The All-Natural Pain Killer

Pain and inflammation go hand in hand within your body.  Both pain and inflammation require your nerves, cells, blood stream, and many other body systems to cooperate and communicate.  Pain and inflammation are adaptive responses that have evolved over time and allowed our species to continue.  Just think about this scenario: When we were less evolved Primal Paleo Man, if we didn’t get the message that fire was hot and life-threatening, we would have sat close to the fire and been burned alive.  There goes the future of the species and all mankind.  But our Paleolithic forefathers learned that it hurts to touch or sit close to the fire, and the burns on their hands reminded them not to do that again.  

In our modern lifestyle, we endure pain caused by sedentary habits and lifestyles.  We sit too much, we eat too much, and we sleep too little.  This causes us chronic pain, which is defined as pain that lasts for 3 months or more.  

Causes of chronic pain

1. Musculoskeletal Disorders (the #1 category)
2. Previous Injury or Trauma
3. Nerve Damage (Neuropathic Pain)
4. Chronic Inflammatory Conditions
5. Chronic Headache Disorders
6. Central Sensitization Disorders
7. Visceral (Organ-Related) Conditions
8. Obesity and Metabolic Problems
9. Psychological & Neurological Contributors
10. Unknown or Multifactorial Causes 

Most common pain diagnoses

Across large studies, the top specific chronic pain conditions are:

1. Low back pain
2. Arthritis / joint pain
3. Neck pain
4. Nerve pain (neuropathy)
5. Migraine
6. Fibromyalgia

All-Natural Pain Killers

Whatever the cause of your pain, the solutions are the same.  There are so many ways to deal with pain that don’t involve medications with unwanted side effects.  Here is a list of the top natural substances for relieving pain.

Anti-Inflammatory Herbs & Spices

These help by reducing inflammation—the root of many types of pain.

Turmeric (Curcumin)

• Strong anti-inflammatory
• Particularly helpful for joint pain, arthritis, gut inflammation

Ginger

• Download my Ginger blog and guide here 
• Comparable to NSAIDs in some studies
• Helps with muscle pain, migraines, and menstrual cramps

Boswellia (Frankincense)

• Here is a blog about my favorite Turmeric/Boswellia combination 
• Good for arthritis, inflammatory bowel conditions
  

Willow Bark

• Natural source of salicin (similar to aspirin)

Arnica

• Used topically to reduce inflammation

Topical or oral CBD/THC 

• The active parts of the marijuana flower that reduce inflammation engage your natural endocannabinoids to reduce pain signals

Common medications for chronic pain

Prescription medications and over-the-counter options are NOT without side effects.  Sometimes the side effects can be worse than the pain and lead to other symptoms.  I always recommend natural alternatives with fewer or no side effects that work with your body rather than against its natural processes.

NSAIDs (Non-steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs)

• Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
• Opioids
• Antidepressants (Used for Pain Modulation)
• Anticonvulsants (Neuropathic Pain Medications)
• Topical Analgesics
• Muscle Relaxants
• Corticosteroids
• NMDA Receptor Antagonists
• Medical Cannabis Products

FAQs

What is chronic pain?

Chronic pain is defined as pain lasting more than 3 months.  Often the pain affects your daily activities and quality of life. 

What to do about chronic pain?

There are many options for dealing with chronic pain, including herbal formulas, medications, lifestyle changes, exercises, stretching, laser treatment, surgery, physical therapy, and mind-body approaches. 

Can chronic pain be solved?

Chronic pain can be solved. The solution is usually a combination of interventions rather than a single pill or strategy. 

What is the strongest natural painkiller?

The most notable and researched natural painkiller is turmeric. It is closely followed by ginger and boswellia.  Many natural painkillers contain these three phytonutrients in combination. 

What vitamins help reduce pain?

Low Vitamin D status is linked to chronic pain.  If you experience chronic pain, ask your doctor for a standard Vitamin D blood test.  

What plant is a natural painkiller?

Turmeric root, which contains curcumin, is a natural painkiller. Arnica oil, extracted from the Arnica montana plant, is a potent natural painkiller used topically. 

What is the strongest natural muscle relaxer?

Magnesium is likely the strongest natural muscle relaxer.  Here is my guide to which type of magnesium would be best for your symptoms. 

What natural painkiller should I try first? 

Here is your crash course in two stand-out natural alternative pain and inflammation solutions – CuraMed and Curamin Extra Strength. These formulas have NO recorded side effects. That’s right – zero. Inflammation may feel like its own entity, a separate and specific issue, but the reality is that most chronic and acute health problems have an inflammatory aspect. For example, with arthritis, you’re dealing with inflammation of the joints; IBS and Crohn's wrestle with inflammation in the intestines; Multiple Sclerosis is inflammation near nerves; Diabetes causes overall systemic inflammation; and we’re learning more about the relationship between COVID-19 and inflammation. The list goes on and on, from the common cold to cancer. You can read more about how inflammation affects the body by reading our previous blog: Inflammation: Everything You Need To Know. Reducing inflammation allows the body the resources to work at the core of challenging health conditions (which could even be inflammation itself!). Inflammation left unchecked can actually worsen the disease which can turn around and worsen the inflammation, leading to a very exhausting cycle. Curcumin (the extract taken from turmeric root) is considered one of nature’s strongest anti-inflammatory substances, making it a strong choice for a wide variety of conditions. 

What is the difference between turmeric and curcumin? 

It’s pretty standard to use the words ‘turmeric’ and ‘curcumin’ interchangeably. While that may be passable for everyday conversation, it’s essential to know the difference when you’re looking to stock your supplement cabinet. Put simply, turmeric is the traditional Indian spice you cook with, and curcumin is the natural phenol extract found in turmeric. Fun fact – curcumin is what gives turmeric its bright golden color! Besides its colorful properties, curcumin is a powerful plant extract from turmeric root used medicinally to reduce inflammation. A turmeric supplement can contain as little as 2% of curcumin, which means you’d have to take hundreds of capsules to receive a therapeutic dose that would make a difference for your inflammation levels. Turmeric is excellent for your delicious dishes in the kitchen, but if you want inflammation and pain relief, focus on curcumin. That being said, there are so many turmeric benefits as well. If you’re curious and want to know more about curcumin and turmeric, you can read a more in-depth review here.

Why not use NSAIDS and over-the-counter pain relief? 

Chances are, your medicine cabinet is stocked with some variety of Motrin, Aleve, Tylenol, ibuprofen or aspirin. These NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatories) have become household staples for many and may seem like an easy answer for pain and/or inflammation. I wish more people were aware of the serious side effects of these common and seemingly harmless medications. Dementia, Stomach Ulcers, Leaky Gut, Intestinal Bleeding, Leucopenia, and malabsorption are among the significant side effects at play. These side effects are potentially life-threatening. Reflux, stomach ulcers, and heart attacks can accompany even over-the-counter NSAIDs. On the flip side, high doses of curcumin have shown no side effects. Where NSAIDs are prone to producing an overabundance of inflammatory mediators that both help and harm your body, natural alternatives help inhibit their production,, targeting different parts of the inflammation pathway. You can read more about that here.

Is CuraMed worth it?

CuraMed is a high-dose curcumin supplement. CuraMed differs from other curcumin supplements in that it contains curcumin essential oils in addition to curcumin. Curcumin is the most active compound in turmeric, and CuraMed is packed with this isolated compound which means it is up to 500 times more powerful than turmeric itself. Building off of the full spectrum curcuminoids, CuraMed is blended with turmeric essential oils which are great for health support and also offer increased absorption. This means you’re getting more curcumin per capsule than a plain turmeric or curcumin supplement, and your body’ll better absorb it. The health benefits of CuraMed have been proven in over 85 published studies, making CuraMed one of the most studied & used curcumin formulas. Curcumin extract has over 30,000 published studies.

CuraMed softgels are packed with Curcugreen, a patented curcumin extract. CuraMed is formulated to be absorbed faster and stay in your bloodstream longer than your basic curcumin supplements. This incredible supplement helps to support your healthy inflammation response and protect your cells from oxidative stress. Terry Naturally has also offered many variants of CuraMed, enabling flexible dosing and specialized formulation options. I will highlight these various options at a later point. Studies have shown that curcumin is particularly powerful in your intestines. From Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) to colon cancer, curcumin will reduce inflammation and decrease pain. In studies conducted with curcumin, participants have taken up to 8,000mg per day and have not seen any side effects or toxicity. If you’re taking CuraMed 750mg softgels, you can take 10 per day and rest easy, without worrying about safety. I recommend that you start by taking 3 CuraMed softgels with food to help prevent stomach upset, and increase as needed. I’ve written in more depth about CuraMed dosing tips in Question 6 of my previous blog.

Curamin Extra Strength

Curamin Extra Strength is the strongest of the highly absorbable curcumin products, winning over 30 national awards. Curamin Extra Strength is another all-natural alternative that offers relief without any side effects. Pain nags and nags, and ultimately exhausts a person. It’s hard to ignore and is the #1 symptom that drives people to see a doctor or an alternative health advisor (according to the American Medical Association). This formulation is a proprietary blend with four natural painkillers in one tablet. These powerful, all-natural ingredients boost the anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties of Curamin Extra Strength. Terry Naturally gives an excellent summary of the ‘why’ behind each ingredient that is included:

BCM-95® curcumin is the most studied curcumin extract available.  It is highly concentrated and potent.  Multiple studies have proven that the addition of curcuminoids and essential oils enhances absorption.  BCM-95 curcumin is now called Curcugreen. 

BOS-10® boswellia is a clinically studied extract that is standardized to ensure that it is at least 10 times more potent than other boswellia extracts.  

DLPA is an amino acid that supports “feel-good” neurotransmitters within your brain.

Nattokinase is an enzyme that supports microcirculation, which allows all the other therapeutic ingredients to be used throughout your body. 

Want to know more? I go even more in depth in: All You Need To Know About Curamin Extra Strength.

Are there other formulas with curcumin?

CuraMed Brain  and CuraMed Acute Pain Relief both contain curcumin plus bonus nutrients.  Read more about these formulas here.

CuraMed Syrup is an excellent option if you have difficulty swallowing capsules or tablets. 

Healthy Nerves and Feet contains Boswellia for inflammation and a host of additional nutrients to support nerve health, and is usually used by clients with diabetic or peripheral neuropathy.  Read my full review and uses here.

What is better Curamed vs Curamin?

When comparing these two, it’s not necessarily about ‘better’ overall as much as it is what is better for you and your specific situation and needs. Curamin Extra Strength contains additional herbs targeted for pain – this is particularly helpful for occasional/temporary pains, like a spike in back pain from working on your DIY house project or a random bout of headaches. CuraMed is better suited for chronic pain - back pain that just lingers and lingers chronically, or those chronic headaches that have become a ‘regular’ part of your life. Because of their unique qualities, it is entirely possible to use them together if that becomes your preference. I have included more details on this question in Question 5 in CuraMed: All Your Questions Answered.

How are Curamed and Curamin different than NSAIDS?

CuraMed and Curamin are all-natural pain and inflammation solutions. They interrupt your inflammatory response and support it in a way that better supports your overall health. In this blog, you can learn more about natural pain solutions and how they differ from NSAIDs. 

Why take Curamin Extra Strength versus an NSAIDs?

Curamin Extra Strength is a fantastic option for pain relief, while also allowing you to avoid side effects. While NSAIDs may feel tried and true, they threaten serious side effects. You can read a more in-depth review of Curamin Extra Strength here. 

What are the side effects of NSAIDS?

The side effects of NSAIDs are extensive. Unfortunately, these effects are well-known and more common than we might like to acknowledge. Nausea, Ulcers, Renal dysfunction, cardiovascular concerns, the list goes on and on. I’ve included more information on the vast side effects of NSAIDs and other solutions in my blog: Boswellia/Turmeric.

What are the ingredients in Cuarmin Extra Strength?

Curamin Extra Strength includes a powerhouse line-up of: BCM-95® curcumin, BOS-10® boswellia, DLPA, and Nattokinase. Curamin Extra Strength has no sugar, salt, yeast, wheat, gluten, corn, dairy products, artificial coloring, artificial flavoring, or artificial preservatives. For more information on Curamin Extra Strength ingredients, take a look at All You Need To Know About Curamin Extra Strength.

What is the difference between Curamed and Curamin?

CuraMed is geared more towards chronic pain and inflammation.  It has only one active ingredient — curcumin extract —while Curamin Extra Strength has additional ingredients to target acute pain.

What are the recommendations for doses for CuraMed and Curamin Extra Strength?

Check here for recommended doses of CuraMed and how to titrate for different symptoms.

This blog contains the recommended dose for Curamin Extra Strength. 

CuraMed 750 mg Reviews

“CuraMed has worked for me. As my body has become more inflamed and as I work to curtail the inflammation, CuraMed has been a wonderful tool to prevent pain and keep my body normal throughout this process. I am very thankful for such an effective tool.” - James A.

“Great product! I use CuraMed 750mg. to help ease my back pain. I have 3 bulging discs that press on my nerves in my back & this product lessens my pain.” - Stephanie H.

“Worked on my pain. I have terrible pain in the backs of my hands that is worse in winter. This worked right away and brought my pain down from an 8 to a 2.” - Sheldon J.

Curamin Extra Strength Reviews

“I find my hands are less achy and my husband says his knees hurt less going down the stairs.” - Jackie J.

“A must have for me. I started taking this when my spinal decay was getting worse. This helps keep the inflammation at bay with no need for Rx meds. The order came in a timely fashion.” - Nancy C.

“Best pain reliever I’ve ever tried! For years I have had pain all over my body. Nothing ever helped my pain very much. When I saw Curamin online, I decided to try it and it has been the best pain reliever I have ever tried! Excellent product!” - Tammy R.

Conclusion

Pain may be your constant companion and there are many solutions available.  Side effects from medications can be just as severe as the original pain.  I recommend a holistic approach, including natural painkillers and lifestyle changes. If that sounds like a step on your healing journey that you’d like to take, schedule a consult with me, Carly Neubert BA, NC.