Ginger, capsaicin and Fennel_ as analgesic & antiinflammatory agent

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Ginger – A study in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine looked at ginger along with traditional pain medications. They found that ginger can reduce pain in the muscles and joints by as much as 25 percent.¹
Taking raw and cooked ginger daily can be an effective pain reliever – even for inflammatory conditions like osteoarthritis. That’s because inflammation is the root cause of all kinds of problems – from arthritis and back pain to muscle aches.

Ginger contains 12 different compounds that fight inflammation. Some block the Cox-2 enzyme which triggers it. Some lower pain-receptor and nerve-ending sensitivity. Together they work almost the same as anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and aspirin.

Capsaicin – Capsaicin gives peppers their heat. It also relieves pain through a number of pathways in your body – safely and effectively.
Research in the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association showed that capsaicin has an “across the board” talent for getting rid of joint and muscle pain associated with arthritis, psoriasis and even diabetic neuropathy.⁴
You’ll be amazed at how easy it is to add cayenne to your cuisine. I tend to use cayenne by taste and add it to my food in place of black pepper. It’s also quite good in salsa.
I keep a bottle of cayenne in my house for emergencies, too. Once I was cutting down some bananas and accidentally cut my hand with a machete. I sprinkled some cayenne on the cut, applied pressure and the bleeding stopped immediately.

Fennel – The seeds have 16 analgesic chemicals. Fennel is very soothing, and is used to relieve colic and cramps.
In one study, 80 percent of the people treated with fennel showed complete pain relief. In another study, researchers gave people a fennel extract and reduced inflammation and even allergic reactions.⁶
It makes a nice licorice-flavored tea. A typical dose of fennel is from one to one-and-a-half teaspoons of seeds per day, either in capsules or as tea.

Magnesium – Studies have shown that 600 mg a day reduces migraine headaches by up to 41 percent.²
Look for magnesium that is bound to citrate or malate. Take it with vitamin B6. It will increase the amount of magnesium that accumulates in your cells. You can find magnesium and B6 at your local health-food store.
Also, there’s another form of magnesium you can use for aches and pains… you probably know it as Epsom salts. That’s magnesium sulfate. To soothe aches in your feet, you can add a half cup of Epsom salts to a large pan of warm water. Soak your feet for as long as it feels good.
Devil’s Claw – Despite its name, Devil’s Claw has many healing properties. Studies have proven its effectiveness in reducing the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, tendonitis, bursitis and even lower back pain.³ Its active ingredients, called harpagosides, also can boost your digestion and immune response.
Devil’s Claw is available in capsule, tincture and tea form. You can find them easily at your local health-food store. If you’re taking a capsule, start with 600 mg three times a day. Look for 50 mg to 100 mg of harpagoside in each capsule.
For the dried root, doses of 0.5 to 1.5 grams three times per day in a water-based solution (like a cup of tea…) are typical. As a tincture, I’d recommend doses of 0.2 to 1 ml three times per day.

Ref:
1 Ozgoli, G., Goli, M., Moattar, F. “Comparison of Effects of Ginger, Mefenamic Acid, and Ibuprofen on Pain in Women with Primary Dysmenorrhea,” J. Altern. Complement. Med. Feb. 2009;15(2):129-32
2 Peikert, A., Wilimzig, C., Kohne-Volland, R., “Prophylaxis of migraine with oral magnesium,” Cephalalgia 1996; 16(4):257-63
3 Stewart, K.M. and Cole, D., “The commercial harvest of devil’s claw (Harpagophytum spp.) in Southern Africa: the devil’s in the details,” Journal of Ethnopharmacology 2005; 100.3:225-36
4 Todd, C., “Meeting the therapeutic challenge of the patient with osteoarthritis,” Journal of the American Pharmacists Association (Wash) 2002; 42:74-82
5 Lans, Cheryl, Harper, Tisha, Georges, Karla, et al, “Medicinal and ethnoveterinary remedies of hunters in Trinidad,” BMC Complement Altern Med. 2001; 1: 10
6 Choi, E.M., Hwang, J.K., “Antiinflammatory, analgesic and antioxidant activities of the fruit of Foeniculum vulgare,” Fitoterapia. Sept. 2004;75(6):557-65

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