Painkillers from your kitchen

When you are in pain not every time you need to pop a pain killer tablet. Try natural painkillers available in your kitchen.

Painkillers From Your Kitchen

1.Cold pack

Pulled muscle, muscle spasm, insect bites, Twisted or sprained ankle and bruises respond well to cold packs with ice. Cold therapy with the help of ice packs, frozen gel packs, ice massage, and ice baths is also called cryotherapy. Ice pack helps in reducing swelling; it causes numbness of the nerve ending and decrease pain. Ice pack is used for treating acute pain and injuries, it causes constriction of blood vessels reducing tendency to lose blood from the injury site. This decreases inflammation and eases pain. You should apply ice pack for 15 to 20 minutes over a period of 24 to 72 hours or until there is relief in pain.

Precautions

Cover your ice pack/cold pack with a towel to avoid direct and prolonged contact with skin. This will ensure protection of your skin from damage. Special precaution is advisedin case you are diabetic or have any form of sensory disorders. You may not be able to detect any damage to your skin because of damaged nerve and compromised sensitivity.

2.Hot compress

A hot compress is a method of applying heat to the affected area, it is recommended in chronic pain. Heat dilates the blood vessels; this increases the blood circulation to the affected body part. Likewise, heat relaxes the muscle.

A hot compress can be two types –

Dry heat therapy (conduction heat), it includes therapy using heating pads, dry heating packs

Moist heat therapy (convection heat), it includes sources like moist heating packs, hot water baths, steamed towels.

A hot compress can be applied for 15 – 20 minutes according to your comfort zone.

Precautions

You should use heat compress on open and bruised wounds with swelling. People with diabetes, vascular diseases, deep vein thrombosis, multiple sclerosis, and dermatitis should avoid heat therapy. These health conditions increase the risk of burn.

3.Turmeric

Turmeric is used in Indian kitchen for ages; it is the critical ingredient in every Indian curry. It is known for its bright yellow colour and flavour. Botanical name of turmeric is Curcuma longa. Turmeric has an antioxidant called curcumin; it protects your body from the free radicals produced in the body.

Curcumin also has anti-inflammatory effects.Turmeric is recommended in many health conditions like – osteoarthritis, low back pain, pre and post surgery health, premenstrual syndrome, ulcerative colitis, heartburn, indigestion, and irritable bowel syndrome. Turmeric is also beneficial in exercise-induced inflammation; it helps in the management of pain during redness and muscle soreness. It enhances faster recovery and promotes suppression of inflammation.

4.Cloves

Clove is one of the most commonly used spices in Indian cuisine; it has been recommended as a natural food preservative for many centuries. It is native of Indonesia but is cultured in many parts of the world. It is great source of phenolic compounds like – eugenol, Gallic acid, and eugenol acetate. It is widely used for pharmaceutical, food, agricultural and cosmetic purpose.

It has great potential for antimicrobial and antioxidant activity, recently its role in combating dengue is also gaining attention among healthcare professional. It is most commonly applied during a toothache and pain related to dry socket after tooth extraction. Clove is believed to be effective in many health conditions like – premature ejaculation, anal tears, as a mosquito repellent, vomiting, stomach upset, diarrhoea, hernia, cough and gas in the stomach. You can use oil, dried flower buds, leaves or leave.

Clove is likely safe for most people, but people who suffer from specific bleeding disorders and post-surgery should be careful because clove is believed to slow down the process of blood clotting.

5.Cayenne pepper

Cayenne pepper is loaded with a compound known as capsaicin; it helps in reducing pain, decreasing inflammation. You can prepare a natural pain relieving lotion at home; add a halfteaspoon of powdered and dried cayenne pepper in 2 – 3 teaspoons of warm coconut oil. You can use olive oil or almond oil as a carrier oil. Apply generously on the affected area, and let it sit there for 15 -20 minutes. Rinse or wipe it with a clean cloth/cotton.

6.Ginger

Ginger is loaded with anti-inflammatory properties; it is a good source of a compound called gingerol. Gingerol is useful in cold, bronchitis, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. You can directly consume fresh ginger or dried and powdered ginger on a daily basis. Ginger can also apply topically.

So next time when you are in pain before popping painkillers sold over the counter better try the painkillers from your kitchen