At the first sign of pain your first impulse may be to reach for a pill. Did you know there is so much supporting evidence surrounding non-pharmacological approaches to pain relief? It’s true! Many people are looking for alternatives to avoid the risk of side effects, drug interactions and habitual use or addiction. You may find the relief you need from a variety of natural painkillers instead. Some may even surprise you by their effectiveness. We’ve compiled a list of plant-based natural painkillers. These plant-based options fall under a category of alternative medicine, which also includes meditation, Reiki, Aromatherapy and other practices if you’re willing to give ’em a try. We’ve compiled a list of plant-based natural painkillers

Apple Cider Vinegar: Heartburn/Mild Reflux – Calm your stomach by mixing and drinking between 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon of the vinegar into an 8-ounce glass of water before or after meals.
Blueberries: Bladder/Urinary Tract Infections – Find relief by eating more blueberries or drinking unsweetened blueberry juice. It just may prevent and flush bacteria from attaching to the lining of your bladder.
Cherries: Joint Pain, Headaches – Ease your joints by drinking 4-8 ounces of tart cherry juice per day. It may decrease inflammation.
Cloves: Toothache/Gum Inflammation – Try placing a whole clove on tooth for several minutes. Another option is to dip a cotton swab in clove oil and wipe over area of gums for several minutes.
Garlic: Earache – To dull this discomfort peel a clove a garlic, cut the tip off of one end, wrap garlic clove in gauze, be sure to place the wrapped clove in the ear with the cut end facing into the ear (It should not go inside your ear canal). Then place a warm cloth over the ear for relief.
Ginger: Muscle Pain – After an intense workout or strenuous movements lactic acid builds up in your body, making muscles hard to move. Try grating some fresh ginger root into water and bring to a boil. Stir in some honey and lemon juice. This recipe makes for an amazing tea and also helps to fight colds.
Horseradish: Sinus Pain – Whenever you feel a cold coming on try grating fresh horseradish and place it in your mouth until the flavor fades.
Pineapple: Stomach Bloating/Gas – Often times we throw away the core of the pineapple (even though it’s loaded with a special enzyme called bromelain). Bromelain breaks down protein while also reducing swelling.
Happy healing, my friends! We’d love to hear from you! What natural alternatives have you tried?