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7. Boswellia
This anti-inflammatory comes from a tree that is native to India. It contains a type of acid called boswellic acid, which improves the blood flow to the joints. It also stops inflammatory white blood cells from entering damaged or weakened tissues. Sometimes called Indian Frankincense, you can find Boswellia as either a topical cream or in supplement form. One study showed that subjects who suffered from arthritis pain who took 752mg of Boswellia extract every day for 30 days had as much as a 90 percent decrease in their pain levels.
8. Eugenol
Eugenol is a chemical that is found in cloves, nutmeg, bay leaf, basil, and cinnamon. Cloves are a common remedy to stop toothaches, but these can help with other types of pain as well. Eugenol inhibits the COX-2 enzyme, which is the enzyme that initiates the inflammation process. Taking essential oils that contain eugenol can naturally stop inflammation and pain.
9. Omega-3
Flax seed oil, cod liver, chia, hemp, and fish oils are a very reliable defense from pain, especially those with neck or back pain, and those suffering with arthritis. The omega-3 fatty acids that are found in these oils breaks down prostaglandin, which is a pro-inflammatory hormone. Studies have found that consuming omega-3s cut the amount of NSAID use by as much as 2/3rds for those who had neck or back pain and as much as 1/3rd for those suffering from arthritis pain.
SEE ALSO: Drugs that Relieve Joint Pain are Silently Killing You
10. Cannabis
Well, no surprise here. In a study that was reported in The Journal of Pain, which is published by the American Pain Society, using cannabis for cancer patients who responded poorly to opioids provided effective pain relief. Whenever subjects consume cannabis, there is always a notable decline in the amount of prescription painkillers that are consumed. Also, prescription painkillers all come with side effects. There is not a single clinical study where patients who consumed cannabis did not find that they could reduce their drug intake and there have been no recorded side effects due to cannabis consumption.
Before you consume any herbal substance, you should always consult your doctor, especially if you are taking prescription medication. Although herbs are generally well tolerated by almost every one, there are exceptions and some herbs can cause dangerous, even life threatening interactions with some prescription drugs. Always consult your physician before you consume any herbs or supplements.
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