A major advantage of the holistic or naturopathic approach to managing chronic pain is the multi-layered approach the practitioner uses. Whereas modern medicine seeks to address pain as an isolated phenomenon, using mainly drug therapies, the naturopathic physician seeks to understand the underlying causes of the chronic pain.
Herbal treatments make up an important component of natural therapy for chronic pain. In particular, various herbs have been clinically studied for their anti-inflammatory potency. It is this group of herbs that have traditionally offered the most benefit to those suffering chronic pain from arthritis, fibromyalgia, and various other chronic conditions.
The naturopathic practitioner understands inflammation not as a problem, but rather as an indicator of systemic problems within the body. Inflammation occurs as a natural response when the body's systems are assaulted by toxins, trauma, disease or infections. To address these underlying issues, a patient may be advised to alter their eating habits, in order to avoid allergic reactions. Other helpful strategies include detoxification programs and exercise.
An otherwise healthy patient will recover from the inflammation brought on by the negative conditions and events, but in some, the immune system is so compromised that chronic pain remains a persistent problem throughout one's lifetime.
There are many herbs that address ongoing excess inflammation. Taken alone or in combination with other herbs, these natural pain relievers can be used to treat chronic inflammation without the serious side effects of chemical pharmaceuticals.
Boswellia serrata
This herb is unrivaled as a treatment for osteoarthritis. In a 2008 double-blind, placebo controlled study, Boswellia serrata produced very rapid results in patients with osteoarthritis, many of whom were bedridden. The patients’ pain scores and functional abilities were markedly improved, and their blood levels of cartilage-degrading enzymes decreased. In another study, all of the osteoarthritis patients treated with Boswellia reported reduced knee pain, increased knee flexion and increased walking distance. Swelling was also reduced considerably.
Curcuma longa (Turmeric)
Turmeric is a powerful antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic, anti-microbial and hepatoprotective spice, which has been shown to be effective in treating cardiovascular and gastrointestinal disorders. Turmeric has also been proven to help fight the swine flu virus.
As a pain-reliever, turmeric is potent in treating every aspect of inflammation. Various laboratory studies have demonstrated that turmeric’s active principle inhibits the action of inflammatory agents including phospholipase, lipoxygenase, cyclooxygenase 2 (Cox-2), leukotrienes, thromboxane, prostaglandins, nitric oxide, collagenase, elastase, and others.
Cox-2 inhibitors such as Celebrex and Vioxx were once touted as anti-inflammatory drugs without the side-effects. However, many patients took these drugs for years before learning that they are associated with heart disease. Turmeric, on the other hand, has a much broader spectrum of anti-inflammatory activity than these drugs, without the side effects.
Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha)
Ashwagandha is a rejeuvenating herb that is believed to enhance longevity. Clinical studies have shown Ashwagandha to relieve the pain of rheumatoid arthritis. When the herb was given to a group of RA patients for a period of four weeks, more than half of them experienced pain relief. Some of these patients were completely free of pain and swelling after the herbal treatment. Ashwagandha offers promise as an alternative to steroids. Its naturally occurring steroidal content is much higher than that of hydrocortisone, a commonly-prescribed anti-inflammatory.
Zingiber officinale (Ginger)
The medicinal value of Ginger is so wide-reaching that it is often called the “universal medicine.” Ginger is a powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant, and is used to treat a wide variety of ailments - from digestive problems to headaches.
Ginger has been researched in patients with rheumatic arthritis in two clinical trials. In one, seven RA patients reported pain relief, increased joint mobility, decreased swelling and reduced morning stiffness. In the second study, ginger was used to treat 28 rheumatoid arthritis patients, 18 osteoarthritis patients, and ten patients suffering from muscular discomfort. The patients were given powdered ginger at high doses over periods of up to two and a half years. Seventy five percent of both the rheumatoid arthritis and the osteoarthritis patients reported relief from pain and swelling. All ten patients with muscular discomfort experienced relief. The patients who took higher doses of Ginger experienced the fastest results. In yet another study, Ginger relieved migraine headache.
Comiphora mukal (Guggal)
In the West, Guggal is best known as a cholesterol-reducer. In Eastern traditional medicines, however, it has long been used to treat inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia and psoriatic arthritis. Studies have also shown Ginger to be effective in treating migraine headaches.
In a study conducted in southern California, 30 osteoarthritic patients, both male and female, were treated with 500 mg of Guggal extract three times a day over a period of one to two months. All the patients showed significant improvements in their symptoms, including pain and mood, and no side effects were observed.
Herbs offer tremendous potential for treating chronic pain, without the addictive hazards of prescription pain medications like oxycontin, vicodin, and other narcotics. Non-addictive pharmaceuticals like Celebrex and Vioxx have also proven to be dangerous drugs. In light of these developments, more and more patients are turning to alternative therapies for relief from chronic pain. Herbs are also gaining acceptance for their value in treating other conditions as well. Chronic stress and anxiety, sinus and allergy conditions, diabetes and high blood pressure all respond to herbal treatments.
References
Gupta I, Gupta V, Parihar A et al 1998 Effects of Boswellia serrata gum resin in patients with bronchial asthma: results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled, 6 week clinical study. European Journal of Medical Research 3(11):511
Srimal RC 1997 Turmeric: a brief review of medicinal properties. Fitoterapia 68-483
Angalagan K, Sadique J. Influence of an Indian medicine (Ashwagandha) on acute-phase reactants in inflammation. Indian J Exp Biol 1981;19:245-249.
Mascolo N, Jain R, Jain SC, Capasso F 1987 Ethnopharmacologic investigation of Ginger (Zingiber officinale). Journal of Ethnopharmacology 27(1-2):129
Mustafa T, Srivastava KC 1990 Ginger (Zingiber officinale) in migraine headache. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 29:267
Vyas SN, Shukla CP A Clinical Study on the effect of Guggulu in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Rheumatism 23(1):15
Lucy Tashman - As a writer, I draw on my background in environmental studies, natural history, botany, and herbal medicine, combined with a lifelong ...
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