Pain has become a part of many of our lives. Mine included, as I suffer from Lyme Disease. On a regular basis, I struggle with chronic pain, fatigue, and insomnia, in addition to other symptoms. Narcotic pain medications are not the best answer for everyone, especially not if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Natural pain relievers do exist! Inflammation, whether acute like from a C-section incision or chronic like fibromyalgia, are at the heart of many women’s pain. The key to reducing pain and encourage healing is to reduce inflammation. Here are several suggestions that I have found to be helpful in reducing inflammation and pain. I do all of these and they have helped me dramatically. I hope they can help you as well.

* Please Consult your healthcare provider before trying any of these. I am not a doctor or healthcare provider. * 

Inflamyar made by Pekana: This is a mixture of several great herbs; the biggest one being Arnica which is known to be a great pain reliever. This is a homeopathic ointment that is used for localized pain, including bruishes, muscle sprains, joint pain, arthritis, and sports injuries. (Please note that because it is homeopathic remedy, it has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for safety or efficacy.) Its active ingredients include arnica montana, bellis perennis, bryonia cretica, guajacum officinale, ledum palustre, toxicodendron quercifolium (Rhus toxicodendron), ruta graveolens, and viscum album. These are all natural plants, herbs and flowers found in nature, and have been used in herbal medicine for centuries.

Inflamyar also has a liquid that you put in some water and drink.  This helps systemic pain. I used 1 tsp two to three times a day to manage my pain. Now this does have a trace amount of alcohol however, so make sure to put in water – don’t drink straight from the bottle.  Putting the liquid in water will cause the alcohol to evaporate. The ointment does not have any alcohol and can be used several times a day applied to the area of concern.

Try this delicious Caffeine-Free Tea: This tea is combines 5 different loose leaf teas that can be purchased at the bulk section in a health foods store.

To make it: Combine ½ teaspoon each of the following teas: Hibiscus flowers, Dandelion leaf, Spearmint leaf, Lemongrass and Alfalfa leaf. Put in a tea ball and pour 8 cups/2 liters of hot water in a glass measuring cup. Let seep. Once cool, cover and put in refrigerator. Drink at least ½ cup daily cold or hot.  You can add fresh lemon or stevia if you want it sweeter. Enjoy!

Note: I recommend you get ¼- ½ cup of each tea that way you will have enough to make the tea for months. When you buy the teas you may look at the price and get alarmed at it ($15 a pound for this, $20 pound for that, etc.), but you are only buying a couple dollars’ worth (since you only need 1/2 teaspoon of each tea). I freaked out the first time I saw the prices of the bulk tea, but then I did the math and relaxed.  Also the teas stay fresh in a glass jar. I use a pint mason jar.

Apple Cider Vinegar Lemonade: I love this lemonade. I don’t drink juice because of the sugar content, so this gives me my juice fix while offering health properties and reducing pain. Combine the following ingredients in a quart mason jar and shake. Drink daily. Enjoy!

Ingredients:
2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
½ squeezed lemon
1 Tablespoon of honey (I use a small amount of liquid stevia in place of honey)
1 teaspoon turmeric
½ teaspoon cinnamon
Optional: ¼ teaspoon ginger (great for the tummy)

Magnesium: Magnesium has a calming effect on the body.  It calms muscle spasms, nerves and pain. Magnesium is one of my must-have supplements.  Consult your provider for the best dose for you.

Blueberries: Blueberries have healing properties and are so yummy!  I eat 1/2 cup daily and within 1 week of starting this regiment, I noticed a decrease in my pain. If they are not in season, frozen ones do the same thing.  You can thaw them under warm water.  I highly recommend eating organic ones due to the dirty dozen list. These non-organic blueberries are high on the chemical list.  You don’t need that stuff in your body.

Avoid gluten or dairy: I know what you are thinking. Are you crazy? It’s in almost every food out there. Believe me I know. But I eat this way and have found that there are actually great alternatives on the market. Gluten and diary are both highly inflammatory and cause the immune system to get all excited (in a bad way).  So it is in your best interest to avoid them. Gluten free has become a fad but there is dependable research on the effects of it.  There are many great alternatives.  You can still have bread, pizza, pasta, cookies etc.  All of these are made gluten free.  Even stores like Kroger, Publix, Winco, Fred Meyer and Albertsons are doing a fantastic job stocking options. You no longer have to only shop at a health foods store. For dairy substitutes, there is rice and nut milks that work in any place, including recipes, that ask for milk.  There is also yogurt, butter and even ice cream that are dairy free.  I don’t miss my gluten and diary but I have gained so much by not eating them.

I hope you will try these things. All in good health!