2 minute read
PLANT MEDICINE - POWERFUL PLANTS FOR PAIN
By Heather DeRose
Plant medicines continue their progressive path as a potential solution to the opioid epidemic and providing relief to people across the world. The psychedelic renaissance continues with the FDA granting a Breakthrough Therapy designation to a program to study psilocybin. The Usona Institute is a non-profit, medical research organization looking beyond the traditional treatments for depression. Their goal is to enable and support research with the FDA by registering psilocybin as an approved medicine which would have the ability to treat over 300 million people affected by depression worldwide. 1 More states are pushing for decriminalization for plant medicines, and some are pushing for statewide initiatives later this year.
In addition to psychedelic plants providing relief for depression and inflammation, other plants, such as turmeric, have powerful properties to reduce inflammation and provide other benefits. Turmeric is a plant related to ginger that is grown throughout India, other parts of Asia, and Central America. It has been used in one of the world’s oldest medical systems, Ayurvedic medicine, for thousands of years and is described as a powerful pain reliever. Ayurvedic medicine applies a natural and holistic approach to physical and mental health and remains one of India’s traditional health care systems. 2 Turmeric contains curcuminoids, which studies have found may reduce the number of heart attacks, bypass patients have after surgery, control knee pain from osteoarthritis as well or better than ibuprofen, and reduce the skin irritation that often occurs after radiation treatments for breast cancer patients. 3
“Curcumin has been studied widely for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, and antiandrogenic effects. Curcumin has shown considerable anticancer effects against several different types of cancer, including prostate cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer, and head and neck cancer.” 4 It is believed to produce its anticancer activity throughout several mechanisms within the body. More studies need to be conducted to evaluate methods of delivery for optimal pain reduction. However, a study found curcumin to be effective and safe in alleviating symptoms in patients suffering from knee osteoarthritis. 5
Similar to tumeric, ginger is another plant that has been found to provide powerful pain relief. A study looked at applying topical ginger treatments. It concluded, “Ginger has the potential to relieve symptoms, improve the overall health, and increase independence of people with chronic osteoarthritis.” 6
There are so many natural plant medicines available we can use without a prescription and side effects. Another study looked at using aromatherapy. It found that the inhalation of essential oils, such as damask rose and lavender, reduced the severity of pain and anxiety after a c-section. 7 There are almost 400,000 plant species around the world that humans have coexisted with; the possibilities of their potential are abundant to help provide natural healing options for our world, and these are just a few that help with pain.
