Everything we need to sustain and nurture life on earth is readily available to us: food, water shelter, air, and plants that aid in healing the body. Large pharmaceutical companies provide drugs that have the same or similar effect as the plants themselves. Plants, such as ginger, comfrey, and arnica, are examples of the naturally occurring substances that can have a beneficial effect on the human body. The earth was created so perfectly. Everything we need to sustain and nurture life is right here – food, water shelter, air -- and yes, plants that heal the body. Large pharmaceutical companies manufacture and sell drugs that have the same or similar effects as the healing or pain-relieving plants, themselves. The drug companies have synthetically copied many of nature’s own healing plants. Among the better known ones is digitalis for heart patients, copied from the plant digitalis or foxglove. An even more pervasive example is aspirin, copied from the herb white willow bark.

Our ancestors got along just fine living off the land and using nature’s gifts to help with many common maladies. For thousands of years, the following botanicals have been recognized and used for their analgesic ability:

Arnica , a perennial belonging to the Sunflower family, has been used medicinally since the 1500’s by both Europeans and Native Americans. Arnica is native to the mountains of Europe and Siberia, and is cultivated in North America. (Large amounts of the plant can be poisonous if eaten.) Arnica contains helenalin, which, according to studies, produces pain-relieving (analgesic) and anti-inflammatory effects in post-operative patients. Arnica is a vasodilator of subcutaneous blood capillaries, so it can improve circulation. Used topically, it has exhibited excellent anti-inflammatory properties and assists normal healing by facilitating the transport of blood and fluid accumulations through a dilating action of blood capillaries. Arnica is very effective for bruises, sprains, muscle aches, wound healing on unbroken skin, superficial phlebitis, rheumatic pain, inflammation of insect bites, and swelling due to fractures, overexerted muscles, and soft tissue trauma. Arnica is widely used in Germany to relieve a variety of minor ailments.

Comfrey is a plant that has been nicknamed “boneknit” or “boneset” for its ability to speed the healing of fractures, cartilage, connective tissue, and broken bones. A perennial that's native to Europe and Asia, Comfrey has been naturalized throughout North America. Not only does it help heal broken bones faster, but it also has been used with success in the healing of bruises and burns, and helps minimize the formation of scar tissue.

Ginger, a well-known root that’s native to Asia, is now grown in a number of tropical countries, including India, Nigeria, and Haiti. Jamaica is the world’s leading cultivator of ginger. Used for thousands of years, ginger is an ingredient in about half of all herbal formulas in traditional Chinese medicine. The properties and benefits ascribed to it include the following, according to reports and studies:

• Ginger offers anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, due to the presence of zingibain, a proteloytic enzyme that inhibits certain hormones (prostaglandins) and their effect on bodily processes and systems.
• Ginger can have a soothing effect on aching joints and muscles, and has warming properties, which can help provide relief from rheumatism
• It has antispasmodic effects, often bringing relaxation to contracted, tight muscles.
• Studies show that pain improvement can be achieved in cases of rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and fibromyalgia by ingesting 2-4 teaspoons of powdered ginger daily. More than 75% of the study’s participants ended up notably free of pain.
• Ginger improves cholesterol levels by increasing secretion of bile and hindering fat absorption
• Ginger is believed to be more effective than garlic and onions in inhibiting substances that thicken the blood and encourage blood clotting
• Many pregnant women will attest to its effectiveness as a treatment for nausea and morning sickness. It’s also been shown to reduce motion sickness
• Gingerols are stronger inhibitors of inflammatory prostaglandins than indomethacin, a potent pain management drug with many side effects.
• Ginger can also help treat the common cold. Blending fresh shredded ginger root with hot tea has been know to bring a measure of relief to cold sufferers.

These herbs have been proven in studies to perform as well as or better than prescription drugs (cortisone, etc) for the reduction of pain, swelling, and inflammation.

With the current push to “go green” in our society, why not get back to our “roots” and discover some of the natural remedies that seem to have stood the test of time.