Health

Painkillers like ibuprofen are a quick and easy solution. However, they are not healthy for your body in the long run. We show you proven herbal home remedies that can relieve your pain without any side effects. Here are the best natural painkillers.

Medicines and their side effects

Nowadays, medicines are quickly and easily available at the pharmacy, even over the counter, without proper communication of the correct dose or duration of treatment. Ibuprofen is one of the most commonly used medicines. Ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to relieve pain, reduce fever, and reduce inflammation. It is sometimes taken for headaches, muscle aches, arthritis, or menstrual cramps. However, as with other medicines, taking ibuprofen can cause side effects like nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea or constipation and put a strain on your health. Ibuprofen may also cause dizziness or drowsiness. If the symptoms are not too severe, you should therefore resort to herbal, natural remedies.

Herbal painkillers and their effect

It does not always have to be conventional painkillers that help us with severe pain. Remedies from nature have been around since time immemorial, a healing effect is also confirmed and usually also solves the problem. People use them not only because they are natural, but also because they work naturally and do not burden the body with side effects. As a chronically ill person, you should of course constantly consult your doctor. However, the additional intake of natural painkillers can usefully complement therapy and alleviate your complaints.

Important: As long as the complaints remain within limits, natural remedies help to relieve our pain. If there is no significant improvement after taking the home remedies, you should ask a doctor for advice.

Top 8 Natural Painkillers: The Best Alternatives to Ibuprofen

1. Arnica against pain

Arnica is a now widespread and commonly used plant, known especially for its pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties. It is particularly helpful for muscle aches and tears, bumps, stomach aches, rheumatoid arthritis and inflammation.

You should only use arnica externally and not ingest it. To use, pour a cup of warm water over a teaspoon of arnica. Then apply the active ingredient to the affected areas with a clean cloth.

2. Ginger against pain

Many people know that ginger is healthy and strengthens the immune system – but the fact that it can also be taken for pain is certainly new to some. Besides strengthening the immune system, ginger has an anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving function, similar to the active ingredients of arnica.

Ginger can be used externally, especially for sprains, arthritis, general inflammation and carpal tunnel syndrome. To do this, cut off a piece of ginger, pour warm water over it and let it steep for about five minutes. Then dab it on the affected area with a cloth and the natural treatment is ready.

If you suffer from nausea, ginger can also help. Eat a small piece of ginger to stimulate your appetite and keep your gastrointestinal tract going.

3. Turmeric against pain

The natural active ingredient turmeric is anti-inflammatory and keeps our joints healthy. Therefore, the medicinal plant has a pain-relieving effect on arthrosis and rheumatoid arthritis. Simply refine your dishes with turmeric, which goes particularly well with oriental dishes such as curry. Golden milk is particularly popular and beneficial to health. A drink that consists of plant milk, turmeric, ginger and a few other ingredients. In Ayurvedic teachings, Golden Milk has been considered healing, stimulating and cleansing drink for centuries. Turmeric milk relieves discomfort in the joints, supports digestion and strengthens the immune system. If you don’t like turmeric in a dish or as milk, you can also take the active ingredient in highly concentrated capsule or powder form.

4. Liquorice against pain

Before you start taking liquorice, you should first talk to your doctor about it. If he sees no objections to the treatment with liquorice, you can easily buy liquorice as a tablet, cream or capsule in pharmacies or health food shops and take it instead of conventional painkillers. However, the active ingredient of the medicinal plant should be avoided in cases of high blood pressure, potassium deficiency, type II diabetes, hepatitis and during pregnancy. The reason: the substance increases blood pressure, cortisol levels and the permeability of the placenta so that the healthy development of the hormone glands and the brain of the unborn child is disturbed.

5. Cayenne pepper for pain

The natural plant cayenne pepper is not only a treat for the taste buds but also has an anti-inflammatory effect. Nevertheless, you should bear in mind that cayenne pepper is hot and very tasty, not everyone can tolerate the spiciness. Avoid contact with mucous membranes and spare your eyes. If you don’t want to use it as a powder, you can buy it as an ointment, cream or oil essence in health food stores.

If you prefer the powder for treatment, pour 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper over hot water and drink small sips throughout the day. If you have decided to use the ointment, apply it carefully to the affected area. Wash your hands thoroughly afterwards or use gloves from the beginning. Otherwise, unpleasant side effects such as a strong burning sensation may occur.

6. Willow bark against pain

Willow bark has an analgesic effect. It is often used as a natural painkiller for headaches, muscular and menstrual complaints. However, willow bark, e.g. as a tea, also helps with fever and with arthrosis and arthritis. If you are allergic to the drug aspirin, we advise you against treatment with willow bark, because both willow bark and aspirin contain salicylic acid, to which some people are allergic.

7. Peppermint oil against pain

Peppermint oil is also a real all-rounder among natural painkillers. It not only helps with digestive complaints and irritable bowel syndrome but also with tension headaches and muscle pain. The reason for this is probably the ingredients contained in the oil, which stimulate the cold receptors of the skin and make the pain fibres less sensitive. If you want to take advantage of this effect, massage the diluted oil directly onto the painful area.

8. Onions against pain

Onions are not only known for their flavourful seasoning, but also as a well-known household remedy for sore throats, earaches and insect bites. The onion acts as a natural anti-inflammatory and has an antibacterial, analgesic and germicidal effect. For sore throats or coughs, you can therefore mix onion juice with honey and take it regularly.

You can also use onions for a painful middle ear infection. Cut an onion into small pieces and wrap it in a cloth handkerchief. Then place the onion bag on your ear. The onion relieves the discomfort and has a decongestant effect.

Food as a natural painkiller

Remedies such as arnica, turmeric and ginger not only serve us as effective natural painkillers. Foods can also alleviate inflammation. Especially plant-based omega-3 sources rebalance the ratio of pro-inflammatory omega-6 fatty acids and anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids. Therefore, eat walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds, flaxseeds and dark green leafy vegetables regularly, as well as vegetable oils such as olive and linseed oil. Fatty fish can also be on the menu once a week, e.g. salmon, sardines and trout. Try it out!

You should avoid white flour products as much as possible because of the large amounts of omega-6 fatty acids. Animal products should only be eaten in moderation, as the purines they contain can attack your joints and lead to gout.

You can check out our other useful articles about health here.

Do you suffer from nausea and simply feel unwell? There is not necessarily a serious cause behind these complaints. In this article, we explain tested home remedies that will help you get rid of the queasy feeling in your stomach quickly.

Nausea is a feeling of unease and discomfort in the stomach. It can be caused by many different things, such as food poisoning or intolerance, side effects of medication, motion sickness, anxiety or pregnancy. In addition to nausea, other symptoms may include headaches, dizziness and diarrhoea. When vomiting occurs, it is usually unpleasant but nothing more than a normal reaction of the body.

Quick help for nausea

If you suffer from nausea, you don’t always have to see a doctor. The symptoms can also be relieved with simple home remedies. However, if nausea occurs more frequently and lasts longer, you should consult a doctor and have it checked out. The same applies if the nausea is accompanied by other symptoms such as fever, heartache and dizziness. In a serious case, the symptoms can indicate a stroke or heart attack. Therefore, prevention is still the best precaution for your health.

In the following sections, you will learn which home remedies are the best way to combat nausea and malaise.

Abstaining from certain foods

Spicy and fatty foods irritate and strain the stomach even more and can make nausea worse. For this reason, you should avoid them. The same applies to convenience foods and sweet, sugary foods like chocolate. If you also suffer from vomiting, give your stomach a short break and avoid eating for the most part. As soon as you feel better, you can eat foods that are easy on your stomach again. For example, mashed potatoes and bananas or rusks are suitable.

Ginger helps against nausea

Ginger is not only a great tip for colds, but the healthy tuber can also help with nausea. The essential oils of the all-rounder relieve nausea and nausea and promote digestion. Either chew on a piece of ginger or brew the tuber as a tea.

Carrots help quickly against nausea

Fibre helps to relieve nausea. Carrots contain a lot of fibre, which binds toxins in the intestines and thus plays its part in relieving nausea. Carrot porridge or a fresh carrot soup are just a few of the many recipe ideas.

Lemons are good for nausea

Both the smell and the taste of a fresh lemon can dispel nausea. Those who dare can suck directly on a slice of lemon, for all others a glass of water mixed with fresh lemon juice is recommended. Drink it in small sips.

Apple cider vinegar helps against nausea

Not particularly tasty, but effective for mild nausea: apple cider vinegar, stimulates the metabolism and has an antibacterial effect. Mix one tablespoon with about 250 ml of water and drink the liquid in small sips.

Herbal teas provide quick relief from nausea

Herbal teas are particularly popular home remedies for nausea. A tea made from caraway, chamomile, fennel, anise or peppermint relieves nausea and vomiting and has a calming effect on the digestive tract.

Peppermint, for example, contains essential oils in its leaves, most of which is menthol. Drinking a cup of warm peppermint tea not only stimulates digestion but also has a relaxing effect. Prepare the tea rather thinly and not too strong so that the menthol does not put additional strain on the stomach.

Fresh air helps with nausea

If you feel shaky on your feet, fresh air can work wonders. A short walk, proper ventilation or simply an open balcony door can relieve nausea and possible vomiting. Breathe the fresh air slowly and deeply. This relaxes the whole body.

Warm compresses for the stomach

Warm compresses with certain ingredients such as healing clay, peppermint or camomile also help well with nausea. Oil compresses with lavender are another alternative. The essential oil soothes and helps with discomfort.

Mix a good carrier oil (e.g. almond oil) with a few drops of lavender oil and warm the mixture. Then soak a cotton cloth with the oil, squeeze it out and place it on the stomach. Cover the poultice with another cloth and leave it on the stomach until it has cooled down.

Taking Schüßler salts for nausea

Schüßler salts are not a typical home remedy, but they are still helpful for nausea. You can resort to No. 2 Calcium phosphoricum, No. 4 Kalium chloratum, No. 7 Magnesium phosphoricum, No. 8 Natrium chloratum or No. 9 Natrium phosphoricum.

Acupuncture and acupressure for nausea

Pericardium 6 is the best-known point in acupuncture and acupressure for nausea. It is a point on the inside of the forearm, between the two palpable tendons. It is three fingers wide below the crease of the wrist. The discomfort can be relieved by placing special acupuncture needles on the pericardium 6 or by continuously simulating the acupuncture point with acupressure.

What helps against nausea after alcohol?

After a night of drinking, a hangover usually sets in the next morning. Typical complaints are severe headaches, dizziness and also nausea and vomiting. Alcohol stimulates the production of gastric juices and slows down digestion. This can irritate the stomach and lead to nausea. In addition, when alcohol is broken down, it is converted into acetic acid, which can also cause nausea.

To relieve your hangover symptoms, drink plenty of still water or unsweetened herbal tea in particular to replenish your fluid balance. In order not to irritate your stomach, even more, you should resort to wholesome, light foods such as salt sticks, rusks, broth or bananas. It also helps to rest. If you feel better and want to get your circulation going, go for a short walk.

What helps against nausea during pregnancy?

Especially in the first three months of pregnancy, many women suffer from nausea and vomiting. Pregnant women should therefore pay attention to a constant blood sugar level. If the blood sugar level drops, nausea can increase. For this reason, you should always have a few healthy snacks with you when you are out and about. Unsalted nuts and dried fruit are good choices. Adequate fluid intake also helps to relieve nausea. Pregnant women should therefore drink two to three litres a day. Regular exercise in the fresh air can also relieve morning sickness.