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Herbal Remedies for Pain

• JAMAICA DOGWOOD (Piscidia erythrina) is a general pain reliever (analgesic) as well as an anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic and powerful central-nervous-system sedative. It is a good herb to take for general pain relief or for the treatment of neuralgia, menstrual cramps, sciatica and migraines. Jamaica dogwood also works well when combined with California poppy (Eschscholzia californica). Historically, Native Americans on the Pacific Coast and Eclectic medical practitioners have used California poppy as a painkiller and mild sedative. It contains alkaloids that bind to opiate receptors, providing a mild analgesic action.

Dosage: Take 1 teaspoon of Jamaica dogwood tincture (look for tinctures labeled as the dried root-bark), three times daily. Excessive doses of Jamaica dogwood can cause dizziness or headaches. Do not take if you are pregnant, nursing or suffer from bradycardia or cardiac insufficiency. Jamaica dogwood is commonly available in combination formulas. The single herb is harder to find. If you have trouble locating it, ask your local health food store to special-order the herb.

• DEVIL'S CLAW ROOT (Harpagophytum procumbens) has significant analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties that have been compared to phenylbutazone (a potent NSAID), but without the negative side effects. Devil's claw root, whose name comes from the appearance of the plant's tough, barbed fruit, works well for painful arthritic conditions associated with poor digestion and malabsorption, rheumatism, gout, myalgia and fibrositis.

Dosage: Take 1 teaspoon of tincture three times daily. For a tea, simmer 1 teaspoon of dried root in 1 cup of water for 10 to 15 minutes. Drink in small doses throughout the day. Don't take devil's claw root if you have gastric or duodenal ulcers or gallstones.

• CAPSALCIN (Capsicum frutescens) is the active component of cayenne pepper. When used topically as a counterirritant, it depletes the neurotransmitter substance in sensory nerves. Substance P is believed to be the principal chemical mediator of pain impulses from the periphery. Substance P also activates inflammatory chemicals in joint tissues in arthritis; thus, depleting it reduces the pain associated with the inflammatory process. Topical capsaicin cream is an effective treatment for cluster headaches, post-herpetic neuralgia (nerve pain caused by herpes zoster), osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, trigeminal neuralgia and post-mastectomy pain.

Dosage: Most commercially available creams and ointments contain 0.025 to 0.075% capsaicin. The benefits are temporary, so repeated applications are necessary. Follow product instructions for exact guidelines.