Herbs for Joint Pain – Foods and Spices for Relief
There are many choices in terms of herbs for joint pain relief. Herbalists in China, American Indians, as well as many other cultures have used herbs for joint pain for centuries. Herbs such as feverfew, boswellia, willow, and wild cucumber bark all have pain relieving qualities and are popular choices. However, there are five foods and spices that can be used as powerful herbs for joint pain. Those foods and spices include celery, licorice, oregano, red pepper, and pineapple. Used as herbs for joint pain relief since antiquity, these superfoods have amazing qualities beyond just tasting good in popular dishes.
Oregano and red pepper, while common spices in most American spice racks, are excellent herbs for joint pain. Capsaicin, the active pain reliever in red pepper, can be found in many over the counter arthritis creams and ointments. Oregano is an antioxidant containing rosmarinic acid, an antibacterial, anti-inflammatory compound. When used as herbs for joint pain, oregano and red pepper provide relief from inflammation and pain. However, in the case of using oregano as herbs for pain relief, it’s antiviral and antibacterial properties may defend the body against free radicals and thus reduce cell damage.
Other foods and herbs for joint pain include celery and pineapple. Bromelain, the chemical in pineapple which reduces inflammation, has been recommended to athletes for use in treating sports injuries as one of several herbs for joint pain. Celery as one of the many herbs for joint pain has been used since before Europeans began settling America. Raw and cooked celery seeds are commonly recommended herbs for joint pain relief. Steeping celery seeds in water and drinking it throughout the day is a common remedy. However, eating celery provides minerals the body needs, as well as ingestion of the compounds recommended as herbs for joint pain relief.
Another of the many foods and spices recommended as herbs for joint pain is licorice. Most commonly, as with many herbs for joint pain, licorice is available in a capsule you can take orally, rather than eating. Licorice acts like a natural cortisone, providing relief from inflammation. Not only is licorice one of the common herbs for joint pain relief, it has also been used to provide relief from asthma and allergies. Licorice binds to glucocorticoid receptors and enhances the effects of bupleuri, thus providing relief from inflammation of joints and relieving stress on adrenals. For individuals suffering joint pain from arthritis as well as allergy or asthma symptoms, licorice can provide duel relief as a dietary supplement.
