Dear readers,
A few weeks ago we had a question from Ryan regarding how to address pain while he weans off of pain meds. We discussed what a holistic approach to pain has to offer that is lacking in mainstream medical care - namely that it looks to find the source of the pain and to address that, rather than just medicating the symptoms.
Today I want to expand on that and offer some practical herbal solutions for pain. They are very effective and safe when used as described. They are also inexpensive or even things you can make at home. But they are currently under threat of being restricted in Canada. The bill has been very subversively pushed by the major parties, clearly for the purpose of protecting corporate interests. This bill - C-51 - could limit 75 per cent of the natural health products we can currently access. Do you like making kombucha at home? That could be a terrorist activity. You like having a choice of supplements? Getting them could be akin to a drug deal. It could also criminalize those who protest over land protection issues.
These are exactly what is being proposed under the guise of anti-terrorism in this C-51 legislation. And it’s being pushed forward without transparency or press coverage to help Canadians understand what this is about. If this interests or angers you, you can read more and learn how to get involved here. A simple letter makes a difference. Canvassing (even online) could make a whopping difference. I do not want to be labelled a terrorist for suggesting a person use calendula cream for burns. Or for suggesting a person make home fermented foods for gut health. But this is precisely what this legislation would allow.
I’m sure this is because of the growing interest in holistic healthcare models. When clients try solutions for their health problems that don’t lead to a lifetime prescription and actually address the underlying condition they are understandably impressed and their interest in natural healthcare only grows. And their interest in pharmaceuticals that lead to dependence, nasty side effects, and other health problems - diminishes. So somebody’s market share is being threatened. That’s the impetus for this bill. And if we don’t collectively act soon, we won’t be able to. I urge you to consider if this is important to you.
Our pain is telling us something
Now I want to talk about what happens in the body when we suppress symptoms long-term. You see, in the holistic view of health, pain is a signal from the body that something is amiss. Something has gone wrong. I know it’s popular today to desire to stop pain immediately and continue on with life and I understand that. But that approach always has repercussions when used long-term. We need to realize our pain is telling us something. And ignoring it long term never works out well, anyway.
Think about it. When we ignore pain or suppress it, it speaks louder. Those who suffer chronic pain know this. At first the pain may be managed with over the counter pain meds. But over time they don’t work the same and more is needed to manage it. This is because the body amplifies the message that it needs help when we don’t listen to it!
Still not listening? Then it will stop responding to the medication we are taking. Suddenly we need prescription drugs to silence the pain. And then stronger prescription drugs. The body is trying to tell us to listen - something is wrong! But we aren’t guided to listen.
Over time if the drug is strong enough and the message doesn’t result in changes to correct the underlying condition, the body will produce other symptoms to get our attention. Often at this stage, it’s sleep or digestive issues. You see, the drugs we use to suppress our skin problems, our pain problems, our digestive woes - all have one thing in common. They stop the body from speaking to us to prompt us to fix something. Instead we medicate and ignore it. Eventually the body is going to get creative and make its message so loud it can’t be ignored or medicated away.
You know, when the migraines make it impossible to work. When the IBS makes it so you can’t leave the house. When the eczema is so bad 80 per cent of your skin is scratched off. When the arthritis has become debilitating.
This is when clients typically come to see someone like me. Because the medications aren’t ‘working’ any longer. In truth, they never really solved the first problem, they just silenced the body from talking about it. The same holds true for mental health issues, by the way. We think these meds are safe, but death rates and dependence on benzos are on the rise. People can become dependent on them in as little as two weeks! Learn more about this oft prescribed drug here. And we all know about the death toll of opioids: 500,000 Americans and more than 15,000 Canadians in three years - or about 10 a day. We know, too, about the lack of any accountability for the makers of the drug who pled guilty to fraud and kickback conspiracies. They will face zero jail time and have to sell nothing under the deal they got. Their lives are just as they were before they killed thousands and thousands and thousands of our family members. If you don’t have money, of course, you go to jail for killing one person.
So now that you understand the way pain can morph and overtake us and some of the hesitations you may have with prescription fixes used long term, let’s talk about some natural treatments that are safe and accessible.
Natural treatments for pain
White Flower Topical Oil
Have you heard of this ancient Chinese essential oil blend? It comes in a tiny glass bottle and OMG it is mind blowing how powerful it is. I use it for headaches and joint and muscle pain. For a headache, as soon as you feel it coming on you can rub it on the occiput and into the hairline where the neck and head meet. The blend of oils in this rub are so freezing they numb the nerves. The pain signal isn’t blocked, it’s simply not registered. And there are no side effects except walking around smelling like a peppermint candy and needing to get an extra sweater on! It works even better for headaches when followed up with a very strong cup of espresso at the first sign of a headache, and with ice added to the neck. Why? Coffee is a vasoconstrictor.And so is ice. These slow the blood flow so you don’t get that horrible throbbing sensation and
massive blood flow that triggers migraines. These three together: strong coffee, white flower and ice is the Holy Trinity of headache management, coming from a woman who has suffered prolonged migraines. I sell this in my clinic if you can’t find it in your local Chinese herb shop or if there isn’t one near.
It also works for sprains and strains and even fractures in a pinch. I worked with a chef who had a broken hand from a golfing accident once. He was utterly amazed at the relief he got from applying this oil part way through the day. It really is that good.
Calendula Cream
Another topical solution, this one is best for burns and scrapes. It’s hard to believe the relief a good, strong calendula cream gives to minor burns you get in the kitchen. I once pulled a cast iron out of a 450 degree oven with no mitt. I have no scarring and got instant relief thanks to a little jar of this in my kitchen. And it’s easy to make! You can make it using a recipe like this one from calendula flowers. When the kids scrape their knees you’ll be happy you have it on hand!
Wild Lettuce
This plant looks like a cross between a dandelion and a thistle and likely grows in your garden or yard. I know it grows in mine! And it has opioid-like pain-relieving qualities. However, unlike opium, it has no addictive tendencies. It’s been used historically by the medical profession when opium was in short supply and of course, by herbalists.
It’s been used for pain, anxiety and stress, restless leg syndrome, whooping cough, sleep problems, headaches, and mood support - among other things. The easiest way to use it is to dry the leaves then make them into a tea or to include the young leaves in your salad, but there are also recipes to make a long lasting paste or tincture of it. If you’re uncertain what it is you can watch this video or consult your local herbalist. If you’d like a custom tincture made specifically for your health issues including this miraculous herb - reach out and I’ll drop ship it to your door. If you have complex health issues or aren’t sure how much you can use you can reach out or contact a local herbalist. It’s always best to try only a little of any new thing at a time and listen to your body for the response.
Turmeric
This is the bright yellow spice that gives Indian food it’s yellow hue. And if you go to Asian grocery stores you can see a very orange coloured, small ginger-like root. This is fresh turmeric! Fresh can be juiced and dry it can be ground or you can purchase it in bulk or in the spice aisle. It can also be purchased in capsule form. Many of these contain piperine from black pepper. It’s said to make it absorb better.
What does it do exactly? Well, turmeric is an anti-inflammatory herb. It’s the bomb for arthritis and inflammatory pain. For gout and arthritis I use it as a tea blended with cayenne pepper, lemon, and raw honey. Only a little cayenne is needed! This is really incredible for stomach ulcers also, as cayenne brings the blood flow to increase healing. I have totally turned acute gout around within a few days by having clients sip this tea throughout the day.
For arthritis, turmeric can be taken in capsule form morning and night. I often add some essential fatty acids - a good Omega 3 - to ensure that the inflammation is down regulated. Together these produce the best result for arthritic type pain. If you are unsure or have any comorbidities that could make self treatment tricky, you are welcome to give me a call. Or a local herbalist will be happy to help you.
There are a number of other herbs we could discuss for pain like white willow bark, cayenne, and devil’s claw. But for today I’ll end it here. A big thank you to Ryan for the awesome question! As always, if readers have their own questions they can reach me by email and they can find me online here.
Namaste!
Nonie Nutritionista
