Herbal Medicine for Pain

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Do these work for sinus, tension, and/or migraine headaches?

 

Linda

 

yogiguruji [yogiguruji]Monday, July 05, 2004 2:51 PM Subject: Herbal Medicine for PainGood Morning!Herbal Medicine for PainWhile pain killing medications or herbs are essential in many instances of acute pain, treatment of the underlying cause may, in some cases, obviate the need for such symptom suppressing analgesic medications. For instance, pain resulting from any type of infection may be best addressed by targeting the infection. Similarly, arthritic pain is best treated by the use of treatment which may assist in reversing the joint deterioration which causes the pain. Such treatments include vitamin B6 ( 1, 2, 3 ), vitamin B5 ( 1, 3 ), and glucosamine ( 3, 4 ). Although pain from cramping or tight muscles may be addressed by taking anti-spasmodic herbs such as Black Cohosh ( 7 ) or Cramp Bark ( 1, 6 ), the cause of the cramping should be determined as it may simply be due to magnesium deficiency ( 4, 8 ) or calcium deficiency ( 3, 4 ) or perhaps arthritic inflammation. There are numerous analgesic herbs to choose from for the relief of mild to moderate pain. These include general analgesic herbs such as White Whillow bark ( 6 ) and Feverfew ( 1, 6 ), or, for arthritis and joint pain, Turmeric ( 6 ), Devil's Claw ( 1,6 ), and Eucommia bark (Du Zhong) ( 9, 10 ). For neuralgic pain, there is Jamaican Dogwood ( 6 ), St John's Wort ( 6 ), and Gokshura ( 10 ), while for period pain, Black Cohosh has been found effective ( 1, 6 ). Kudzu root (Ge Gen) is especially indicated for pain and muscle tightness in the upper back, shoulder, and neck area (6, 9 ). In my view however, the two outstanding herbs for general pain are the Chinese herbs Tienchi Ginseng (or pseudoginseng - Panax notoginseng ; 9, 10 ) , and Corydalis (Corydalis Yan hu suo; 6, 9, 10 ).Of these two herbs, Corydalis is a much stronger pain killer than Tienchi. In fact Corydalis is probably one of the strongest herbal painkillers which is commonly available, from my experience, comparing favorably with Panadeine, although not as strong, at normal doses, as Panadeine Forte. Corydalis can also be very sedating and therefore useful if there is insomnia associated with the pain. On the downside, the strong, long term, sedating effect of Corydalis can lead to tiredness and depression, and unlike Tienchi Ginseng, Corydalis does not promote healing.>From my experience, the most outstanding general herbal painkiller is Tienchi Ginseng. Although not as strong as Corydalis, the anti-inflammatory, circulation promoting, and healing effects of this herb ensure that it fully deserves its esteemed reputation in Chinese herbal medicine ( 9, 10 ). Tienchi Ginseng, together with its sister product, Yunnan Paiyao ( 9, 10, 11 ), which also contains other ingredients, are indicated for all types of mild to moderate pain, especially acute pain or trauma ( 9, 10, 11 ). I have even witnessed the effectiveness of Tienchi for treating back pain resulting from osteoporotic crush fractures, which normally would require strong pain killing drugs such as Pethidine. Tienchi of course, is not as effective as strong drugs, however, its freedom from side effects and ability to counteract soft tissue trauma and inflammation make it a useful herbal treatment. Practitioner advice is essential when dealing with such serious problems.Unlike many herbs and medications which promote circulation, Tienchi and Yunnan Paiyao are also famous for their ability to stop or reduce bleeding ( 6, 9, 10, 11, 12 ), having been widely used for the treatment of gunshot wounds in the Vietnam war ( 11, 12 ). In my opinion however, the most remarkable attribute of Tienchi is its ability to stimulate healing and reduce recovery time ( 6,9, 11, 12 ). For all the benefits of Tienchi, it is not effective for all types of pain, but it is certainly an excellent first choice if the cause of the pain cannot be rectified immediately. Tienchi or Yunnan Paiyao should be in every first aid cabinet ( 11, 12 ).References1. Murray, M., and Pizzorno, J., Encyclopaedia of Natural Medicine, Macdonald and Co., London, 1990.2. Ellis, J.M., and Presley, J., Vitamin B6, The Doctor's Report, Harper and Row Inc., New York, 1973.3. Werbach, M. R., Nutritional Influences on Illness, A Sourcebook of Clinical Research, second edn, Third Line Press, Tarzana, California, USA, 1996.4. Murray, M.T., Encyclopaedia of Nutritional Supplements, Prima Publishing, Rocklin, California, 1996.5. 6. Chevallier, A., The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants, Dorling Kindersley, London, 1996.7. Hoffman, D., The New Holistic Herbal, 3rd ed., Element Books Ltd., Shaftesbury, Dorset, UK, 1990.8. Murray, F., Big Family Guide to all the Minerals, Keats Publishing Inc., New Canaan, Connecticut, 1995.9. Belanger, C.A., The Chinese Herb Selection Guide, Phytotech Databased Publishing Co., Richmond, California, 1997.10.Holmes, P., Jade Remedies, A Chinese Herbal Reference for the West, Vol 2, Snow Lotus Press Inc., Boulder, Colorado, 1997.11.Hadady, L., Herbal Secrets for Total Health, The Complete Guide to Asian Herbal Medicine, Random House, London, 1997.12.Bergner, P., The Healing Power of Ginseng and the Tonic Herbs, Prima Publishing, Rocklin, California, 1996.********************************************* WWW.PEACEFULMIND.COM Sponsors Alternative Answers-HEALING NATURALLY- this is the premise of HOLISTIC HEALTH. 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Misty L. Trepke

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Herbal Medicine for Pain

 

While pain killing medications or herbs are essential in many

instances of acute pain, treatment of the underlying cause may, in

some cases, obviate the need for such symptom suppressing analgesic

medications. For instance, pain resulting from any type of infection

may be best addressed by targeting the infection. Similarly,

arthritic pain is best treated by the use of treatment which may

assist in reversing the joint deterioration which causes the pain.

Such treatments include vitamin B6 ( 1, 2, 3 ), vitamin B5 ( 1,

3 ), and glucosamine ( 3, 4 ). Although pain from cramping or tight

muscles may be addressed by taking anti-spasmodic herbs such as

Black Cohosh ( 7 ) or Cramp Bark ( 1, 6 ), the cause of the cramping

should be determined as it may simply be due to magnesium deficiency

( 4, 8 ) or calcium deficiency ( 3, 4 ) or perhaps arthritic

inflammation.

 

There are numerous analgesic herbs to choose from for the relief of

mild to moderate pain. These include general analgesic herbs such as

White Whillow bark ( 6 ) and Feverfew ( 1, 6 ), or, for arthritis

and joint pain, Turmeric ( 6 ), Devil's Claw ( 1,6 ), and Eucommia

bark (Du Zhong) ( 9, 10 ). For neuralgic pain, there is Jamaican

Dogwood ( 6 ), St John's Wort ( 6 ), and Gokshura ( 10 ), while for

period pain, Black Cohosh has been found effective ( 1, 6 ). Kudzu

root (Ge Gen) is especially indicated for pain and muscle tightness

in the upper back, shoulder, and neck area (6, 9 ). In my view

however, the two outstanding herbs for general pain are the Chinese

herbs Tienchi Ginseng (or pseudoginseng - Panax notoginseng ; 9,

10 ) , and Corydalis (Corydalis Yan hu suo; 6, 9, 10 ).

 

Of these two herbs, Corydalis is a much stronger pain killer than

Tienchi. In fact Corydalis is probably one of the strongest herbal

painkillers which is commonly available, from my experience,

comparing favorably with Panadeine, although not as strong, at

normal doses, as Panadeine Forte. Corydalis can also be very

sedating and therefore useful if there is insomnia associated with

the pain. On the downside, the strong, long term, sedating effect of

Corydalis can lead to tiredness and depression, and unlike Tienchi

Ginseng, Corydalis does not promote healing.

 

From my experience, the most outstanding general herbal painkiller

is Tienchi Ginseng. Although not as strong as Corydalis, the anti-

inflammatory, circulation promoting, and healing effects of this

herb ensure that it fully deserves its esteemed reputation in

Chinese herbal medicine ( 9, 10 ). Tienchi Ginseng, together with

its sister product, Yunnan Paiyao ( 9, 10, 11 ), which also contains

other ingredients, are indicated for all types of mild to moderate

pain, especially acute pain or trauma ( 9, 10, 11 ). I have even

witnessed the effectiveness of Tienchi for treating back pain

resulting from osteoporotic crush fractures, which normally would

require strong pain killing drugs such as Pethidine. Tienchi of

course, is not as effective as strong drugs, however, its freedom

from side effects and ability to counteract soft tissue trauma and

inflammation make it a useful herbal treatment. Practitioner advice

is essential when dealing with such serious problems.

 

Unlike many herbs and medications which promote circulation, Tienchi

and Yunnan Paiyao are also famous for their ability to stop or

reduce bleeding ( 6, 9, 10, 11, 12 ), having been widely used for

the treatment of gunshot wounds in the Vietnam war ( 11, 12 ). In my

opinion however, the most remarkable attribute of Tienchi is its

ability to stimulate healing and reduce recovery time ( 6,9, 11,

12 ). For all the benefits of Tienchi, it is not effective for all

types of pain, but it is certainly an excellent first choice if the

cause of the pain cannot be rectified immediately. Tienchi or Yunnan

Paiyao should be in every first aid cabinet ( 11, 12 ).

 

 

References

1. Murray, M., and Pizzorno, J., Encyclopaedia of Natural Medicine,

Macdonald and Co., London, 1990.

2. Ellis, J.M., and Presley, J., Vitamin B6, The Doctor's Report,

Harper and Row Inc., New York, 1973.

3. Werbach, M. R., Nutritional Influences on Illness, A Sourcebook

of Clinical Research, second edn, Third Line Press, Tarzana,

California, USA, 1996.

4. Murray, M.T., Encyclopaedia of Nutritional Supplements, Prima

Publishing, Rocklin, California, 1996.

6. Chevallier, A., The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants, Dorling

Kindersley, London, 1996.

7. Hoffman, D., The New Holistic Herbal, 3rd ed., Element Books

Ltd., Shaftesbury, Dorset, UK, 1990.

8. Murray, F., Big Family Guide to all the Minerals, Keats

Publishing Inc., New Canaan, Connecticut, 1995.

9. Belanger, C.A., The Chinese Herb Selection Guide, Phytotech

Databased Publishing Co., Richmond, California, 1997.

10.Holmes, P., Jade Remedies, A Chinese Herbal Reference for the

West, Vol 2, Snow Lotus Press Inc., Boulder, Colorado, 1997.

11.Hadady, L., Herbal Secrets for Total Health, The Complete Guide

to Asian Herbal Medicine, Random House, London, 1997.

12.Bergner, P., The Healing Power of Ginseng and the Tonic Herbs,

Prima Publishing, Rocklin, California, 1996.