Did you know that some ingredients in your kitchen are effective pain killers .
They can even replace medication!
Studies even indicate that certain foods can outperform drugs!
So no need to run to the pharmacy to relieve your pain!
Here are 20 natural painkillers you can find in your kitchen:
Danish researchers asked participants with muscle pain to add ginger to their meal.
In less than 2 months, the change in diet relieved up to 63% of their muscle and joint pain.
The same goes for their swelling and stiffness.
Experts attribute these pain-relieving properties to one of the components of ginger, gingerol.
They believe that gingerol prevents the production of hormones that trigger pain.
The daily dose prescribed by the study:add at least 1 teaspoon of dried ginger or 2 teaspoons of fresh chopped ginger to your meals.
Do you have a toothache but can't see a dentist? According to research from the University of California, Los Angeles, gently chewing a clove can ease pain.
This can reduce gum inflammation for up to 2 hours.
Experts indicate that it is due to a component of clove, eugenol, a powerful and natural anesthetic.
As a bonus:¼ teaspoon of ground cloves could also be beneficial for the heart.
Scientists believe that this simple action stabilizes our blood sugar levels.
Clove reduces the production of cholesterol (which blocks our arteries) in less than 3 weeks.
Experts believe that sipping 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar mixed with a large glass of water (200 cl) before each meal can put an end to heartburn in less than 24 hours.
“Apple cider vinegar is rich in malic and tartaric acids. They are powerful digestive aids that speed up the breakdown of fats and proteins so that the stomach evacuates them quickly before the food travels back up the esophagus, which triggers heartburn,” explains Dr. Joseph Brasco, gastroenterologist at the Digestive Tract Center in Huntsville, USA.
Ear infections lead thousands of French people to consult their doctor each year. To cure an ear infection quickly, pour 2 drops of warm garlic oil into your ear, twice a day for 5 days.
This simple treatment can cure infections faster than drugs prescribed by your doctor, according to experts at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine in the United States.
Several active substances in garlic (germanium, selenium, and sulfur compounds) are naturally toxic to dozens of pain-causing bacteria.
To prepare your own garlic oil, here is the recipe suggested by Dr. Teresa Graedon, co-author of the book Meilleures Sélections de la Pharmacie Populaire :Brown 3 cloves of garlic in 120 ml of extra virgin olive oil for 2 minutes then strain the oil. You can store it in the fridge for at least 2 weeks.
To make the treatment easier to put in your ear canal, warm the oil slightly before pouring it into your ear.
According to the latest studies, 1 in 4 women suffer from osteoarthritis, gout and chronic headaches.
Researchers at the University of Michigan believe that a simple bowl of cherries a day could alleviate these pains - and without the stomach upset associated with painkillers.
Their study indicates that anthocyanins, the component that gives cherries their red color, are 10 times more potent anti-inflammatories than aspirin and ibuprofen.
Dr. Muraleedharan Nair, professor of food science at the University of Michigan, explains, “Anthocyanins help block powerful enzymes that initiate tissue inflammation. They are therefore effective in the prevention, as well as the treatment, of several types of pain. »
His recommendation:enjoy 20 cherries a day (fresh, frozen or dried, it doesn't matter).
And keep going until your pain is gone.
Indigestion, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease… you know?
If you often experience intestinal pain, try to eat 500 g of fish per week.
Indeed, several studies indicate that the fatty acids in fish, named EPA and DHA, significantly reduce intestinal inflammation, cramps and pain in general.
These acids can provide as much relief as corticosteroids and other prescription medications.
“EPA and DHA are powerful, natural anti-inflammatories with no side effects. They can improve the functioning of the entire digestive system,” explains biochemist Barry Sears, president of the Foundation for Inflammation Research in Marblehead, Massachusetts in the United States.
For best results, opt for fatty fish such as salmon, sardines, tuna, mackerel, trout and herring.
According to Yale researchers, as many as 80% of women suffer from premenstrual syndrome and its unpleasant symptoms.
The explanation:their nervous system reacts poorly to monthly fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone.
But a study from Columbia University in New York indicates that eating 2 pots of yogurt a day reduces these symptoms by 48%.
“Yogurt is rich in calcium, a mineral that naturally soothes the nervous system. Therefore, it has a preventive effect on painful symptoms, even when hormone levels fluctuate,” explains Dr. Mary Jane Minkin, professor of gynecology at Yale University in the United States.
Studies show that turmeric, a popular spice in India, is 3 times more effective in treating pain than aspirin, ibuprofen or naproxen.
In addition, according to a study by Cornell University, turmeric relieves chronic pain in 50% of patients who suffer from osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia.
That's because the main active in turmeric, curcumin, naturally inhibits cyclo-oxygenase 2, an enzyme that produces pain-producing hormones, says nutrition researcher Dr. Julian Whitaker, author of the book Reversing the Diabetes .
Here is the daily dose recommended by the study:sprinkle 1/4 teaspoon of turmeric on your rice, poultry, meat or vegetable dishes.
The solution to alleviating these pains may well be a simple bowl of oats. In women with endometriosis, the tissue lining the uterine cavity (the endometrium) grows into other organs.
Experts believe that it is these migrating cells that turn menstruation into a real nightmare.
They cause significant inflammation.
It is she who in turn triggers the pain that precedes or accompanies menstruation.
These pains can even last for the entire month.
Luckily, researchers found that a diet high in oats reduced endometriosis pain in 60% of women within 6 months.
According to Dr. Peter Green, professor of medicine at Columbia University in the United States, this is because oats do not contain gluten.
Gluten is a protein that causes pain in women.
Indeed, gluten triggers inflammation in many women, which makes endometriosis painful.
Experts say that thousands of French people suffer from ingrown toenails every year. But researchers at Stanford University in California have found that regularly soaking your feet in warm salt baths can cure these painful infections.
And it works in less than 4 days only.
Salt will naturally relieve inflammation. In addition, the salt bath acts as an antiseptic.
It quickly eliminates the bacteria that generate swelling and pain.
Here's how? Mix 1 teaspoon per 250 ml of water and heat the water as hot as possible, without burning yourself of course.
Soak your feet twice a day for 20 minutes until you have no more infection.
Are you bloated? Stanford University researchers have found that with 165 g of pineapple, your problem can be solved in less than 3 days.
Why ? Because pineapple is full of proteolytic enzymes.
They aid in digestion and speed up the breakdown of pain-causing proteins in the stomach and small intestine.
Do you suffer from muscle aches and pains? According to Mark Stengler, naturopathic doctor of medicine and author of the book Natural Physician's Healing Therapies , muscle “knots” last for months if not properly treated.
His recommendation:take baths with 10 drops of peppermint essential oil 3 times a week.
The hot water relaxes the muscles while the peppermint oil acts on the nerves.
According to Stengler, this combination relieves cramps 25% more effectively than over-the-counter painkillers.
The chance that the aches will reappear is also reduced by 50%.
And if you're out of peppermint essential oil, you can find some here.
Back ache ? Grapes might just be the answer.
Recent studies from the University of Ohio suggest that eating 100 g of grapes a day relaxes blood vessels.
This improves blood flow to damaged back tissue. And this, in less than 3 hours after tasting the grapes!
This is particularly good news.
Why ? Because the vertebrae and intervertebral discs, which absorb shocks, depend on blood flow for their oxygen supply.
This is why blood flow is essential to relieve damaged tissue.
Whether it's your feet, knees, or shoulders that get you going, experts at Manhattan University are certain.
Drinking 8 glasses of 235 ml per day can reduce your healing time to just 1 week.
Why ? Experts believe that water dilutes and then purges histamine, a component produced by damaged muscle tissue that causes pain.
"Furthermore, water is a key component of the cartilage which serves as a shock absorber for the bones, a lubricant for the joints and also for the intervertebral discs" adds Dr. Susan M. Kleiner, author of the book The Good Mood Diet . “When these tissues are sufficiently hydrated, they move and slide over each other without creating pain. »
Warning:make sure you follow the prescribed doses. A standard glass of water contains 26ml, but this varies a lot between different glasses.
It is therefore important to carefully measure the capacity of the glass used for this treatment.
The most recent studies underline the scope of the problem of sinusitis.
Indeed, it is an infection that is not limited to sinus obstruction and headaches.
Those with sinusitis are 6 times more likely to experience generalized pain.
Horseradish to the rescue! This condiment that sometimes makes us cry can naturally stimulate blood flow to the sinus cavities, according to German researchers.
It can heal infections faster than nasal spray decongestants.
Here is the dose recommended by the study:1 teaspoon per day, either plain or as a condiment, until the symptoms disappear.
150 g of blueberries, in any form (fresh, frozen, or juiced), can reduce your risk of urinary tract infections by 60%, according to a study conducted by Rutgers University in New Jersey.
This is because blueberries are loaded with tannin, a natural component of plants. Tannin surrounds bacteria in the bladder and prevents them from taking hold and creating an infection, according to Dr Amy Howell of Rutgers University, USA.
Apply a little honey to your canker sores 4 times a day until they disappear.
And they'll heal 43% faster than if you'd used a doctor-prescribed cream, according to a study by Dubai Specialized Medical Center in the United Arab Emirates.
Researchers have found that natural enzymes in honey work on inflammation.
They eliminate invading viruses and accelerate the repair processes of damaged tissues.
A recent study concludes that adding 3 tablespoons of ground flaxseed relieves breast tenderness in less than 12 weeks.
Researchers believe this is because flax naturally produces phytoestrogens, which regulate levels of estrogen - a potential pain generator.
More good news:you don't have to be a cordon bleu to incorporate this beneficial seed into your diet.
Try simply sprinkling ground flaxseed over yogurt, applesauce, or even incorporating it into a spread or smoothie.
Do you tend to have migraines? Boost the effect of your painkiller by following it with a coffee.
Regardless of the medication you use, researchers at the National Headache Foundation, USA have found that taking your medication along with 350ml of filtered coffee increases the effectiveness of the treatment by at least 40%.
Experts believe that caffeine stimulates the walls of the stomach, which speeds up the absorption and effectiveness of painkillers.
At least 1 in 5 people have problems with leg cramps.
The guilty ? Lack of potassium.
The pain appears when potassium is eliminated by drinks containing caffeine or heavy sweating during physical exercise.
But researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles have found that drinking 300 ml of tomato juice a day not only speeds up the healing of cramps...
But we also reduce the risk of them reappearing.
