Here is a list of herbal medicines with documented effectiveness as pain relievers. The source of this information summarizes the dose, route of administration, conditions treated, and safety information.

Herbal supplements with evidence of providing pain relief under certain conditions.

  • Arnica
  • Capsaicin
  • Cod-liver oil
  • Devil’s claw
  • Epsom salt
  • Gamma linolenic acid
  • Ginger
  • White willow

Caution, before using any of these herbals, check the source article to see the conditions where they were used to be sure it applies to you.

Better yet, check with your pharmacist or other healthcare provider. The truth is that these herbals are generally weak analgesics compared to readily available over-the-counter drugs and prescription drugs.

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8/7/06 00:16 JR

Hi, I’m JR

John Russo, Jr., PharmD, is president of The MedCom Resource, Inc. Previously, he was senior vice president of medical communications at www.Vicus.com, a complementary and alternative medicine website.