginger, 1 tsp vinegar, 10 oz. hot water. Make a tea and drink 1 cup daily.
- This is an old folk remedy that always garners a few chuckles but some folks swear by it. Whether it works in fact, or is merely placebo effect doesn't seem to matter. Soak white raisins in gin for 1 week. Throw out the gin and eat 9 raisins daily. One gal I know said it didn't cure her rheumatiz, but it sure took her mind off it.
- Another old folk remedy that folks still swear works to keep their arthritis pains at bay is to combine 2 tsp of apple cider vinegar and 2 tsp of honey in a glass of warm water. Drink one glass daily.
- Celery seed decoction (useful for rheumatism, neuritis and inflammation) = boil 1 oz of celery seed in 1 pint of water until it is reduced by half. Strain and bottle. Dose is 1 tsp daily.
- Use your juicer to make a combination of cucumber, carrot and beet juices. Useful for rheumatism and gout or other conditions related to build-up of uric acid in the body.
- 1 part stinging nettle, ¾ part dandelion root and leaves, ½ part birch leaves, ½ part raspberry leaves, ¼ part willow bark, ¼ part hibiscus flowers. Use 1 heaping tsp per cup of water just off the boil and steep 10 minutes. Take 4 cups evenly spaced throughout the day. Can be used long term.
- Combine the following in tincture form: 1 tbsp bogbean tincture, 1 tbsp meadowsweet tincture, ½ tbso black cohosh tincture, ½ tbsp prickly ash tincture. Take 1 tsp in some water, 3 times daily. With the addition of 2 tsps wild yam tincture and 1 tbsp St.Johnswort tincture, this can also be of some possible help to rheumatoid arhtritis sufferers. The dose is the same.
- Arthritis: It is important to get calcium, vitamin C, vitamin E, niacinamide. Eliminate foods from the nightshade family such as potatoes, tomatoes, peppers and eggplant. Also eliminate dairy products. DO use olive and canola oils and eliminate polyunsaturated fats such as vegetable oils. Eliminate hydrogenated fats and margarine.
- Sardines in oil twice a week will supply omega-3 fatty acids or else, take 1 tbsp flax oil daily. These recommendations will also help those suffering from other autoimmune diseases since food sensitivities can add to the pain-load and in some cases be the trigger for autoimmune responses (ie. lupus episodes can be triggered by eating alfalfa).
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