One of the most common of all health problems is pain. It can be caused by injury, illness or degeneration, and most people don’t like it one bit. Pain affects us deeply, wearing us out and reducing energy.  In nature’s vast botanical pharmacy, a number of herbs provide relief of pain, without causing the stomach, kidney or other problems associated with some pain-relieving drugs.

Turmeric

High on the list of pain-relieving herbs is Turmeric root, which contains an array of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds known as the curcuminoids.  A perennial shrub native to Southeast Asia and cultivated widely throughout India, China and Indonesia, turmeric root is the yellow in curry powder.  Concentrated extracts of turmeric root are rich in the curcuminoids, which help to reduce inflammation and thereby relieve pain. How to use it? You can purchase turmeric root fresh in some supermarkets, and use it as a vegetable. You can add the powder to vegetables, soups, stews, meats and fish. And you can take special supplements of concentrated turmeric extract. Some turmeric supplements can relieve pain quite effectively. See Curamin by EuroPharma, or Turmeric capsules by New Chapter.

Ginger

Ginger root may seem like something better suited for ginger ale than for pain relief, but this spicy root native to Southeast Asia is a pain-fighting heavyweight. Ginger is cultivated in virtually all tropical regions, and I have seen it in many places in my travels. Ginger root is rich in two groups of compounds called gingerols and shogaols, which are antioxidants and anti-inflammatory in their activity. Ginger root tea will relieve a sore throat faster than just about anything, and will also soothe aching, arthritic joints. Finely grate a thumb-sized piece of fresh ginger root, and put into a one-cup tea strainer. Pour boiling water into the cup and let sit for five minutes. Strain and sweeten with honey of you like. This will give you a strong shot of pain relief. Also you can eat Ginger Chews or Ting Tings, two ginger-rich chewable candies.

Cat’s Claw

If the name Cat’s Claw sounds a bit exotic, maybe it’s because this potent anti-inflammatory herb comes from the heart of the great Amazon rainforest, and is the most widely used of all pain-relievers in that vast region. Cat’s claw derives its name from sharp, claw-like thorns which help the plant to climb toward sunshine. The root and bark of the vine contain compounds called oxindole alkaloids, which demonstrate very significant pain-relieving power.  In human studies cat’s claw extract proves effective in the treatment of both osteo and rheumatoid arthritis. For brands check out Saventaro Cat’s Claw capsules or liquid the Cat’s Claw extract from Raintree Nutrition. Let the healing power of the Amazon rainforest provide relief for you.

Rosemary

Rosemary is not only a great savory seasoning for vegetables, meats and fish, but it also stands among the great anti-inflammatory herbs. Native to the Mediterranean, this fragrant perennial herb is widely cultivated around the world for its delightful aroma and flavor. But rosemary is more than just a pleasant seasoning. The herb, eaten or taken as a tea, is excellent for the liver, helping to eliminate toxins.  Like turmeric, ginger and cat’s claw, rosemary is rich with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds. Two great ways to derive benefit from rosemary are to add it to foods, and to drink rosemary tea. Check out Alvita brand rosemary leaf tea.

Chili Peppers

It may seem counter-intuitive to turn to hot chili peppers for pain relief, but these incendiary relatives of the sweet pepper are rich in a resinous substance called capsaicin, which is responsible for the heat that hot chiles produce. Capsaicin rapidly relieves pain when topically applied to hurt and sore areas. But just a tiny bit goes a long way. Next time you’re in a pharmacy, look at the Capsaicin creams. Each one contains just one quarter of one percent capsaicin (the stuff is extremely powerful). Capsaicin cream is the most widely recommended pain relieving cream by doctors, because it works. Who would have thought that a primary component of salsa could relive pain in joints and muscles? By the way, hot chile peppers are also great for digestion, and help to greatly improve circulation when chopped in foods or in hot sauces. I favor Tabasco Sauce, but there are a great many excellent hot sauces available today. 

Even with something as difficult as pain, nature provides safe, effective solutions. Chronic pain especially will respond well to the herbs I’ve just described. Make them part of your ever-healthier lifestyle, and rid yourself of the burden of pain. Best of health to you!

Chris Kilham is a medicine hunter who researches natural remedies all over the world, from the Amazon to Siberia. He teaches ethnobotany at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he is Explorer In Residence. Chris advises herbal, cosmetic and pharmaceutical companies and is a regular guest on radio and TV programs worldwide.  His field research is largely sponsored by Naturex of Avignon, France. Read more at www.MedicineHunter.com

The Amazon rainforest, the largest rainforest on earth, is richer in plant life than any other place in the world. Targeted by pharmaceutical companies for over a century as a land of exploration for source materials of new drugs, the Amazon rainforest is also a treasure trove of botanicals for the herbal supplement industry. Among the many Amazon botanicals which have come to light in recent years, Una de Gato (Uncariatomentosa ), which means “cat’s claw” in Spanish, is one of the most promising of all. A woody vine, the plant earns its name cat’s claw due to a preponderance of sharp, claw-like thorns. Dispersed throughout Central and South America, Una de Gato has been used for centuries by numerous native tribes.

Una de Gato is described by Dr. James Duke in his Amazonian Ethnobotanical Dictionary as a plant used widely in Peru for anti-inflammatory, contraceptive and cytostatic (retards tumor cells) purposes. In popular literature, Una de gato is additionally touted as an immune stimulant, and a large number of studies do in fact show that Una de Gato offers significant anti-inflammatory and immune-enhancing benefits, and that constituents in the vine may help to inhibit tumor cell formation.

Una de Gatohas been known for a long time due to the explorations of Voctorian era explorers. But the plant gained the attention of the European scientific community in the early 1970’s when Austrian Klaus Keplinger heard of a remarkable cancer cure attributed to the use of the plant. Keplinger spent time in the Peruvian Chanchamayo region of the Amazon, and familiarized himself enough with the plant that he became one of the most important scientific authors on its uses. Since that time, researchers have plumbed Una de Gato’s chemical secrets, in search of what might account for its purported healing benefits. Analysis shows that Una de Gato contains at least five alkaloids, and two other important groups of compounds, quinovic acid glycosides and triterpenoidsaponins. In addition, the plant contains antioxidant polyphenols.
Studies conducted in vitro with Una de Gato show that constituents in the plant possess anti-inflammatory, anti-mutagenic, antiviral and immune-stimulating properties. The alkaloids in Una de Gato demonstrate immune-enhancing activity by producing an increase in phagocytosis, a process by which potentially harmful materials are “eaten” by protective cells.  In studies of quinovic acid glycosides in the plant, researchers observed significant anti-inflammatory activity. Additionally, these same compounds were shown to inhibit several types of common viruses. In studying triterpenoidsaponins, scientists observed that these chemical agents inhibited the growth of some tumor cells.

Good science provides assurance of herbal efficacy to today’s modern, medically-oriented market. Well-conducted scientific studies appear to validate several of the traditional uses of Una de Gato. The plant appears to be safe and non-toxic, and is useful in cases of inflammation, compromised immunity, and viral infection. It is a significant aid to relief in cases of both osteo and rheumatoid arthritis. With further research, the plant may eventually play a broader role in a complementary approach to the prevention and treatment of certain types of cancer. Tribal people in the Amazon would no doubt be amused by scientific inquiries into Una de Gato. After all, they’ve known for centuries that the woody vine with the sharp, claw-like thorns is a healer.

Looking for Una de Gato products – I have become acquainted with various Una de Gato products, and recommend two if you are going to use this medicinal plant. One is Saventaro, a product made in Austria from Una de Gato harvested in Peru. Saventaro is an encapsulated product, available in natural food stores.  Raintree Nutrition, on the other hand, offers a fluid extract of Una de Gato, also from the Amazon rainforest. This fast-acting fluid has a woody taste and is available from Rain-tree.com.

Pick of the week:  I have previously written about ginger, and this widely used plant will crop up repeatedly, due to its broad uses. In any case, not everybody is willing to shred or grate their own ginger. With that in mind, a company called Ginger People makes a Minced Ginger in a jar. You just scoop a spoon full of this finely ground fresh ginger into whatever you’re cooking, and you can easily and quickly derive the benefits of ginger.The zippy taste, combined with potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits, make this herb a healthy powerhouse. I’d still recommend grating your own, but convenience is king these days, and this minced ginger product delivers that. Thanks to innovation, many herbs that used to be time-consuming to prepare are now ready to use in bottles and jars. It’s a whole new world of herbalism.

Chris Kilham is a medicine hunter who researches natural remedies all over the world, from the Amazon to Siberia. He teaches ethnobotany at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he is Explorer In Residence. Chris advises herbal, cosmetic and pharmaceutical companies and is a regular guest on radio and TV programs worldwide.  His field research is largely sponsored by Naturex of Avignon, France. Read more at www.MedicineHunter.com