Pain is an unwelcome companion that can disrupt our daily lives and hinder our well-being. While conventional treatments offer relief, there's a world of natural remedies waiting to be explored. In this article, we'll uncover a treasure trove of holistic pain management techniques that harness the power of nature. From castor-oil packs to turmeric paste and the wonders of enzymes, we'll delve into effective solutions that offer relief and restoration, without the side effects of traditional medications.
Caster-oil Packs: Nature's Soothing Embrace
Imagine finding solace from pain through a simple yet potent method that involves castor-oil packs. This age-old technique is known for its ability to alleviate discomfort and promote healing.
How to Make a Castor-Oil Pack:
Gather four cotton-flannel sheets measuring 1 foot by 3 feet.
Soak the sheets in cold-pressed castor oil and squeeze out excess oil.
Place the saturated sheets on top of each other.
Cover the oil-soaked cloth with a plastic sheet or bag.
Apply a heating pad (on low heat) over the plastic.
Lie down in a quiet space and relax for thirty minutes.
Repeat this process three to seven times per week for one to two months, experiencing the gradual relief it brings. Store the oil-drenched cloth in a plastic bag between uses, using the cloth three to four times before making a new one.
Turmeric: A Bold Elixir for Pain Relief
Turmeric, a vibrant spice with potent anti-inflammatory properties, holds the potential to alleviate pain effectively.
Most recently, one incident came to mind when I sprained my back badly after yoga, and by the time I came back to the house, I couldn’t even walk up and down my stairs. My back would just spasm and lock up. I remembered this poultice and started making it. Here's how I made it: In a cooking pan, I mixed two tablespoons of powdered turmeric and one tablespoon of sea salt and sesame-seed oil. I heated this mixture over the stove to create a smooth paste. When it was very warm (not burning to the skin), my mom helped me apply it to my back. She helped me wrap it tightly with gauze and saran wrap because the turmeric can be quite messy. Then I just laid down and rested. Within an hour all the pain was gone, and I was able to sleep like a baby that night. I was able to walk normally again the next day. It was just like magic. Now science is starting to confirm that all these folk medicines/remedies work.
Just a tip here: If you get the turmeric on carpet or clothing mix some baking soda and hydrogen peroxide and it comes out like magic. Also, you can take the turmeric powder internally as an anti-inflammatory. Taken internally, turmeric can inhibit certain chemical mediators of inflammation (NFM's Nutrition Science News, p. 10). Take one teaspoon three times daily with or without meals. Best taken at bedtime. How to Make a Turmeric Paste:
In a cooking pan, mix three to four tablespoons of turmeric powder with sesame oil and sea salt.
Heat the mixture over low heat until it achieves a toothpaste-like consistency (do not boil).
Apply the paste to the affected area, ensuring a towel is placed under your body to avoid staining.
Turmeric's anti-inflammatory prowess makes it a valuable ally in pain management. Its internal consumption can also enhance its benefits, helping inhibit inflammatory agents.
The Magic of Rosemary: Antispasmodic Relief
Rosemary, a fragrant herb, offers potent antispasmodic properties that work wonders in soothing pain.
Here's a recipe that I got from my mentor who got it from a woman by the name of Lois Laird in Maui, Hawaii. This should be used externally for pain due to arthritis, injury.... etc. She told me that this poultice is so effective that the pain simply doesn't come back. The reason it works is because rosemary has a strong antispasmodic action whether used externally or internally (it relieves spasms). If you have a rosemary bush in your backyard, collect a cup of its leaves. Put the leaves in the blender with some rubbing alcohol and blend. Put this poultice on the painful area and leave it for an hour or two. You might want to hold it on the skin with a bandage. Rosemary is also considered a spice that includes some of the most powerful candida killing substances in a natural product (Pizzarno, p. 187). Nature has incredible solutions for us!
Creating a Rosemary Poultice:
Collect a cup of rosemary leaves if available.
Blend the leaves with rubbing alcohol.
Apply the poultice to the painful area, securing it with a bandage.
This effective technique harnesses rosemary's antispasmodic power to offer lasting relief from pain.
Enzymes: Nurturing Natural Healing
Plant- and fruit-based enzymes offer a holistic approach to pain management by stimulating the body's healing processes.
Take Plant- and fruit-based enzymes on an empty stomach in between meals. Refer to Anthony Cickoke's book; Enzyme Therapy to learn how enzyme therapy stimulates the immune system and improves circulation by bringing nutrients to the damaged (injured) area and removing waste products. Doctors prescribe ice or heat, rest, and any number of anti-inflammatory drugs and pain relievers to treat strains, sprains, and other injuries. But because enzymes stimulate the body's own natural enzymatic processes without causing the immune system to be suppressed, they increase the rate of fibrin break-up and increase blood flow. Therefore, improving the supply of nutrients and oxygen to the tissues and healing can take place much faster. (Cickoke, pp. 384-385). Several types of enzymes that have a synergistic effect are used in combinations to help with soft tissue injuries. They include plant- and fruit-based enzymes. A more effective enzyme formulation would be micro-blended with other whole foods such as blue green algae, ginger and cayenne. Enzymes combined with nutrient rich foods are ideal for helping to maintain the body's natural healing function. Recommended use of enzymes: Enzymes should be used on an empty stomach before meals. Start by taking one capsule between meals and one capsule before bedtime. i.e., Between breakfast and lunch take one capsule, repeat between lunch and dinner and at bedtime. Increase after a few days and take two each of the enzymes, then three and then four. You can continue to increase beyond these amounts depending on the progress taking place. It is common to take up to 30 enzyme capsules a day. There are no side effects from such high usage of enzymes, only good results (Let's Live, p. 68). Results are felt, but usually take place very slowly. I would recommend making sure you have already worked on healing your gut before starting enzymes therapy. How to Incorporate Enzymes:
Take plant- and fruit-based enzymes on an empty stomach between meals.
Gradually increase the dosage to enhance benefits.
Enzyme therapy bolsters the immune system and boosts circulation, aiding nutrient delivery to damaged areas and expelling waste products. This natural approach accelerates healing without suppressing the immune system.
Ginger: A Spice for Pain Reduction
Drawing from ancient Ayurvedic and Tibb systems of medicine, ginger emerges as a powerful tool for pain reduction.
Using Ginger Powder:
Purchase organic ginger powder.
Mix a heaping teaspoon with your favorite beverage or water.
Consume daily to experience its pain-relieving benefits.
Buy organic ginger powder and start by taking a heaping teaspoon per day. Mix the ginger with your favorite beverage. Or if you don't mind the taste, mix it in water (ideal way of taking it) (Martin p. 106).
Between the turmeric, ginger, Rosemary, castor oil packs and the enzymes, you will be very pleased with mother nature's remedies for managing pain.
Embrace Nature's Bounty for Pain Management
In the journey towards pain relief, nature offers a diverse array of solutions. From castor-oil packs to turmeric, rosemary, enzymes, and ginger, these natural remedies promise respite from discomfort while promoting overall well-being. As you navigate the realm of natural pain management, remember that nature's remedies can be a potent addition to your wellness toolkit.
xoxo,
Emanuela
References:
Cichoke, Anthony. (1999). Enzyme Therapy. Garden City Park: NY.
Cichoke, Anthony. (May 1993). "More Precious Than Gold." Let's Live. pp. 66-68.
Martin, Wayne. (November 2000). "Treating Arthritic Pain with Ginger." Townsend Letter for Doctors. p. 106.
(December 1996). NFM's Nutrition Science News. p. 10.
Pizzarno, Joseph. (1991). Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine. Rocklin, CA: Prima Publishing.