Nature's medicine

Natural remedies

complementary health,health advice,coping with illness,Country Living woman holding tablet

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.

Soothe earache

onions & shallots,complementary health,health advice,coping with illness,Country Living onions A throbbing pain around the ear can be caused by anything from the congestion caused by a bad cold to a walk on a cold, windy beach. Warm olive oil on cotton wool is the traditional method for relieving the pain, but medical herbalist Trudy Norris suggests trying an onion: "Onion juice contains antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and pain-killing properties. Bake half an onion in the oven until soft. Let it cool a little, then wrap it in lint and hold it against the ear to relieve pain." If the earache is very painful, or accompanied by a high temperature or discharge, it may be infected and a visit to your GP will be necessary.

Numb toothache

complementary health,health advice,coping with illness,thyme,Country Living whole cloves

The causes of toothache can be anything from gum disease to dental cavities. Of course, you know that you need to pay a visit to the dentist to treat the cause, but in the meantime you can ease any discomfort by rubbing a little ground clove or clove oil around the tooth and gum, advises Trudy Norris. "Clove is a plant that your grandmother probably used for toothache because it contains eugenol, a natural painkiller and is antibacterial," she says.

You can keep breath fresh and cleanse bacteria in the mouth naturally by infusing a handful of common thyme in boiling water, and use this cooled as a mouthwash.

Treat kitchen mishaps

complementary health,health advice,coping with illness,Country Living,kitchen wisdom marigold and pot of cream The odd nick from a knife or small burn when you catch your wrist taking things out of the oven is inevitable, so a great product to have in your kitchen first-aid kit is marigold (calendula) cream. "Marigold is antiseptic and anti-fungal to help prevent infections," Trudy Norris says. It can also help reduce any inflammation. After running the affected area under cold water for some minutes, ease minor burns with aloe vera. The smooth gel inside the plant contains aloectin B which stimulates the immune system and forms a layer over the burn reducing the risk of infection. It is worth keeping an aloe vera plant on the kitchen windowsill, so you can snap off a leaf whenever you need it. Small bumps and bruises are best treated with arnica-based cream or gel, gently massaged in, two to three times a day.

Ease a splitting headache

complementary health,health advice,coping with illness,Country Living feverfew plant

"Headaches are caused by different things, and this has an effect on how you treat them," says Ann Turner, director of Migraine Action Association. "Dehydration and a lack of sleep are often to blame, so try to drink at least eight glasses of water a day and keep regular sleep patterns." At its onset, ease the pain with a cold compress against your forehead or, if the cause is stress and tension, try placing a warm hot water bottle around the neck.

Regular migraine sufferers may find it helpful to take the garden herb feverfew to stave off future attacks. In a University of Nottingham study, 75 per cent of migraine sufferers given a capsule of dried feverfew each day for four months experienced a reduction in the number and severity of their attacks. Feverfew should be taken daily in leaf or capsule form. "But be patient - it often takes at least three months before any effect is seen," Ann advises.

Stop the gut reaction

complementary health,health advice,coping with illness,mint,Country Living mint growing in pot Most of us are guilty of wolfing down dinner from time to time if we\'re in a hurry, or eating too much rich, spicy food when dining out. The result can be bloating, wind and pain  - all signs of indigestion. Eating little and often and not late at night, and chewing each mouthful several times, is the kindest way to treat your digestive system. This is not always possible, however, so if indigestion pains do strike, Dr John Bennett, a gastroenterologist and chairman of digestive disorder charity CORE, recommends peppermint, either as tablets or a herbal infusion. "Peppermint is an antispasmodic so it helps relax the stomach muscles, including the valve at the top of the gullet, aiding the release of trapped wind," he says.

Soothe menstrual cramps

yoghurt,complementary health,coping with illness,Country Living,milk,womens health milk, cheese and yogurt To ease abdominal pain caused by menstrual cramps, taking something to relax the muscles in the womb will help, since it is these muscles contracting that causes the pain. Edzard Ernst, professor of complementary medicine at The University of Exeter suggests taking calcium supplements for one week before and during your period. "Low levels of calcium have been linked to period pain as calcium is needed to help muscles relax." Good calcium-rich foods include dairy products and leafy, green vegetables.

Oil your joints

oily fish,complementary health,health advice,coping with illness,Country Living smoked mackerel As spring arrives and you start to shake off the winter cobwebs by going for a few brisk walks or even a light jog, the sudden change in pace can lead to stiff and inflamed joints. While gently building up a new exercise regime will help prevent this, research shows that taking a supplement of the essential fatty acid omega-3 regularly can work, too. A 1998 study at Cardiff University found that omega-3 helped to reduce inflammation in arthritis sufferers and even prevented further deterioration of joints. A good way to boost levels of omega-3 is to eat oily fish such as sardines, mackerel and salmon twice a week. And a study at the Pierre & Marie Curie University in Paris found that osteoarthritis sufferers who were given 800mg of the herbal supplement Devil\'s Claw three times a day for three weeks noticed a significant reduction in the severity of their pain.

Say goodbye to aching backs

complementary health,health advice,coping with illness,Country Living hot water bottle An afternoon of weeding may do wonders for the garden, but lots of bending over on cold muscles can also leave you with a stiff, aching back. "You can avoid backache by making sure you warm up with gentle stretching exercises before starting any strenuous activity," advises Dr Michael McKiernan, chairman of the charity BackCare. If backache strikes, don\'t be tempted to lie down for days: "Unless the pain is excruciating, don\'t stay in bed for more than 24 to 48 hours - it will only cause muscles to seize up further," he says. "Fight its onset by placing your hands on the small of your back and arching backwards (with stomach pushing forward)." A hot bath or a hot-water bottle on the area of pain can also help - last year, researchers at University College London found that when body cells reached temperatures of over 40°C, the body blocked chemical pain messages being sent to the brain.

Soothe tired eyes

fennel,complementary health,health advice,coping with illness,Country Living,for eyes Natural remedies: fennel seeds in a jar

Hours spent reading in poor light or staring at a computer screen are sure ways to strain eyes. Take regular breaks from tasks like these by looking away from the screen or book for 30 seconds every 15 minutes or so. A good night\'s sleep is one of the best ways to make sore eyes feel better, but if time is short, they can also be soothed with a compress soaked in a fennel infusion, advises medical herbalist Trudy Norris. "Mix a teaspoon of fennel seeds in a pint of boiling water. Allow to cool, strain, then soak a cotton wool pad in the solution and place on the eyes for 10-15 minutes," she says. Yoga teachers also have a technique for relieving tired eyes called ‘palming\': sit comfortably on the floor, then rub your palms briskly together for a few seconds and place the warm, cupped palms over your closed eyes. Breathe slowly and deeply throughout.

 

Read more on how to keep your eyes healthy

 

Fennel also helps with bloating - find out more here

Loading.. please wait

Thanks! Your comment has been added to this topic.