Nutrition

Natural Supplements to Reduce Pain

If you are suffering from chronic aches and pains you may wish to consider a few natural supplements as a treatment to help to reduce your pain. Compared to conventional pharmaceutical pain relief, natural supplements probably won’t work as fast and as targeted but rather work to reduce body-wide pain and inflammation, without the side effects of so many painkillers. However, it’s best you first identify the root cause of the pain. For this, it is better to seek your doctor’s advice and make sure to describe your experience with your pain and how long it is going on. Once you are aware of the cause of your pain look into things that can help to reduce your pain such as physical therapy, exercise, diet changes and natural supplements. Ask your doctor before consuming any natural supplement.

Some of the most researched and well known natural supplements that can reduce your pain include, astaxanthin, turmeric, fish oil, resveratrol. The thing these four all have in common is their ability to help your body fight inflammation. Pain is general a by-product of inflammation so natural products that can help reduce inflammation tend to help reduce pain too.

Turmeric

Turmeric is the spice that is taken from the turmeric plant, and it is commonly used in culinary dishes and as a coloring agent. It has a bitter and warm taste, typically found in curry powder, butter, mustard, and cheese. The root of the turmeric plant is used as a medicine, and it contains a yellow colored chemical called curcumin. Turmeric is a great source of pain relief and is used to treat arthritis, inflammatory joint pain and is a proven natural painkiller. It can also be used to treat stomach pain, Crohn’s diseases, heartburn, skin inflammation, headaches, menstrual pain, and certain types of cancer. Turmeric can be used as a pain reducing treatment after certain types of trauma as well as after strenuous activities.

Astaxanthin

Astaxanthin is a reddish pigment and carotenoid that is naturally present in algae and cause of the pink color in salmon, lobster, shrimp, and flamingo that feed on algae. This is one of the best treatments for pain reduction in the body, as well as inflammation prevention in muscles, joints, and tendons. Astaxanthin is a perfect form of treatment for any joint pains such as carpal tunnel syndrome, osteoarthritis, tennis elbow, rheumatoid arthritis and joint soreness after heavy physical activity. Studies have proven that those experiencing back pain and arthritis show drastic improvement from adding astaxanthin as a natural supplement.

Fish oil

Fish oil can be obtained by eating fish, especially fatty fish like salmon or by taking a fish oil supplement. Fish are rich in omega-3 fatty acids that have been shown to fight inflammation and pain. Fish such as mackerel, tuna, herring, salmon, cod are the major fish types used to extract fish oil. Most benefits of fish oil seem to come from the omega-3 fatty acids, which are not produced by the human body. Omega -3 fatty acids not only reduce the pain but also help swelling subside. It is better to get a doctor’s supervision before taking a fish oil supplement to avoid any interaction with other medications that you take. Fish oil can lessen the intensity of joint pain in rheumatoid arthritis, neck pain, back pain and pain caused by menstrual cramps.

Resveratrol

Resveratrol is most famously found in red wine, berries and grapes. Studies that tend to show a positive health benefit of red wine usually refer to the benefits of the resveratrol in the wine resulting in a positive effect. Resveratrol has been shown to have many benefits with its ability to fight inflammation but also protect the brain and increase life-span. Amongst it’s many benefits, resveratrol is also extremely safe to use, much safer than prescription painkillers.

Natural supplements are easy to take and, in most cases, have no negative side effects as the body is familiar with the molecules and recognizes them and how to use them. Nevertheless, it is always better to consult with your doctor, before initiating any treatment plan with natural supplements such as astaxanthin, turmeric, fish oil, and resveratrol.

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