Nightmare

Almost everyone has experienced pain at some time or another. Chronic
pain can interfere with life's normal processes. Occasional pain can
cause one to recognize and cherish good health!
Pain is caused by pressure on special nerve receptors throughout the
body. These receptors are sensitive to pressure, temperature and
chemical changes, and when they are stimulated they send signals to
the brain.
Pain is a self-protective mechanism of the body that acts as an alarm
system to let you know that something is wrong and that a specific
area requires attention.
There are many kinds of pain, caused by different reactions. Acute,
sharp pain is often due to Injury often causes acute, sharp pain.
Muscle spasms stimulate pain nerves, sometimes causing back pain and
some types of headaches. Arthritis pain is often long term and chronic.
In Natural Medicine, the first step is to honor the old saying tolle
causum, find the cause. When looking for the cause of pain, if the
cause is not injury, it may be incorrect diet, body mechanics that are
physically out of balance, not enough sleep or too much stress. A
program addressing all these issues is often needed to permanently get
rid of pain.
Along with changes in lifestyle, other natural healing methods can be
used to help pain. These include hydrotherapy (the use of hot and cold
water), acupuncture, reflexology and massage. Nutritional supplements,
including calcium, magnesium, bromelain and Glucosamine sulfate, can help.
Herbs have been used throughout history as effective medicine for pain
relief and the physical and emotional disturbances that often
accompany it.
Since pain is such a common human affliction, societies around the
globe have experimented with various plants for pain throughout
history, and many herbs have been found to have analgesic, sedative
and anti-inflammatory effects, all of which help to reduce pain.
# An analgesic decreases pain yet allows full consciousness.
# A sedative calms a person.
# An anti-inflammatory reduces inflammation. Inflammation causes pain,
heat, swelling and redness.
Herbs that have become standards for pain relief:
White Willow
Native Americans, as well as early European herbalists used the inner
bark of the white willow tree to treat pain. It contains salicin which
has been called "nature's aspirin." Supplements of Lactobacillus
acidophilus can help make white willow more effective.
Kava kava
When Captain James Cook arrived in the South Pacific in 1768, he found
that the Kava kava root was being pounded and made into a thick tea by
the native people. This herb induces a tranquil state, enhances
sociability and friendliness, is a powerful skeletal muscle relaxant
and eases pain. Kava has been documented in scientific studies to be
useful for depression and anxiety, which often accompanies pain and
makes it worse.
Ginger
Ginger is a delicious flavoring spice with warming effects. It
increases circulation of the blood and lymph fluid. In traditional
Chinese medicine, it is used as a pain killer, due to its ability to
move "qi," or energy. Ginger contains several chemical constituents
which make it useful for pain, including zingabain. Ginger can help by
taking it internally or using it externally as a compress on the
painful area. Scientific studies have found that ginger is an
extremely useful herb to ease pain and reduce swelling.
Licorice
Licorice has a distinctive flavor used in condiments and candies. In
Chinese medicine, licorice root is one of the most widely used herbs
because it helps substances to combine and it has a long list of
healing qualities. Licorice is used for pain due to its ability to
block a key enzyme which degrades cortisone, which then allows natural
steroids produced by the adrenal glands to reduce inflammation. In
Japan, a drug used to protect the liver, Neo-minophagen-C, is made
from licorice root. CAUTION: Do not use in large amounts if you have
severe hypertension.
Feverfew
Feverfew has been used in western herbology since the times of the
Greek and the Roman empires. The active compound Parthenolide was
isolated by scientists in the 1960's and was thought to give Feverfew
its painkilling effects, although other chemical constituents may also
be involved in this action. Feverfew blocks the production of
inflammatory chemicals and helps decrease inflammation and pain. It is
gaining popularity as an herb that can help migraine headaches, if
taken regularly. However, it is also useful for other kinds of pain.
Copyright Discovery Hospital 1998-2003. All Rights Reserved. Ellen
Kamhi, RN, PhD, HCN