Nature's medicine

Natural remedies

When you're suffering from a painful back or pounding headache, your first instinct is to reach for the medicine cabinet. But while pills from the local pharmacy will ease your discomfort, it is possible to become over-reliant on them. In fact, some people can even suffer from ‘withdrawal' headaches if they've been taking painkillers too often and then stop.

Fortunately, there is an alternative. Not only are there many simple preventative measures that can be taken, but several natural pain relievers can be found in your kitchen cupboards and even your garden. The efficacy of plant-based painkillers is not surprising if you think that many modern drugs were originally derived from plants. Read on for our alternative guide to simple, natural remedies for easing the most common aches and pains.