hen it comes to pain, you want to use a product that is all natural or organic; that means: The herbs were grown without use of harmful ingredients as in unnatural pesticides; that the ingredients do not contain parabens or other synthetic preservatives, or petroleum chemical bases of any kind, which includes artificial fragrances. (I’ll create a blog soon about what ingredients to avoid in skincare products.)
In my massage therapy practice, the main pain I wanted to address was the muscular and joint pain of my clients. I am grateful today, that after researching which herbs work best for pain that I was able to create a salve for pain relief that went above and beyond my greatest expectations! Here are some of the herbs I use topically for their natural healing and pain relieving properties:
- St. John’s Wort – is used externally for bruises, sprains, burns, skin irritations and some nerve pain. It is a pain reliever, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and known to calm the nerves. (Read more about St Johns Wort.)
- Arnica – Is an analgesic, relieving pain, an anti-inflammatory and wound healer. It is a favorite for using on sports related injuries, sprains and bruising and general muscle and joint pain. (See Avani’s Muscle Ease Bath Teas.)
- Valerian – has been used for centuries as an antispasmodic relieving muscle spasms and strain, and rheumatoid symptoms. It is also very effective as a sleep aid, without the after effect as other sleep related drugs have. (Go to my Salve for Pain Relief.)
A word of caution if you are on antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications, especially take care when using nervine effecting herbs like St. John’s Wort and/or Valerian. You should always consult your doctor before trying anything new or if you are on prescribed medications. Whether it is an herbal remedy, diet supplement, or pain relief, it is always wise practice to consult with your physician. We are all unique and different and will react differently to certain ingredients. Know your body; make safe and wise decisions.