Pain relief is a topic that I think we can all relate to as we all have dealt with it at one time or another in our lives. If you are lucky enough to not have experienced muscle or joint pain, believe me as you age you will. As I am a very active person and an avid athlete, pain management is something that I deal with often. Also I often tend to 'overdue' things and push my body to the limit often when training or playing sports. So getting minor injuries from bruises to sore muscles to sprains is not only common for athletes but also the average person who is not so active because of age, a hard days work or a pulled muscle which can happen doing just about anything anywhere at anytime.
It wasn't until I was in my early twenties when I started training much harder in martial arts and pushing my strength training to a higher level, did I look into what was available on the market for pain relief that was safe and natural. When I was a kid and a teenager, I never bothered taking anything as I didn't think much of pain because I just played through it and healed much quicker back then it seemed (oh to be young again).
Once I started to have to deal with pain more often because of my increased training and because I was getting older, I wanted only to use all natural ingredients that could help me that had no side effects. So naturally I looked into all kinds of natural ingredients and herbs that could help me to hasten recovery from bumps, bruises and strains in training and of course lessen the pain.
One of the first natural ingredients that I researched and looked into was Arnica, a natural herb used in homeopathic medicines for pain relief since the 1500's. This herb grows in the mountains of Europe & Siberia and is used topically in a variety of forms to soothe muscle aches, reduce inflammation & heal wounds. I remember using it when I started doing judo as the first few weeks I got some good sized bruises from training, it definitely helped reduce my pain and speed recovery.
Another all natural ingredient I heard about and began to use was Wintergreen Oil (also known as Methyl salicylate). Wintergreen oil is used in many topical pain relieving products, as its chemical makeup is essentially that of liquid aspirin. It is very potent on its own and must be diluted if used as a topical stand-alone product. Blended with other essential oils, it can help relieve arthritis and reduce inflammation in joints and muscles dramatically. At the time, I bought some popular topical products that had Methyl salicylate as the main ingredient in them (which is a safer bet than diluting or blending the oil yourself). I did buy Wintergreen oil eventually as a stand-alone product when I started looking deeper into pain relieving herbs and into this amazing oil.
I found that Menthol is used a lot in conjunction with Wintergreen oil in many pain relieving products and is another amazing natural ingredient I use and recommend. Menthol is a compound primarily derived from peppermint or other mint oils. It is similar to Wintergreen (methyl salicylate), as it is an anti-inflammatory and causes a cooling sensation when applied topically. An effective pain reliever, menthol has been shown in double-blind, placebo-controlled studies published in the Journal of Clinical Rheumatology and the Journal of Aging and Physical Activity to be among the world's most effective pain-relievers for osteoarthritis.
I'm sure you have heard of using Cayenne Pepper as an addition to flavor dishes to make them spicier and hotter. It also has a rich history of being used for medicinal purposes. Native Americans have used it for over 9,000 years for healing and ceremonial use. Cayenne acts to eliminate or "burn up," substance P - a compound that carries pain messages to your brain. Capsaicin is the principal active ingredient of cayenne pepper. Capsaicin has been shown to be effective for easing pain caused by arthritis and nerve conditions when applied topically as a liniment or taken internally as a supplement. When I learned about this, I started looking for topical ointments and creams that contained cayenne and even tried taking it internally as a capsule.
Another natural ingredient I started looking into and ultimately using was Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM). MSM is a natural, safe and odorless sulfur compound found in the human body. It has essential sulfur and methyl groups that are used in healing and repair processes such as supporting connective tissue repair and regeneration. MSM is known to speed relief from inflammation and promote lasting healing. It is also naturally cleanses and detoxifies and ultimately promotes healthy circulation by neutralizing free radical molecules. It is normally taken internally but can be used topically with DMSO which transports any other ingredients it is mixed with directly to the source of pain.
The last ingredient which I will talk about which I mentioned above is Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). DMSO is known to multiply chemical reactions in combination with other ingredients as it is a near perfect solvent and transporter. It is also used alone and is an organic, sulfur-rich substance found in the woody part of trees. I found out from a friend who recommended it to me and eventually gave me some pure DMSO that it is commonly used in veterinary medicine as a liniment for horses. Well if they used it treat race horses for pain relief I figured it could help relieve my muscle and joint pain too!
It has an amazing range of uses (can be taken by mouth, used topically, or given intravenously even) but I will only mention here as it is related to topical treatment for pain relief. I found that DMSO is used topically to decrease pain and speed the healing of wounds, burns, and muscle and skeletal injuries. DMSO is also used topically to treat painful conditions such as headache, inflammation, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis... truly an incredible natural compound.
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