No one wants to live with pain, especially chronic pain that lasts for weeks, months, and even years. Sometimes pain begins with a traumatic accident or surgery. Other times, it comes on slowly as the result of inflammatory, autoimmune, or degenerative diseases. However it starts, day-to-day discomfort can make even the most basic of activities more difficult.
Fortunately, many options for natural relief exist that offer alternative health solutions. We’ll take a look at seven of these promising holistic living choices and how they can provide natural relief.
7 Natural Ways to Feel Better
Virgin Olive Oil
A staple of Mediterranean diets for centuries, virgin olive oil is produced by crushing olives mechanically without heat or chemicals. Olive oil has always been associated with a longer and healthier life as well as natural relief. But, it’s only recently that the science behind the way olive oil works to slow down the progression of chronic diseases is beginning to be understood.
In 2011, researchers discovered a phenolic compound in virgin olive oil called oleocanthal that demonstrates powerful anti-inflammatory effects and may contribute to the oil’s ability to fight disease. In fact, the effectiveness of this compound as an anti-inflammatory has been likened to that of ibuprofen (an over-the-counter NSAID drug) while avoiding the risks that NSAIDs pose to heart, stomach, and kidney function.
Turmeric
Heading across to India, we find a spice that is ubiquitous in traditional cooking, which is also used for natural relief in Ayurvedic medicine: Curcuma longa, or turmeric. While this spice is usually dried and ground into a powder for culinary use (think curries and golden milk), scientists are now studying the therapeutic potential of standardized turmeric extracts.
A 2014 paper from three Belgian universities describes the effects of the standardized Curcuma extract Flexofytol® when taken in capsule form by patients suffering from osteoarthritis. When taken at a dosage of 4-6 capsules per day for 6 weeks, the patients found that their discomfort lessened, their joint mobility improved, and their quality of life also improved — all with no unwanted side effects! Randomized controlled trials are still needed for this and other forms of natural relief. But, the study appears very hopeful that turmeric could start to figure among natural ways to feel better for people suffering from day-to-day inflammation.
Ginger
If you need another reason to love Indian cuisine (or an excuse to drink more cups of delicious Masala chai), the Zingiber officinale root — commonly known as ginger — is a low-cost and accessible option for natural relief.
Ginger and Knee Arthrosis
In 2017, a team of researchers from Italy studied the effects of a standardized ginger and Echinacea extract on patients with knee arthritis who did not respond to NSAIDs. The results of this pilot study were overwhelmingly positive, with discomfort levels and knee circumference measures (related to inflammation) decreasing after 30 days of supplementation with 25 mg of ginger and 5 mg of Echinacea.
A Meta-Analysis of Ginger and Relief
A systematic review and meta-analysis from several universities worldwide in 2015 also found that options for natural relief from the Zingiberaceae family (including turmeric, ginger, galangal, and Javanese ginger) demonstrate significant soothing properties without the renal (kidney) problems associated with NSAIDs.
While these studies examined standardized extracts of ginger, echinacea, and members of the ginger family, using fresh or powdered ginger and turmeric in your home cooking could still provide natural relief — as well as delighting the taste buds!
Kratom
A relative of the coffee plant, kratom has become one of the most popular natural ways to feel better in the last decade.
Kratom — also known as Mitragyna speciosa — has traditionally been used by people from Southeast Asia to help with pain and low energy. Today, the leaves of this plant are ground into a powder to access its soothing aromatic properties. Kratom is available in different strains based on the color of the veins in the leaves: red, white, or green.
Aerobic Exercise
When you suffer from chronic lower-back pain, exercise is often the last thing on your mind. However, a 2015 meta-analysis from China shows that regular aerobic exercise could reduce the intensity of discomfort experienced by CLBP sufferers as well as improving their mental and physical health in general. Something that costs little or nothing, simply getting out and moving could turn out to be one of the easiest forms of natural relief that exists.
Natural Sunlight
Exercising outdoors has more than just the exercise advantage if you are trying to lower your discomfort levels. A 2005 study from Pennsylvania found that natural sunlight alone can actually lower perceived levels of stress and discomfort, while also lowering the use of analgesic medications by 22%. If your mobility is severely reduced, spending the majority of your time in a sunny room can enable you to make the most of this natural way to feel better without even leaving the house!
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The Kratora story started largely as a response to the many people looking for natural relief. Soon, our kratom powders became so popular that we added a range of kratom alternatives as well—herbs, bark, and roots that have traditionally been associated with a holistic view of health
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Want to learn more about kratom quality and value? Start here:
Why Buying Cheap Kratom Can Be Dangerous