Herbal Remedies for Pain Relief

• Cayenne Powder - added to juice or food or applied to skin in a cream
• Echinacea - marketed for migraine relief and pain in advanced disease states
• Feverfew - marketed for migraines
• Ginger - marketed in topical form as a pain reliever for burns
• Ginseng - marketed for headaches
• Kava - marketed for pain relief and improved sleep
• St John's Wart - marketed for headache and nerve pain
• Tumeric - reported to be useful for pain caused by inflammation.
• Willow Bark - claimed to be a pain reliever that should not be taken with aspirin. (Aspirin comes from willowbark)

Side effects and drug interactions with herbal remedies

Herbal remedies have been associated with the same types of dangerous side effects and drug interactions that medications have. For instance side effects of S.t John's Wart include: insomnia, anxiety, fatigue and headache. Drug interactions with serious consequences can arise when St John's Wart is combined with antidepressants, triptans, opiods, HIV drugs, digoxin, warfarin, oral contraceptives, chemotherapy or albuterol. Echinacea can have side effects including: allergic reaction, nausea, stomach pain, diarrhea and dizziness. Serious drug interactions may result when Echinacea is combined with immunosuppressants and/or acetaminophen.

It is important to check with your doctor or pharmacist to make sure an herbal remedy is safe with other medications you may be taking (over-the counter or by prescription) and with any disease state you may have.