Natural Pain Relievers That Really Work

Capsaicin

Some individuals may know capsaicin as the chemical responsible for giving hot sauce its powerful kick, but there’s a lot more to it than meets the eye. Capsaicin has made its way to dining tables, nutrition shops, and even pharmacies. While it’s mostly used as a spice through chili peppers, it also has other applications. It has many purposes and uses, from increasing metabolism to managing pain. It’s difficult to think of something that generally causes pain to also relieve it, but in this case, the results speak for themselves. Studies have proven capsaicin to be a moderately effective chronic pain reliever, mostly due to the chemical's effect on pain receptors (nociceptors). The chemical has been shown to desensitize nociceptors by depleting levels of substance P (a chemical that transmits pain signals). It is used as a topical ointment for the treatment of pain associated with fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, and muscle sprains and strains.

Valerian Root

Valerian root is a sedative and sleep aid that has been utilized for centuries. Its effects on the nervous system are similar to those of chamomile. Due to how it relaxes the nervous system, it's been used as a medicinal aid to treat insomnia, stress, and anxiety. There is, however, another use of valerian root: pain relief. The main phytochemicals in valerian root that are responsible for its effects are known as valepotriates. Multiple studies have proven valepotriates to be quite beneficial at reducing pain by quelling nerve signal transmission. In turn, this works to reduce the nervous system’s response to pain (nociception).