11/12/2013
A GREAT ALTERNATIVE TO TAKING
MEDICATION!!!!
20 Painkillers in Your Kitchen
Make muscle pain a memory with ginger
When Danish researchers asked achy people to
jazz up their diets with ginger, it eased muscle
and joint pain, swelling and stiffness for up to
63 percent of them within two months. Experts
credit ginger’s potent compounds called
gingerols, which prevent the production of
pain-triggering hormones. The study-
recommended dose: Add at least 1 teaspoon of
dried ginger or 2 teaspoons of chopped ginger
to meals daily.
Cure a toothache with cloves
Got a toothache and can’t get to the dentist?
Gently chewing on a clove can ease tooth pain
and gum inflammation for two hours straight,
say UCLA researchers. Experts point to a
natural compound in cloves called eugenol, a
powerful, natural anesthetic. Bonus: Sprinkling
a ¼ teaspoon of ground cloves on meals daily
may also protect your ticker. Scientists say this
simple action helps stabilize blood sugar, plus
dampen production of artery-clogging
cholesterol in as little as three weeks.
Heal heartburn with cider vinegar
Sip 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar mixed
with 8 ounces of water before every meal, and
experts say you could shut down painful bouts
of heartburn in as little as 24 hours. “Cider
vinegar is rich in malic and tartaric acids,
powerful digestive aids that speed the
breakdown of fats and proteins so your
stomach can empty quickly, before food washes
up into the esophagus, triggering heartburn
pain,” explains Joseph Brasco, M.D., a
gastroenterologist at the Center for Colon and
Digestive Diseases in Huntsville, AL.
Erase ear aches with garlic
Painful ear infections drive millions of
Americans to doctor's offices every year. To
cure one fast, just place two drops of warm
garlic oil into your aching ear twice daily for
five days. This simple treatment can clear up
ear infections faster than prescription meds,
say experts at the University of New Mexico
School of Medicine. Scientists say garlic’s active
ingredients (germanium, selenium, and sulfur
compounds) are naturally toxic to dozens of
different pain-causing bacteria. To whip up
your own garlic oil gently simmer three cloves
of crushed garlic in a half a cup of extra virgin
olive oil for two minutes, strain, then
refrigerate for up to two weeks, suggests Teresa
Graedon, Ph.D., co-author of the book, Best
Choices From The People’s Pharmacy. For an
optimal experience, warm this mix slightly
before using so the liquid will feel soothing in
your ear canal.
Chase away joint and headache pain with
cherries
Latest studies show that at least one in four
women is struggling with arthritis, gout or
chronic headaches. If you’re one of them, a
daily bowl of cherries could ease your ache,
without the stomach upset so often triggered
by today’s painkillers, say researchers at East
Lansing ’s Michigan State University . Their
research reveals that anthocyanins, the
compounds that give cherries their brilliant red
color, are anti-inflammatories 10 times
stronger than ibuprofen and aspirin.
“Anthocyanins help shut down the powerful
enzymes that kick-start tissue inflammation, so
they can prevent, as well as treat, many
different kinds of pain,” explains
Muraleedharan Nair, Ph.D., professor of food
science at Michigan State University . His
advice: Enjoy 20 cherries (fresh, frozen or
dried) daily, then continue until your pain
disappears.
Fight tummy troubles with fish
Indigestion, irritable bowel syndrome,
inflammatory bowel diseases...if your belly
always seems to be in an uproar, try munching
18 ounces of fish weekly to ease your misery.
Repeated studies show that the fatty acids in
fish, called EPA and DHA, can significantly
reduce intestinal inflammation, cramping and
belly pain and, in some cases, provide as much
relief as corticosteroids and other prescription
meds. “EPA and DHA are powerful, natural, side
effect-free anti-inflammatories, that can
dramatically improve the function of the entire
gastrointestinal tract,” explains biological
chemist Barry Sears, Ph.D., president of the
Inflammation Research Foundation in
Marblehead , MA . For best results, look for
oily fish like salmon, sardines, tuna, mackerel,
trout and herring.
Prevent PMS with yogurt
Up to 80 percent of women will struggle with
premenstrual syndrome and its uncomfortable
symptoms, report Yale researchers. The reason:
Their nervous systems are sensitive to the ups
and downs in estrogen and progesterone that
occur naturally every month. But snacking on 2
cups of yogurt a day can slash these symptoms
by 48 percent, say researchers at New York ’s
Columbia University . “Yogurt is rich in
calcium, a mineral that naturally calms the
nervous system, preventing painful symptoms
even when hormones are in flux,” explains
Mary Jane Minkin, M.D., a professor of
gynecology at Yale University .
Tame chronic pain with turmeric
Studies show turmeric, a popular East Indian
spice, is actually three times more effective at
easing pain than aspirin, ibuprofen or
naproxen, plus it can help relieve chronic pain
for 50 percent of people struggling with
arthritis and even fibromyalgia, according to
Cornell researchers. That’s because turmeric’s
active ingredient, curcumin, naturally shuts
down cyclooxygenase 2, an enzyme that churns
out a stream of pain-producing hormones,
explains nutrition researcher Julian Whitaker,
M.D. and author of the book, Reversing
Diabetes. The study-recommended dose:
Sprinkle 1/4 teaspoon of this spice daily onto
any rice, poultry, meat or vegetable dish.
End endometrial pain with oats
The ticket to soothing endometriosis pain could
be a daily bowl of oatmeal. Endometriosis
occurs when little bits of the uterine lining
detach and grow outside of the uterus. Experts
say these migrating cells can turn menstruation
into a misery, causing so much inflammation
that they trigger severe cramping during your
period, plus a heavy ache that drags on all
month long. Fortunately, scientists say opting
for a diet rich in oats can help reduce
endometrial pain for up to 60 percent of
women within six months. That’s because oats
don’t contain gluten, a trouble-making protein
that triggers inflammation in many women,
making endometriosis difficult to bear, explains
Peter Green, M.D., professor of medicine at
Colombia University .
Soothe foot pain with salt
Experts say at least six million Americans
develop painful ingrown toenails each year. But
regularly soaking ingrown nails in warm salt
water baths can cure these painful infections
within four days, say scientists at California ’s
Stanford University . The salt in the mix
naturally nixes inflammation, plus it’s anti-
bacterial, so it quickly destroys the germs that
cause swelling and pain. Just mix 1 teaspoon of
salt into each cup of water, heat to the
warmest temperature that you can comfortably
stand, and then soak the affected foot area for
20 minutes twice daily, until your infection
subsides.
Prevent digestive upsets with pineapple
Got gas? One cup of fresh pineapple daily can
cut painful bloating within 72 hours, say
researchers at California ’s Stanford
University . That's because pineapple is natually
packed with proteolytic enzymes, digestive aids
that help speed the breakdown of pain-causing
proteins in the stomach and small intestine, say
USDA researchers.
Relax painful muscles with peppermint
Suffering from tight, sore muscles? Stubborn
knots can hang around for months if they
aren’t properly treated, says naturopath Mark
Stengler, N.D., author of the book, The Natural
Physician’s Healing Therapies. His advice: Three
times each week, soak in a warm tub scented
with 10 drops of peppermint oil. The warm
water will relax your muscles, while the
peppermint oil will naturally soothe your
nerves -- a combo that can ease muscle
cramping 25 percent more effectively than
over-the-counter painkillers, and cut the
frequency of future flare-ups in half, says
Stengler.
Give your back some TLC with grapes
Got an achy back? Grapes could be the ticket to
a speedy recovery. Recent studies at Ohio State
University suggest eating a heaping cup of
grapes daily can relax tight blood vessels,
significantly improving blood flow to damaged
back tissues (and often within three hours of
enjoying the first bowl). That’s great news
because your back’s vertebrae and shock-
absorbing discs are completely dependent on
nearby blood vessels to bring them healing
nutrients and oxygen, so improving blood flow
is essential for healing damaged back tissue,
says Stengler.
Wash away pain injuries with water
Whether it’s your feet, your knees or your
shoulders that are throbbing, experts at New
York ’s Manhattan College , say you could kick-
start your recovery in one week just by
drinking eight 8-ounce glasses of water daily.
Why? Experts say water dilutes, and then helps
flush out, histamine, a pain-triggering
compound produced by injured tissues. “Plus
water is a key building block of the cartilage
that cushions the ends of your bones, your
joints’ lubricating fluid, and the soft discs in
your spine,” adds Susan M. Kleiner, Ph.D.,
author of the book, The Good Mood Diet. “And
when these tissues are well-hydrated, they can
move and glide over each other without causing
pain.” One caveat: Be sure to measure your
drinking glasses to find out how large they
really are before you start sipping, she says.
Today’s juice glasses often hold more than 12
ounces, which means five servings could be
enough to meet your daily goal.
Heal sinus problems with horseradish
Latest studies show sinusitis is the nation’s
number one chronic health problem. And this
condition doesn’t just spur congestion and
facial pain, it also makes sufferers six times
more likely to feel achy all-over. Horseradish to
the rescue! According to German researchers,
this eye-watering condiment naturally revs up
blood flow to the sinus cavities, helping to
open and drain clogged sinuses and heal sinus
infections more quickly than decongestant
sprays do. The study-recommended dose: One
teaspoon twice daily (either on its own, or used
as a sandwich or meat topping) until symptoms
clear.
Beat bladder infections with blueberries
Eating 1 cup of blueberries daily, whether you
opt for them fresh, frozen or in juice form,
can cut your risk of a urinary tract infection
(UTIs) by 60 percent, according to researchers
at New Jersey’s Rutgers University. That's
because blueberries are loaded with tannins,
plant compounds that wrap around problem-
causing bacteria in the bladder, so they can’t
get a toehold and create an infection, explains
Amy Howell, Ph.D. a scientist at Rutgers
University .
Heal mouth sores with honey
Dab painful canker and cold sores with
unpasteurized honey four times daily until
these skin woes disappear, and they’ll heal 43
percent faster than if you use a prescription
cream, say researchers at the Dubai Specialized
Medical Center in the United Arab Emirates .
Raw honey’s natural enzymes zap inflammation,
destroy invading viruses and speed the healing
of damaged tissues, say the study authors.
Fight breast pain with flax
In one recent study, adding 3 tablespoons of
ground flax to their daily diet eased breast
soreness for one in three women within 12
weeks. Scientists credit flax’s phytoestrogens,
natural plant compounds that prevent the
estrogen spikes that can trigger breast pain.
More good news: You don’t have to be a master
baker to sneak this healthy seed into your diet.
Just sprinkle ground flax on oatmeal, yogurt,
applesauce or add it to smoothies and veggie
dips.
Cure migraines with coffee
Prone to migraines? Try muscling-up your
painkiller with a coffee chaser. Whatever over-
the-counter pain med you prefer, researchers
at the National Headache Foundation say
washing it down with a strong 12- ounce cup of
coffee will boost the effectiveness of your
medication by 40 percent or more. Experts say
caffeine stimulates the stomach lining to
absorb painkillers more quickly and more
effectively.
Tame leg cramps with tomato juice
At least one in five people regularly struggle
with leg cramps. The culprit? Potassium
deficiencies, which occur when this mineral is
flushed out by diuretics, caffeinated beverages
or heavy perspiration during exercise. But sip
10 ounces of potassium-rich tomato juice daily
and you'll not only speed your recovery, you'll
reduce your risk of painful cramp flare-ups in
as little as 10 days, say UCLA researchers.
